Running Start is a nonpartisan nonprofit that trains young women to run for political office.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$124K 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)(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
3 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $32K a year · 3% of revenue · last 4 filings
Fine: a surplus in 3 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
84%
of spending
Looks good: 84% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$124K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.8 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $73K
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$70K
23% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 23% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
26
of 27 voting members
Looks good: 26 of 27 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.2M
Spent
$1.3M
To programs
84%
Net assets
$232K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.2M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$1.1M
FY2024$1.3M
Expenses
$1.3M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.3M
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$984K
FY2024$1.2M
Net assets
$232K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$232K
FY2021$91K
FY2022$98K
FY2024$137K

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 Feb 2008.

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

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $1.1M Management & general 8% · $102K Fundraising 8% · $108K

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

27 people listed on the 990; $124K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
CEO, Founder & Board Member
$124,155Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Democratic Cochair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Susannah Wellford’s $142K as CEO Founder is at the 61st percentile of top reported officer pay among 1552 $1–10M youth development 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

NameFY2024FY2022FY2021FY2020
Susannah Wellford$141,933$126,715$128,849$124,155
Melissa Richmond—$102,911——

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 Running Start 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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Trains young women to run for political office.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $844K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Congressional Fellowship

The Congressional Fellowship includes a semester-long internship with a woman in Congress, free fully furnished group housing on Capitol Hill, a living stipend, and travel to and from Washington, DC.

$342Kprogram expense
02

High School Program

Running Start's High School Program was traditionally a weeklong in-person program in Washington, DC. During the pandemic, the program has been a month-long virtual program. In both formats, 50-80 participants learn leadership and campaign skills from 100+ speakers, trainers and Members of Congress while working with a team on a campaign…

$254Kprogram expense
03

Elect Her

Elect Her is a daylong training for college women on how to run for student government and beyond. It is held in person and virtually. 88% of Elect Her alums who ran for office reported that their training informed their campaign strategy. Each year, 50 Elect Her trainings are held around the country.

$248Kprogram 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
See all 7 funders →
Grants paid · 8 grants · $118K · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$19,500
Unitemized GrantFY2022$16,950
XceleaderGA · FY2022$7,500
Unitemized GrantFY2021$10,125
XceleaderGA · FY2021$7,500
Unitemized GrantFY2020$33,750
XceleaderGA · FY2020$15,000
Unitemized GrantFY2020$8,000

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$90K
Money outPt IX
$1.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.1M
Managementcol C$102K
Fundraisingcol D$108K
Owns and owesPt X
$232K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$83K
Total assetsLn 16$301K
LiabilitiesLn 26$70K
PeoplePt VI, VII
27
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a27
IndependentVI 1b26
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$116K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$232K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$90K
Total revenueLn 12$1.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$16K
SavingsLn 2$67K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$83K
Other assetsLn 15$11K
Total assetsLn 16$301K
LiabilitiesLn 26$70K
Net assetsLn 32$232K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 511
VolunteersI 6250
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$269K$83K
Total assetsLn 16$439K$301K
LiabilitiesLn 26$60K$70K
Net assetsLn 32$379K$232K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$15K$15K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$42K$42K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$142K$113K$14K$14K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$420K$336K$42K$42K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$16K$13K$2K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$10K$8K$976$976
Payroll taxesLn 10$47K$37K$5K$5K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$28K$22K$3K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$32K$25K$3K$3K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$6K$6K
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$113K$90K$11K$11K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$55K$55K
Office expensesLn 13$29K$23K$3K$3K
Information technologyLn 14$93K$74K$9K$9K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$110K$101K$4K$4K
TravelLn 17$14K$14K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$12K$10K$1K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$88K$83K$2K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$10K$8K$981$981
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.3M$1.1M$102K$108K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $1.3M$1.2M$109K$137K 990 PDF
FY2023 Not on file
FY2022 $1.1M$984K$92K$98K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.1M$1.1M$16K$91K 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $1.2M$1.3M−$88K$232K 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 M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,191,756 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $948,764$1,156,889
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $109,225$90,150
I-10 Investment incomePrior year −$132$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$22,613−$55,283
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,035,244$1,191,756
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$56,750
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $557,632$634,445
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$5,681
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $456,557$583,165
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,014,189$1,280,041
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $21,055−$88,285
Part VI · Governance 26 of 27 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body27
VI-1b Independent voting members26
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,191,756 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$231,540
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$925,349
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$115,619
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,156,889
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $90,150 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$90,150
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$55,283−$55,283
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $90,150 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$55,283$1,191,756
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,280,041 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $15,000$15,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $41,750$41,750
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $113,479 · Management $14,185 · Fundraising $14,185$141,849
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $336,239 · Management $42,030 · Fundraising $42,030$420,299
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $12,568 · Management $1,571 · Fundraising $1,571$15,710
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $7,808 · Management $976 · Fundraising $976$9,760
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $37,463 · Management $4,682 · Fundraising $4,682$46,827
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $22,253 · Management $2,782 · Fundraising $2,782$27,817
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $25,278 · Management $3,160 · Fundraising $3,160$31,598
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $5,681$5,681
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $90,403 · Management $11,300 · Fundraising $11,300$113,003
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $54,893$54,893
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $23,235 · Management $2,904 · Fundraising $2,904$29,043
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $74,148 · Management $9,269 · Fundraising $9,269$92,686
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $101,380 · Management $4,453 · Fundraising $4,453$110,286
IX-17 TravelPrograms $14,095$14,095
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $9,617 · Management $1,202 · Fundraising $1,202$12,021
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $83,219 · Management $2,348 · Fundraising $2,348$87,915
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $7,846 · Management $981 · Fundraising $981$9,808
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,070,674 · Management $101,843 · Fundraising $107,524$1,280,041
Part X · Balance sheet $301,098 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $268,957$15,878
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$67,312
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$136,870
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $45,967$15,643
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $52,477$54,543
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $10,852$10,852
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $439,213$301,098
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $55,452$39,668
X-18 Grants payable$15,000
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $5,000$14,883
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $60,452$69,551
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $378,761$231,547
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $378,761$231,547
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $439,213$301,098
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $231,547 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,191,756
XI-2 Total expenses$1,280,041
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$88,285
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$378,761
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$58,929
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$231,547

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

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