A left-leaning foundation that reported more than $54 million in assets before California regulators revoked its charitable registration has resurfaced at a small Miami residence, raising questions about its finances and future operations. Arc of Justice, led by CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin, was stripped of its registration in January 2025 after failing to file required annual reports with the state for five consecutive years. Weeks before California issued another compliance notice in June, a new nonprofit with the same name was incorporated at a single-story house in North Miami owned by Benjamin's longtime partner, activist Tighe Barry.
The foundation has channeled millions into activist organizations over the years, including CodePink, Global Exchange, the Alliance for Global Justice, and the National Iranian American Council, according to IRS filings. Federal tax returns show its assets grew from $51.4 million at the end of 2023 to $54.6 million at the end of 2024, even as it continued issuing grants. CodePink has campaigned against U.S. policy toward China and Cuba and has faced accusations from congressional investigators of promoting Chinese Communist Party interests, allegations the group denies.
California's Attorney General's Office, led by Democrat Rob Bonta, revoked Arc of Justice's registration after the foundation ignored delinquency and suspension notices. Under the revocation, Arc of Justice had 30 days to account for its charitable assets and was barred from distributing or spending them without the attorney general's written approval. A notice issued June 19 reiterated those requirements and warned that reinstatement would require proof that no charitable assets had been lost.
Patrick Sternal, a former IRS official specializing in tax-exempt organizations, called the situation unusual. "Most private foundations are fairly scrupulous on their compliance efforts," he said. "So it's unusual for a private foundation with that much in the bank to fall out of compliance and to be suspended." Laurie Styron, CEO of nonprofit watchdog CharityWatch, echoed that view, noting that a foundation with tens of millions of dollars in assets certainly has the resources to meet basic reporting requirements.
David Levitt, an attorney representing Arc of Justice, said the foundation has submitted filings seeking reinstatement with California regulators. However, the Attorney General's Office said as of Sept. 3 it had not received the required accounting of the foundation's charitable assets. At that time, Arc was listed as "REVOKED" and "PAST DUE." By Sept. 9, its registration remained revoked, though its reporting status had changed to "IN REVIEW."
The Florida corporation was incorporated May 8 in the Little River neighborhood of North Miami by Barry and others associated with the original foundation. Levitt described it as a "placeholder" created while Arc considered relocating operations from California, adding that the move was never completed. The Attorney General's Office said it had not received notice of any planned transfer, merger, or dissolution and had not approved any transfer of the foundation's assets.
Benjamin, a longtime political activist who has frequently disrupted congressional hearings, co-founded CodePink with Jodie Evans, wife of Shanghai-based tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham. Singham's funding network has drawn congressional and federal scrutiny over alleged foreign influence and the use of tax-exempt organizations. The Network Contagion Research Institute previously detailed Arc of Justice's regulatory problems in a May report examining the foundation's finances and activities.