Common Cause Education Fund

Tax-deductible

Washington, DC501(c)(3)Since 2000Public & Societal BenefitEIN 31-1705370Revenue $26.8M in FY2024

On file with the IRSSuite 800, 20005-0000 · Washington, DCTax-exempt since Jul 2000Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The Common Cause Education Fund employs research, outreach, educational programming, and coalition building to increase public understanding of how our democracy works, empower citizens to hold their government accountable, and promote broad and effective citizen engagement at federal, state, and local levels.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 3,500 volunteers and 227 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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 $4.5M a year · 22% of revenue · last 4 filings
Fine: a surplus in 3 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.1M
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 53% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $656K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.9M
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
23
of 23 voting members
Looks good: 23 of 23 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$26.8M
+7% vs prior year
Spent
$24.9M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$32.2M
By yearFY2021–FY2024
Revenue
$26.8M
FY2024▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$24.2M
FY2022$19.6M
FY2023$13.4M
FY2024$25.1M
FY2024$26.8M
Expenses
$24.9M
FY2024▲ +46%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$17.4M
FY2022$13.3M
FY2023$16.6M
FY2024$17.0M
FY2024$24.9M
Net assets
$32.2M
FY2024▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$17.6M
FY2022$23.1M
FY2023$20.5M
FY2024$28.9M
FY2024$32.2M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Form 990 (PDF) Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jul 2000.

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

Where the money goes

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $22.8M Management & general 4% · $911K Fundraising 5% · $1.2M

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

36 people listed on the 990; $2.1M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President/CEO (as of 2/24)
$313,981Pt VII · Sec A
SVP, Fin. & Admin
$206,266Pt VII · Sec A
Pres. to 2/24, Then SVP, Pei
$201,958Pt VII · Sec A
Pres. to 2/24, Then SVP, Programs
$194,430Pt VII · Sec A
SVP, State Ops
$175,400Pt VII · Sec A
Associate VP, Development
$148,580Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Fin. Officer (until 3/24)
$145,054Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director, Ca
$144,307Pt VII · Sec A

Virginia Kase Solomon’s $314K as President/CEO (as of 2/24) is at the 53rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 232 $10–100M public & societal benefit 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Karen Hobert Flynn—$98,082$337,653$337,422$337,905
Virginia Kase Solomon$313,981————
Lashanda Jackson————$232,934
Elizabeth G Marchant—$222,358———
Elizabeth Marchant$145,054—$216,588$206,328$202,057
Reginald Brewington JR$206,266$29,201———
Jordan Davis Interim$201,958————
Marilyn Carpinteyro—$195,559$158,429—$129,206

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 Common Cause Education Fund 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

Promotes transparent government, voting rights, and equal political representation through public education, research, and litigation focused on election reform and campaign finance accountability.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $18.6M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

We worked with common cause state organizations, grassroots advocates, and coalition partners across the country to support democracy-related advocacy, civic participation, public education, and community engagement efforts at the state and local LEVEL.OUR state operations supported coalition coordination, public outreach, communications…

$10.0Mprogram expense
02

We worked to ensure that every eligible citizen had the freedom to vote and that every vote was accurately counted. During the 2024 election cycle, we led one of the nation's largest nonpartisan voter protection efforts to defend voting rights, strengthen election administration, and help voters navigate rapidly changing election…

$7.7Mprogram expense
03

We worked to protect a free and open internet, defend independent journalism, and ensure that voters had access to accurate and reliable INFORMATION.AFTER the federal communications commission (FCC) voted unanimously to outlaw robocalls using artificial intelligence (ai) voice-cloning technology to mislead voters, we launched public…

