The People's Forum Inc., a nonprofit funded by Shanghai-based businessman Neville Roy Singham, purchased a three-story building at 137 W. 14th Street in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood for $5.15 million in December 2024, according to property records obtained by Fox News Digital. The organization is now soliciting donations to fund an additional $5 million in renovations for what it calls a "permanent home" for its organizing activities.
The fundraising drive comes as Congress and federal investigators examine Singham's broader network of nonprofits, which critics have described as a foreign-aligned influence operation promoting Chinese Communist Party narratives in the United States. According to Fox News Digital's investigation, Singham has funneled $285 million into various nonprofit organizations since 2017. Justice, State and Treasury Department officials are investigating financial activity tied to this network, including $22.5 million directed specifically to the People's Forum.
The People’s Forum describes itself as a hub connecting more than 200 organizations and says it has coordinated left-wing protests across the country since its founding in 2017. The group states on its website that it initially relied on support from a "generous donor" to establish operations, but now faces what it calls a "critical new stage."
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive organizations within the Singham network have defended their activities as legitimate political organizing protected by the First Amendment. The People's Forum has framed its expansion as necessary to create stable infrastructure that "cannot be threatened by landlords or political attacks," according to its fundraising appeals. The organization says it has published "over 25 revolutionary texts" and organized "over 6,000 events" since its founding.
The group told supporters on social media platform X that it is seeking to raise $2 million from individual donors by December 2026 as part of a broader $5 million campaign launched in September. In public statements, the organization has characterized criticism of its funding sources as politically motivated attacks designed to suppress dissenting voices. Supporters have argued that nonprofit organizations are entitled to receive donations from any lawful source and that investigating such activities amounts to McCarthy-era tactics.
What the Right Is Saying
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., described the People's Forum's funding structures as raising "significant concerns" about potential foreign influence over American political activity. Republican lawmakers have pointed to the scale of Singham's contributions—$285 million distributed since 2017—as evidence of a coordinated effort to shape U.S. public discourse and policy.
Federal investigators are examining whether organizations like the People's Forum acted as conduits for Chinese government-aligned messaging without proper disclosure under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The scrutiny intensified following recent developments including the resignation of a California mayor who agreed to plead guilty to acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China. Republican critics argue that existing nonprofit disclosure requirements are insufficient to track foreign funding flowing through complex organizational structures.
What the Numbers Show
The People's Forum acquisition at 137 W. 14th Street represents a significant real estate investment for the organization. The building, which previously sold for approximately $4.3 million in 2022, was purchased for $850,000 more just over two years later. Property records describe the structure as roughly 2,580 square feet with a footprint of approximately 25 feet wide by 96 feet deep.
The organization's disclosed funding from Singham totals $22.5 million under federal investigation. The broader network of connected organizations has received $285 million since 2017, according to reporting by Fox News Digital. City records show the building carries active violations related to elevators and boiler systems with approximately $20,000 in outstanding fees. The organization estimates millions more are needed to make the property operational for its stated purposes.
The Bottom Line
The Manhattan real estate purchase and ongoing fundraising campaign reflect an effort by the People's Forum to establish permanent infrastructure despite federal scrutiny of its funding sources. Investigators from three cabinet-level departments continue examining financial flows through Singham's network, while Congress evaluates whether existing laws adequately address foreign-linked influence operations disguised as domestic political organizing.
What happens next: The December 2026 fundraising deadline will test whether individual donors can sustain the organization if institutional funding remains frozen or restricted by investigators. Congressional hearings on nonprofit disclosure requirements are expected to continue, with potential legislative proposals aimed at increasing transparency for organizations receiving significant foreign-sourced contributions.