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Ballot Initiative Strategy Center INC FY2020 filing

Not tax-deductible

Washington, DC501(c)(4) EIN 04-3411708Revenue $2.0M in FY2020

On file with the IRSballot.org1319 F St Nw Ste 301 # 238, 20004-1140 · Washington, DCTax-exempt since Aug 1998

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To strengthen democracy by building a national progressive Strategy for Ballot measures.

501(c)(4) social-welfare organization; gifts are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
70¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$108K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(4)
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
No
Donations are not tax-deductible
Worth a look: the IRS does not list 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
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $381K a year · 12% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
70%
of spending
Fine: 70% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$108K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
13
named funders · $2.3M
Looks good: 13 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$188K
19% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 19% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.0M
Spent
$1.9M
To programs
70%
Net assets
$810K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.0M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$4.8M
FY2022$2.3M
FY2023$4.8M
FY2024$2.6M
Expenses
$1.9M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.9M
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$3.3M
FY2023$3.2M
FY2024$3.7M
Net assets
$810K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$810K
FY2021$3.3M
FY2022$2.2M
FY2023$3.8M
FY2024$2.6M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 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 Aug 1998.

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

Where the money goes

70 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 70% · $1.3M Management & general 20% · $383K Fundraising 10% · $184K

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

16 people listed on the 990; $108K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$107,724Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Doug Burnett
Secretary - Until 12/2020
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Kenny Diggs
Secretary - as of 12/2020
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Nadia Belkin
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Rick De La Fuente
Director - Until 12/2020
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Chris Melody Fields Figueredo$221,307$198,255$208,303$94,188$107,724
Jane Norman$174,879$172,075———
Dana Laurent—$168,281———
Victoria Ward$122,231$139,337———
Caroline Avakian$137,987$132,476———
Elizabeth Schilling$137,080$131,462———
Al-Ayoubi Laudmila—$124,943———

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 Ballot Initiative Strategy Center INC executive salaries →

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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

Builds national progressive strategy for ballot measures to strengthen democracy.

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3 programs · $1.2M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Strategic Initiatives

Bisc strengthened ballot measure capacity and leadership in states via a variety of forums, convenings, trainings and technical assistance. In addition, we collaborated with national and state partners on a national long-term ballot measure strategy.

$631Kprogram expense
02

Road Ahead

Road ahead is an annual conference bringing together more than 400 people from 26 states and the district of columbia. Road ahead brings together participants representing a broad range of issues, including labor, reproductive health, gun violence prevention, LGBTQ equality, voting rights, campaign finance reform, immigrant rights…

$344Kprogram expense
03

Communications

Bisc uses email, social media, and press interviews to communicate about critical ballot measures and campaigns around the country.

$187Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Democracy Fund Voice INCFY2024$500K
Open Society Policy Center INCFY2024$500K
Group Health FoundationFY2024$235K
Tides FoundationFY2024$230K
Women Donors Network ActionFY2024$200K
National Education Association of the United StatesFY2024$180K
American Federation of State County & Municipal EmployeesFY2024$180K
Instructional Telecommunications Foundation INCFY2024$100K
Total grants receivedfrom 13 funders$2.3M
See all 13 funders →
Grants paid · 15 grants · $1.8M · 2021–2024
Organize Action INCCA · FY2024$200,000
Protect Our Schools KYKY · FY2024$50,000
Progress ArizonaAZ · FY2024$50,000
Voter Rights ColoradoCO · FY2024$50,000
Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter ActionMO · FY2024$45,000
Nebraska VotesNE · FY2024$10,000
Organize Action INCCA · FY2023$350,000
Activate 48 Education FundAZ · FY2022$285,000
Arizona WinslAZ · FY2022$125,000
Progress ArizonaAZ · FY2022$50,000
Adrc ActionAZ · FY2022$40,000
Activate 48 Education FundAZ · FY2021$285,000
Arizona WinslAZ · FY2021$125,000
Progress ArizonaAZ · FY2021$50,000
Adrc ActionAZ · FY2021$40,000

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$236K
Other incomeLn 4–11$3K
Money outPt IX
$1.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.3M
Managementcol C$383K
Fundraisingcol D$184K
Owns and owesPt X
$810K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$509K
Total assetsLn 16$998K
LiabilitiesLn 26$188K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$236K
Other incomeLn 4–11$3K
Total revenueLn 12$2.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$509K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$509K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$24K
Other assetsLn 15$217K
Total assetsLn 16$998K
LiabilitiesLn 26$188K
Net assetsLn 32$810K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 520
VolunteersI 612
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$593K$509K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$32K$24K
Total assetsLn 16$962K$998K
LiabilitiesLn 26$205K$188K
Net assetsLn 32$756K$810K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$5K$5K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$115K$34K$11K$69K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$666K$474K$116K$75K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$36K$24K$6K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$112K$73K$21K$18K
Payroll taxesLn 10$63K$42K$10K$11K
Legal feesLn 11b$9K$9K
Accounting feesLn 11c$52K$52K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$357K$277K$75K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$14K$9K$5K$77
Information technologyLn 14$29K$3K$26K
OccupancyLn 16$87K$59K$28K$492
TravelLn 17$4K$3K$1K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$318K$315K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$14K$9K$5K$80
InsuranceLn 23$2K$1K$603$11
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$24K$11K$13K$91
All other expensesLn 24e$200$200
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.9M$1.3M$383K$184K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $2.6M$3.7M−$1.1M$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.8M$3.2M$1.6M$3.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.3M$3.3M−$1.1M$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $4.8M$2.4M$2.5M$3.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $2.0M$1.9M$54K$810K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,960,501 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,048,989$1,721,494
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $280,776$236,089
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $6,527$2,918
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,336,292$1,960,501
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$5,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $966,980$991,236
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $947,115$910,368
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,914,095$1,906,604
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$577,803$53,897
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,960,501 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,721,494
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,721,494
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $208,089 · Excluded from tax $28,000$236,089
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $2,918$2,918
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $208,089 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $30,918$1,960,501
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,906,604 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $5,000$5,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $34,422 · Management $11,473 · Fundraising $68,845$114,740
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $474,489 · Management $116,188 · Fundraising $75,188$665,865
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $23,656 · Management $6,334 · Fundraising $5,628$35,618
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $73,479 · Management $20,777 · Fundraising $17,542$111,798
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $41,834 · Management $10,147 · Fundraising $11,234$63,215
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $9,244$9,244
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $52,358$52,358
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $276,843 · Management $74,887 · Fundraising $5,188$356,918
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $8,993 · Management $4,899 · Fundraising $77$13,969
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,243 · Management $25,734$28,977
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $58,624 · Management $28,149 · Fundraising $492$87,265
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,657 · Management $1,213$3,870
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $314,829 · Management $3,047$317,876
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $9,326 · Management $4,582 · Fundraising $80$13,988
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,229 · Management $603 · Fundraising $11$1,843
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $10,851 · Management $12,918 · Fundraising $91$23,860
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $200$200
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,339,475 · Management $382,753 · Fundraising $184,376$1,906,604
Part X · Balance sheet $997,744 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $593,094$508,901
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$200,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $68,447$20,965
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $32,041$23,553
X-14 Intangible assets$27,500
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $268,021$216,825
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $961,603$997,744
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $78,406$65,336
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $118,933$122,247
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $205,339$187,583
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $606,264$549,661
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $150,000$260,500
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $756,264$810,161
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $961,603$997,744
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $810,161 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,960,501
XI-2 Total expenses$1,906,604
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$53,897
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$756,264
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$810,161

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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