Rock the Vote FY2021 filing

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The registration, education and mobilization of youth to participate in the democratic process and protection of their freedom to Vote.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$135K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $417K a year · 10% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$135K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
33
named funders · $4.3M
Looks good: 33 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$118K
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.3M
-75% vs prior year
Spent
$2.8M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$1.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.3M
FY2021▼ -75%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.3M
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$2.3M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$11.3M
Expenses
$2.8M
FY2021▼ -28%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.9M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$2.7M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$8.4M
Net assets
$1.6M
FY2021▼ -47%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$3.1M
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$707K
FY2024$3.7M

From the FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jul 2006.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $2.3M Management & general 16% · $445K Fundraising 3% · $75K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

11 people listed on the 990; $135K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President/Executive Director
$135,000Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Carolyn Dewitt’s $152K as President/Executive Director is at the 13th percentile of top reported officer pay among 129 $10–100M civil rights & advocacy nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Carolyn Dewitt$152,312$201,123$135,960$135,000$135,000
Melissa Wyatt$101,494————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Rock the Vote executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Empowers young people to register, learn, and vote, protecting their freedom.

Questions for Rock the Vote

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Your first name shows with your question. Rock the Vote answers here, for everyone.

3 programs · $2.0M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Voter Education

Provides nonpartisan civic and voter education through its website, social media, email, text messages, in-school and in-person activations that target young people. Rock the vote provides step-by-step guidance with links to resources to new voters through TEXT/EMAIL.

$1.1Mprogram expense
02

Voting Rights & Systems Modernization

Reduces barriers by fighting for young people's right to vote and modernizing the process to participate. Rock the vote tracks a dozen policies that impact young people's access to voting and assigns state report cards.

$565Kprogram expense
03

Voter Registration & Mobilization

Creating a culture shift by reaching young people where they are - on and offline - through trusted messengers with messages that inspire and information that empowers them to participate in the civic process.

$368Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 33 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3K
Money outPt IX
$2.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.3M
Managementcol C$445K
Fundraisingcol D$75K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$118K
PeoplePt VI, VII
11
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3K
Total revenueLn 12$1.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$316
Other assetsLn 15$160K
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$118K
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 541
VolunteersI 6681
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M$1.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$199K$316
Total assetsLn 16$3.1M$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$46K$118K
Net assetsLn 32$3.1M$1.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$149K$104K$27K$18K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$460K$386K$74K$54
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$8K$7K$1K−$145
Other employee benefitsLn 9$52K$43K$8K$584
Payroll taxesLn 10$53K$43K$9K$1K
Legal feesLn 11b$43K$43K
Accounting feesLn 11c$132K$132K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$467K$279K$143K$44K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$205K$196K$3K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$56K$46K$10K
Information technologyLn 14$537K$504K$33K
OccupancyLn 16$56K$56K
TravelLn 17$63K$63K$196
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$386K$386K$300
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$90K$78K$12K
InsuranceLn 23$21K$21K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$18K$138K−$126K$6K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.8M$2.3M$445K$75K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 13, 2025 $11.3M$8.4M$3.0M$3.7M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 13, 2024 $1.3M$1.7M−$455K$707K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 16, 2023 $2.3M$2.7M−$369K$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 15, 2022 $1.3M$2.8M−$1.5M$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2021 $5.3M$3.9M$1.4M$3.1M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,332,658 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,235,275$1,329,171
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $24,291$3,487
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $21,337$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,280,903$1,332,658
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,110,275$720,979
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,751,715$2,071,349
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,861,990$2,792,328
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,418,913−$1,459,670
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,332,658 across 4 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,329,171
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,329,171
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $3,487$3,487
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $3,487 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$1,332,658
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,792,328 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $104,062 · Management $26,759 · Fundraising $17,839$148,660
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $386,041 · Management $73,739 · Fundraising $54$459,834
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $6,867 · Management $1,252 · Fundraising −$145$7,974
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $42,720 · Management $8,367 · Fundraising $584$51,671
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $42,668 · Management $8,707 · Fundraising $1,465$52,840
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $42,540$42,540
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $131,902$131,902
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $279,370 · Management $143,133 · Fundraising $44,063$466,566
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $196,399 · Management $3,392 · Fundraising $5,000$204,791
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $45,645 · Management $9,909$55,554
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $504,424 · Management $32,656$537,080
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $55,573$55,573
IX-17 TravelPrograms $62,644 · Management $196$62,840
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $385,574 · Management $300$385,874
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $78,412 · Management $11,502$89,914
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $20,621$20,621
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $137,871 · Management −$125,532 · Fundraising $5,755$18,094
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,272,697 · Management $445,016 · Fundraising $74,615$2,792,328
Part X · Balance sheet $1,738,194 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,041,655$1,203,149
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $644,500$137,500
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $20,841$17,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $34,945$36,436
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $199,070$316
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $74,764$183,604
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $109,767$160,189
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,125,542$1,738,194
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $45,992$118,314
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $45,992$118,314
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,570,175$1,519,880
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $509,375$100,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,079,550$1,619,880
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,125,542$1,738,194
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,619,880 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,332,658
XI-2 Total expenses$2,792,328
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,459,670
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,079,550
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,619,880

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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