Appleseed is the founder of, and the national office for, a non-profit network of 18 centers across the u.s. And mexico. Appleseed is dedicated to advancing justice and opportunities that help low-income people and working families build better lives. Appleseed employs litigation, policy advocacy, and grass roots organizing, and makes a difference by staying close to theircommunities, winning victories in hard political environments, and bringing the power and expertise of a national network to bear on cross-cutting social issues.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$103K 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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FY2023 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $123K a year · 17% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$103K
to officers and key staff · 17% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 17% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
11 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $1.1M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 11.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $807K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$112K
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
30
of 30 voting members
Looks good: 30 of 30 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$697K
-11% vs prior year
Spent
$623K
To programs
73%
Net assets
$1.6M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$697K
FY2023▼ -11%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$388K
FY2022$783K
FY2023$697K
FY2024$806K
FY2025$1.1M
Expenses
$623K
FY2023▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$242K
FY2022$548K
FY2023$623K
FY2024$811K
FY2025$887K
Net assets
$1.6M
FY2023▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$1.5M
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$1.6M
FY2024$1.6M
FY2025$1.9M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Exemption reinstated (2019-11-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2021.

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

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $457K Management & general 18% · $114K Fundraising 8% · $51K

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

33 people listed on the 990; $103K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
$103,000Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Benet Magnuson Arthur Monroe’s $127K as Executive Director is at the 52nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1690 $1–10M philanthropy & grantmaking 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Benet Magnuson Arthur Monroe$127,220$118,000$103,000$90,000$42,192

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 Appleseed Foundation 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

Advances justice and opportunities for low-income people through litigation, advocacy, and community organizing.

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3 programs · $457K · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Field Network

Appleseed provides support to local, independent appleseed centers which expose and ameliorate injustices and eliminate barriers to opportunity and strengthen civil society by engagingleaders in the ongoing work of building justice and community.

$222Kprogram expense
02

Collaborative Projects and Pro Bono Legal Services

Appleseed organizes and establishes appleseed centers and provides support to new and established centers through a variety of means, including project consultation and coordination, moving local projects to the national stage, participating in national coalitions, and funding for collaborative projects.

$215Kprogram expense
03

Communications

Appleseed informs opinion leaders, policymakers, the media, its staff and supporters, and members of the public about its research, advocacy campaigns and accomplishments. Appleseed's communication tools include its online newsletter, a regularly updated website, distribution of publications and other social media platforms.

$20Kprogram 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 5 funders →
Grants paid · 30 grants · $1.1M · 2021–2024
See all 30 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$697K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$671K
Investment incomeLn 3$45K
Money outPt IX
$623K
Ln 25
Programscol B$457K
Managementcol C$114K
Fundraisingcol D$51K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$572K
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$112K
PeoplePt VI, VII
33
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a30
IndependentVI 1b30
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$671K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$12K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$208K
Investment incomeLn 3$45K
Gains on assetsLn 7$23K
Total revenueLn 12$697K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$199K
SavingsLn 2$373K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$572K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$112K
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52
VolunteersI 655
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$455K$572K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$1.5M$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$53K$112K
Net assetsLn 32$1.5M$1.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$195K$195K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$3K$3K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$116K$75K$26K$15K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$143K$93K$32K$19K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$7K$4K$1K$876
Other employee benefitsLn 9$24K$15K$5K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$20K$13K$4K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$23K$23K
Investment management feesLn 11f$2K$2K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$14K$9K$3K$2K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$4K$1K$3K$128
Office expensesLn 13$37K$23K$8K$6K
Information technologyLn 14$5K$3K$1K$670
TravelLn 17$7K$5K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$14K$9K$3K$928
InsuranceLn 23$6K$4K$1K$742
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$4K$2K$823$486
Total functional expensesLn 25$623K$457K$114K$51K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.1M$887K$167K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $806K$811K−$5K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $697K$623K$74K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $783K$548K$234K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $388K$242K$146K$1.5M 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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $696,694 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $725,927$670,763
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $56,654$44,771
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $100−$18,840
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $782,681$696,694
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $271,788$198,135
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $193,945$309,672
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $82,677$115,045
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $548,410$622,852
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $234,271$73,842
Part VI · Governance 30 of 30 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body30
VI-1b Independent voting members30
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 $696,694 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$208,381
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$462,382
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$12,032
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$670,763
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $21,861$21,861
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $22,910$22,910
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$19,080−$19,080
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $240$240
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $25,931$696,694
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $622,852 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $195,135$195,135
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $3,000$3,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $75,417 · Management $25,525 · Fundraising $15,083$116,025
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $93,076 · Management $31,502 · Fundraising $18,615$143,193
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $4,377 · Management $1,481 · Fundraising $876$6,734
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $15,487 · Management $5,242 · Fundraising $3,098$23,827
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $12,931 · Management $4,376 · Fundraising $2,586$19,893
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $22,788$22,788
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $1,579$1,579
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $9,243 · Management $3,101 · Fundraising $1,876$14,220
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,032 · Management $2,716 · Fundraising $128$3,876
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $23,026 · Management $7,863 · Fundraising $6,159$37,048
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,393 · Management $1,148 · Fundraising $670$5,211
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,411 · Management $1,831$7,242
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $9,488 · Management $3,211 · Fundraising $928$13,627
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,714 · Management $1,257 · Fundraising $742$5,713
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,432 · Management $823 · Fundraising $486$3,741
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $457,162 · Management $114,443 · Fundraising $51,247$622,852
Part X · Balance sheet $1,677,519 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $444,061$199,319
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $10,500$372,642
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,736$16,150
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $769,439$821,392
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $302,175$268,016
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,531,911$1,677,519
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $21,214$36,599
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $31,554$75,000
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $52,768$111,599
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $283,266$353,885
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,195,877$1,212,035
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,479,143$1,565,920
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,531,911$1,677,519
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,565,920 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$696,694
XI-2 Total expenses$622,852
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$73,842
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,479,143
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$12,935
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,565,920

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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