$923Kprogram 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 · FY2025
See all 9 funders →
Grants paid · 120 grants · $3.2M · 2023–2024
Blueprint North CarolinaNC · FY2024$250,000
Florida Rising Together INCFL · FY2024$65,000
We Are Down HomeNC · FY2024$57,500
Migrant Equity Southeast INCGA · FY2024$52,500
Initiate JusticeCA · FY2024$45,000
Action Institute NCNC · FY2024$40,000
Blueprint North CarolinaNC · FY2024$32,000
Tides CenterCA · FY2024$30,000
Starting Over StrongCA · FY2024$30,000
Greater Augusta's Interfaith Coalition INCFY2024$30,000
Community Water CenterCA · FY2024$30,000
See all 120 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$26.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$26.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$486K
Other incomeLn 4–11$76K
Money outPt IX
$24.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$22.8M
Managementcol C$911K
Fundraisingcol D$1.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$32.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$12.1M
Total assetsLn 16$34.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.9M
PeoplePt VI, VII
36
listed · VII A
PaidVII A12
Voting boardVI 1a23
IndependentVI 1b23
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$26.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1K
Investment incomeLn 3$486K
Other incomeLn 4–11$76K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$11K
Total revenueLn 12$26.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$12.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$12.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$16.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$118K
Other assetsLn 15$633K
Total assetsLn 16$34.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.9M
Net assetsLn 32$32.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5227
VolunteersI 63,500
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$15.1M$12.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11.0M$16.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$118K$118K
Total assetsLn 16$31.3M$34.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.4M$1.9M
Net assetsLn 32$28.9M$32.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$2.5M$2.5M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.1M$408K$467K$177K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$11.0M$10.4M$79K$609K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$423K$398K$1K$24K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.0M$1.8M$61K$126K
Payroll taxesLn 10$968K$865K$40K$62K
Legal feesLn 11b$240K$214K$20K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$119K$88K$24K$6K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$48K$48K
Investment management feesLn 11f$46K$45K$1K$333
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.0M$2.0M$29K$8K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2.1M$2.1M$6K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$155K$149K$4K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$703K$557K$45K$100K
OccupancyLn 16$497K$421K$60K$16K
TravelLn 17$613K$558K$38K$17K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$423K$380K$29K$13K
InsuranceLn 23$2K$2K$438$115
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$27K$19K$4K$4K
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$2K$4
Total functional expensesLn 25$24.9M$22.8M$911K$1.2M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $25.1M$17.0M$8.0M$28.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $13.4M$16.6M−$3.3M$20.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $19.6M$13.3M$6.3M$23.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $24.2M$17.4M$6.8M$17.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $26,755,383 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $24,649,985$26,191,397
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $68,550$1,300
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $399,302$486,450
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$53,386$76,236
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $25,064,451$26,755,383
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,023,950$2,470,489
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $11,833,477$15,519,240
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $28,500$48,000
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,144,123$6,891,523
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $17,030,050$24,929,252
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $8,034,401$1,826,131
Part VI · Governance 23 of 23 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body23
VI-1b Independent voting members23
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 $26,755,383 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$26,191,397
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$26,191,397
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,300$1,300
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $497,197$497,197
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$10,747−$10,747
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $39,178$39,178
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $37,058$37,058
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,300 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $562,686$26,755,383
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $24,929,252 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $2,470,489$2,470,489
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $407,627 · Management $467,285 · Fundraising $176,630$1,051,542
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $10,360,418 · Management $78,612 · Fundraising $609,488$11,048,518
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $397,822 · Management $1,210 · Fundraising $24,083$423,115
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,841,544 · Management $61,212 · Fundraising $125,730$2,028,486
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $864,897 · Management $40,449 · Fundraising $62,233$967,579
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $213,759 · Management $20,414 · Fundraising $5,374$239,547
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $88,492 · Management $24,239 · Fundraising $6,381$119,112
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $48,000$48,000
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $44,554 · Management $1,264 · Fundraising $333$46,151
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,958,313 · Management $29,345 · Fundraising $7,726$1,995,384
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,062,435 · Management $5,742 · Fundraising $2,007$2,070,184
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $149,356 · Management $4,392 · Fundraising $1,406$155,154
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $557,424 · Management $45,176 · Fundraising $100,265$702,865
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $420,520 · Management $60,319 · Fundraising $15,879$496,718
IX-17 TravelPrograms $557,876 · Management $37,536 · Fundraising $17,452$612,864
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $380,201 · Management $29,172 · Fundraising $13,370$422,743
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,597 · Management $438 · Fundraising $115$2,150
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $18,848 · Management $4,149 · Fundraising $4,041$27,038
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,609 · Management $4$1,613
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $22,797,781 · Management $910,958 · Fundraising $1,220,513$24,929,252
Part X · Balance sheet $34,104,797 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $15,072,883$12,114,702
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $3,076,273$4,182,926
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $139,930$132,996
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $117,747$117,747
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $10,982,515$16,923,187
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,899,601$633,239
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $31,288,949$34,104,797
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,358,835$1,926,895
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $33,644$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,392,479$1,926,895
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $14,578,854$12,917,678
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $14,317,616$19,260,224
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $28,896,470$32,177,902
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $31,288,949$34,104,797
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $32,177,902 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$26,755,383
XI-2 Total expenses$24,929,252
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,826,131
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$28,896,470
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$290,743
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$8,359
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$1,156,199
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$32,177,902

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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