Fairvote Action Fund

Not tax-deductible

Silver Spring, MD501(c)(4) EIN 38-3650370Revenue $1.8M in FY2024

On file with the IRS8484 Georgia Avenue 240, 20910-5604 · Silver Spring, MDTax-exempt since Dec 2002

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What claiming does How does your 990 look to donors? Take the 10-Question Audit

To advocate for electoral reforms that expand democracy and promote greater voter choice in elections at the local, state and federal level.

501(c)(4) social-welfare organization; gifts are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
96¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $79K a year · 6% 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
96%
of spending
Looks good: 96% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $961K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$145K
25% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 25% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.8M
+59% vs prior year
Spent
$1.6M
To programs
96%
Net assets
$439K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.8M
FY2024▲ +59%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$280K
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.7M
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$1.8M
Expenses
$1.6M
FY2024▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$313K
FY2021$492K
FY2022$1.9M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$1.6M
Net assets
$439K
FY2024▲ +84%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$10K
FY2021$729K
FY2022$606K
FY2023$239K
FY2024$439K

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

990 PDF Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Dec 2002.

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

Where the money goes

96 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 96% · $1.5M Management & general 2% · $32K Fundraising 2% · $33K

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

19 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chair and Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President and CEO
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Finance Manager
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Former COO and Interim CEO
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2021FY2020
Robert Richie$500$2,900

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 Fairvote Action 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

Advocates for electoral reforms to expand democracy and increase voter choice.

Questions for Fairvote Action Fund

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Your first name shows with your question. Fairvote Action Fund answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

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1 program · $1.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

2024 fairvote action (c4) accomplishmentsfairvote action achieved several voting reform wins in 2024. In partnership with other advocates and organizations, fairvote action: provided funding and advocacy support for successful campaigns to pass pro-rcv legislation in six states and win seven municipal RCV ballot MEASURES.PUBLISHED…

$1.5Mprogram 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
Action Now INCFY2024$400K
Article IVFY2024$300K
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$961K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 32 grants · $1.3M · 2020–2024
Make All Votes Count DCFY2024$285,000
California Rcv Institute INCCA · FY2024$50,000
Preferential Primaries ActionFY2024$35,000
Iowa Democratic PartyFY2024$25,000
Yes on 117OR · FY2024$10,000
Missouri Democratic State CommitteeFY2024$10,000
Rank Mi Vote Ballot Question CommitteeFY2023$35,000
Make All Votes Count DCFY2023$25,000
California Rcv Coalition INCFY2023$25,000
Partners in Democracy INCMA · FY2023$12,000
Ranked Choice Voting for SeattleFY2022$390,000
Ranked Choice Voting for Clark CountyFY2022$50,000
Charting a Better PortlandOR · FY2022$50,000
Oregonians for Better ElectionsFY2022$50,000
Portlanders for Charter ReformFY2022$25,000
Yes for Ranked Choice VotingIL · FY2022$20,000
California Rcv Coalition INCFY2022$15,000
See all 32 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Money outPt IX
$1.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.5M
Managementcol C$32K
Fundraisingcol D$33K
Owns and owesPt X
$439K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$320K
Total assetsLn 16$583K
LiabilitiesLn 26$145K
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Total revenueLn 12$1.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$320K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$320K
Total assetsLn 16$583K
LiabilitiesLn 26$145K
Net assetsLn 32$439K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 60
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$317K$320K
Total assetsLn 16$410K$583K
LiabilitiesLn 26$171K$145K
Net assetsLn 32$239K$439K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$443K$443K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$286K$285K$918
Legal feesLn 11b$356$356
Accounting feesLn 11c$12K$12K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$584K$546K$14K$25K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$89$85$2$2
Information technologyLn 14$12K$11K$498$473
TravelLn 17$19K$18K$425$510
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$156K$148K$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$82K$78K$2K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$2K$41$49
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.6M$1.5M$32K$33K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $1.8M$1.6M$200K$439K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.1M$1.5M−$367K$239K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.7M$1.9M−$123K$606K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.2M$492K$719K$729K 990 PDF
FY2020 $280K$313K−$33K$10K 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,795,956 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,127,795$1,794,799
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $3,108$1,157
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,130,903$1,795,956
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $97,000$443,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $415,112$285,596
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $986,255$867,094
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,498,367$1,595,690
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$367,464$200,266
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
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 $1,795,956 across 4 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,794,799
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,794,799
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,157$1,157
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,157$1,795,956
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,595,690 across 11 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $443,000$443,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $284,678 · Fundraising $918$285,596
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $356$356
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $12,004$12,004
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $546,299 · Management $13,502 · Fundraising $24,527$584,328
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $85 · Management $2 · Fundraising $2$89
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $10,529 · Management $498 · Fundraising $473$11,500
IX-17 TravelPrograms $17,755 · Management $425 · Fundraising $510$18,690
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $148,272 · Management $3,546 · Fundraising $4,257$156,075
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $78,118 · Management $1,869 · Fundraising $2,243$82,230
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,732 · Management $41 · Fundraising $49$1,822
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,530,468 · Management $32,243 · Fundraising $32,979$1,595,690
Part X · Balance sheet $583,420 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $316,748$319,664
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $76,454$263,756
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $16,694$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $409,896$583,420
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $69,110$51,891
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $102,277$92,754
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $171,387$144,645
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $163,509−$82,957
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $75,000$521,732
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $238,509$438,775
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $409,896$583,420
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $438,775 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,795,956
XI-2 Total expenses$1,595,690
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$200,266
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$238,509
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$438,775

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

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