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.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$118K 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

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
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
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$118K
to officers and key staff · 15% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 15% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $1.2M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 7.4 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
$30K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
39
of 39 voting members
Looks good: 39 of 39 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$806K
+16% vs prior year
Spent
$811K
To programs
81%
Net assets
$1.6M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$806K
FY2024▲ +16%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$388K
FY2022$783K
FY2023$697K
FY2024$806K
FY2025$1.1M
Expenses
$811K
FY2024▲ +30%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$242K
FY2022$548K
FY2023$623K
FY2024$811K
FY2025$887K
Net assets
$1.6M
FY2024▲ +5%
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 FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2024 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

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $655K Management & general 13% · $102K Fundraising 7% · $54K

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

44 people listed on the 990; $118K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
$118,000Pt VII · Sec A
Past Co-Chair Until Nov. 2023
$0Pt VII · Sec A
2023, Then Immediate Past Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
May 2024, Co-Chair as of Nov. 2023
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Nov. 2023, Then Co-Chair Elect
$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.

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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

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

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $655K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Collective capacity building previously. Communications and part of the field network program: the appleseed foundation deepens the appleseed network's impact by helping build communities of learning and practice among the 18 appleseed justice centers.

$354Kprogram expense
02

Appleseed network collaboration previously. Collaborative projects and pro bono legal services: the appleseed foundation facilitates collaborative advocacy among the 18 justice centers in the appleseed network.

$258Kprogram expense
03

Appleseed new justice centers is a new program that includes a part of the previously, field network category: the appleseed foundation sows the seeds of justice by launching new appleseed justice centers.

$43Kprogram 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 FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$806K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$787K
Investment incomeLn 3$52K
Money outPt IX
$811K
Ln 25
Programscol B$655K
Managementcol C$102K
Fundraisingcol D$54K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$497K
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$30K
PeoplePt VI, VII
44
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a39
IndependentVI 1b39
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$787K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$422K
Investment incomeLn 3$52K
Gains on assetsLn 7$16K
Total revenueLn 12$806K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$145K
SavingsLn 2$352K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$497K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$30K
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$572K$497K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$112K$30K
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M$1.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$313K$313K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$130K$96K$19K$15K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$164K$121K$23K$19K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$8K$6K$1K$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$28K$19K$5K$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$23K$17K$3K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$26K$26K
Investment management feesLn 11f$2K$2K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$17K$16K$809
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2K$2K$124
Office expensesLn 13$26K$21K$430$4K
Information technologyLn 14$11K$24$8K$3K
TravelLn 17$12K$7K$5K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$37K$35K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$7K$837$6K$139
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$5K$474$1K$4K
Total functional expensesLn 25$811K$655K$102K$54K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.1M$887K$167K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $806K$811K−$5K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $805,974 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $670,763$786,800
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $44,771$52,013
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$18,840−$32,839
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $696,694$805,974
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $198,135$312,682
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $309,672$352,486
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $115,045$145,824
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $622,852$810,992
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $73,842−$5,018
Part VI · Governance 39 of 39 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body39
VI-1b Independent voting members39
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
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $805,974 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$421,603
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$365,197
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$786,800
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $35,938$35,938
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $16,075$16,075
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$32,839−$32,839
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $19,174$805,974
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $810,992 across 16 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $312,682$312,682
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $95,742 · Management $18,594 · Fundraising $15,456$129,792
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $120,781 · Management $23,400 · Fundraising $19,451$163,632
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $6,173 · Management $1,193 · Fundraising $1,015$8,381
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $19,160 · Management $4,953 · Fundraising $3,656$27,769
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $17,042 · Management $3,110 · Fundraising $2,760$22,912
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $26,107$26,107
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $1,740$1,740
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $16,500 · Management $809$17,309
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,954 · Management $124$2,078
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $21,463 · Management $430 · Fundraising $4,481$26,374
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $24 · Management $7,886 · Fundraising $3,387$11,297
IX-17 TravelPrograms $6,624 · Management $5,273$11,897
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $35,187 · Management $1,533$36,720
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $837 · Management $5,860 · Fundraising $139$6,836
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $474 · Management $1,374 · Fundraising $3,618$5,466
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $654,643 · Management $102,386 · Fundraising $53,963$810,992
Part X · Balance sheet $1,667,481 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $199,319$145,023
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $372,642$352,054
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $16,150$13,360
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $821,392$894,954
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $268,016$262,090
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,677,519$1,667,481
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $36,599$17,498
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $75,000$12,971
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $111,599$30,469
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $353,885$475,429
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,212,035$1,161,583
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,565,920$1,637,012
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,677,519$1,667,481
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,637,012 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$805,974
XI-2 Total expenses$810,992
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$5,018
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,565,920
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$76,110
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,637,012

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

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