The Circle Foundation INC FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

Washington, DC501(c)(3)EIN 52-1760808Revenue $2.3M in FY2020

On file with the IRS700 Pennsylvania Ave Se 2083, 20003-2493 · Washington, DCTax-exempt since Aug 1992Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The foundation's primary tax-exempt purpose is to give the public a greater voice in the public policy process by seeking to discern public opinion on public policy and to communicate its findings to the policy community, academia and the press.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$8K 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

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
4 of 7
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $437K a year · 43% of revenue · last 7 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 4 of the last 7 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 7 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$8K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 10.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $110K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.7M
441% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 441% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.3M
+316% vs prior year
Spent
$411K
To programs
83%
Net assets
−$2.8M
By yearFY2018–FY2024
Revenue
$2.3M
FY2020▲ +316%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2018$644K
FY2019$544K
FY2020$2.3M
FY2021$2.3M
FY2022$295K
FY2023$349K
FY2024$697K
Expenses
$411K
FY2020▼ -32%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2018$931K
FY2019$600K
FY2020$411K
FY2021$510K
FY2022$651K
FY2023$255K
FY2024$659K
Net assets
−$2.8M
FY2020▲ +38%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2018−$4.5M
FY2019−$4.6M
FY2020−$2.8M
FY2021−$1.3M
FY2022−$1.9M
FY2023−$1.5M
FY2024−$1.5M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · see the original

990 PDF Claim
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 1992.

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $343K Management & general 14% · $57K Fundraising 3% · $11K

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

6 people listed on the 990; $8K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President
$7,800Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

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

NameFY2022FY2021FY2020FY2019FY2018
Steven G Kull$5,100$7,800$7,800$7,800$7,800

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.

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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
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II3 listed

Programs and updates

Discovers and shares public opinion on policy to inform decision-makers and the public.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $343K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

The foundation, through its alliance with the program for public consultation at the university of maryland, studies overt policy opinions and conducts nationwide polls, focus groups and interviews.

$343Kprogram 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 · FY2023
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$110K
Grants paid · 3 grants · $342K · 2018–2020
Voice of the People INCDC · FY2020$50,000
Voice of the People INCDC · FY2019$129,600
Voice of the People INCDC · FY2018$162,000

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$103K
Other incomeLn 4–11$51K
Money outPt IX
$411K
Ln 25
Programscol B$343K
Managementcol C$57K
Fundraisingcol D$11K
Owns and owesPt X
−$2.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$346K
Total assetsLn 16$832K
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$1.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$255
Investment incomeLn 3$103K
Other incomeLn 4–11$51K
Gains on assetsLn 7$102K
Total revenueLn 12$2.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$331K
SavingsLn 2$16K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$346K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$477K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$926
Total assetsLn 16$832K
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.7M
Net assetsLn 32−$2.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 55
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$50K$346K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$477K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$995$926
Total assetsLn 16$54K$832K
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.6M$3.7M
Net assetsLn 32−$4.6M−$2.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$50K$50K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$8K$7K$390$390
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$181K$163K$9K$9K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$8K$7K$403$403
Payroll taxesLn 10$16K$14K$785$785
Legal feesLn 11b$7K$5K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$6K$6K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$713$641$36$36
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2K$1K$301$75
Office expensesLn 13$4K$4K$196$196
Information technologyLn 14$2K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$3K$3K
TravelLn 17$9K$9K
InterestLn 20$49K$24K$24K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$69$69
InsuranceLn 23$3K$3K$854
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$61K$54K$7K$179
All other expensesLn 24e$398$153$179$66
Total functional expensesLn 25$411K$343K$57K$11K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $697K$659K$38K−$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $349K$255K$94K−$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $295K$651K−$356K−$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.3M$510K$1.8M−$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $2.3M$411K$1.9M−$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2019 $544K$600K−$56K−$4.6M 990 PDF
FY2018 $644K$931K−$287K−$4.5M 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 FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,265,354 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $515,524$2,111,133
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $3,524$255
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $7$102,983
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $24,876$50,983
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $543,931$2,265,354
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $129,600$50,500
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $225,026$212,591
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $245,711$147,585
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $600,337$410,676
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$56,406$1,854,678
Part VI · Governance 5 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
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 $2,265,354 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $2,310 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,111,133
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$1,001,933
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,111,133
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $255$255
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,093$1,093
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $101,890$101,890
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $48,673$48,673
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $51,238 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $102,983$2,265,354
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $410,676 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $50,500$50,500
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $7,020 · Management $390 · Fundraising $390$7,800
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $162,935 · Management $9,052 · Fundraising $9,052$181,039
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $7,250 · Management $403 · Fundraising $403$8,056
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $14,126 · Management $785 · Fundraising $785$15,696
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $5,434 · Management $1,811$7,245
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $6,059$6,059
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $641 · Management $36 · Fundraising $36$713
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,303 · Management $301 · Fundraising $75$1,679
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $3,526 · Management $196 · Fundraising $196$3,918
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $2,107$2,107
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $2,682$2,682
IX-17 TravelPrograms $9,447$9,447
IX-20 InterestPrograms $24,354 · Management $24,354$48,708
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $69$69
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $2,561 · Management $854$3,415
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $53,603 · Management $7,363 · Fundraising $179$61,145
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $153 · Management $179 · Fundraising $66$398
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $342,853 · Management $56,641 · Fundraising $11,182$410,676
Part X · Balance sheet $831,994 assets, 11 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $6,469; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $50,496$330,723
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$15,720
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$1,088
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $995$926
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$477,068
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $54,460$831,994
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $13,466$10,130
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,620,710$3,671,082
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$4,566,250−$2,839,088
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$4,566,250−$2,839,088
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $54,460$831,994
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$2,839,088 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,265,354
XI-2 Total expenses$410,676
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,854,678
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$4,566,250
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$127,516
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$2,839,088

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

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