Common Cause FY2021 filing

Not tax-deductible

Washington, DC501(c)(4)Since 1968EIN 52-6078441Revenue $13.3M in FY2021

On file with the IRScommoncause.org805 15th St Nw Ste 800, 20005-2207 · Washington, DCTax-exempt since Apr 1968

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With offices in washington d.c. And 25 states and 1.5 million supporters and activists, Common Cause works to advance democracy reforms at federal, state, and local levels, through drafting model legislation, lobbying, public engagement, and joint efforts with diverse partners across the reform community.

38¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2021 · 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
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
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.8M a year · 24% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
38%
of spending
Concern: 38% of spending went to programs; under 50%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $82K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.4M
14% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 14% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
26
of 27 voting members
Looks good: 26 of 27 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$13.3M
Spent
$8.0M
To programs
38%
Net assets
$8.7M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$13.3M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$13.3M
FY2022$10.1M
FY2023$8.4M
FY2024$8.4M
FY2025$19.6M
Expenses
$8.0M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$8.0M
FY2022$8.8M
FY2023$9.7M
FY2024$9.3M
FY2025$10.0M
Net assets
$8.7M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$8.7M
FY2022$9.9M
FY2023$8.7M
FY2024$8.0M
FY2025$17.7M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 1968.

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

Where the money goes

38 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 38% · $3.0M Management & general 23% · $1.8M Fundraising 39% · $3.1M

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.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Common Cause 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 democratic reforms by promoting fair voting and redistricting, reducing the influence of money in politics, and demanding government ethics and accountability.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $3.0M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Voting & elections testified to state legislatures in support of legislation promoting the use of risk-limiting audits in connecticut, maine, massachusetts, and rhode island. Testified before congress in the house committee on homeland security's subcommittee on cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, and innovation on protecting the…

$1.4Mprogram expense
02

Redistricting & representationled several activities related to the 2020 census outreach including outreach to hard-to-reach communities through small partner grants, peer-to-peer texting to more than 200,000+ people, translation of media advertisements, in-language op-eds and radio ads.

$812Kprogram expense
03

Money in politics & ethics testified before congress in the house committee on the judiciary's subcommittee on the constitution, civil rights, and civil liberties about constitutional means to prevent abuse of the clemency power.

$784Kprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$82K
See all 4 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $278K · 2023–2023
Progress Georgia INCGA · FY2023$132,500
Equity in Education INCGA · FY2023$60,000
One Huddle One Mission LLCFY2023$30,000
Future GeorgiaGA · FY2023$15,500

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$13.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$13.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$43K
Investment incomeLn 3$32K
Money outPt IX
$8.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.0M
Managementcol C$1.8M
Fundraisingcol D$3.1M
Owns and owesPt X
$8.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.1M
Total assetsLn 16$10.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
33
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a27
IndependentVI 1b26
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$13.2M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$11K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$6K
Investment incomeLn 3$32K
Other incomeLn 4–11$43K
Gains on assetsLn 7$4K
Total revenueLn 12$13.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1K
SavingsLn 2$6.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$6.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$673K
Other assetsLn 15$291K
Total assetsLn 16$10.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$8.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5227
VolunteersI 62,300
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.9M$6.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.4M$2.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$843K$673K
Total assetsLn 16$4.7M$10.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.5M$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$3.2M$8.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$370K$115K$107K$148K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.7M$1.2M$159K$349K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$72K$46K$7K$19K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$265K$169K$27K$69K
Payroll taxesLn 10$140K$89K$14K$36K
Management feesLn 11a$376K$395K−$18K
Legal feesLn 11b$6K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$28K$28K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$93K$93K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$491K$404K$45K$42K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2.4M$115K$24K$2.2M
Office expensesLn 13$197K$99K$53K$46K
Information technologyLn 14$712K$106K$420K$186K
OccupancyLn 16$867K$164K$703K$64
TravelLn 17$6K$6K$41
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$20K$20K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$193K$193K
InsuranceLn 23$51K$51K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$22K$5K$18K
Total functional expensesLn 25$8.0M$3.0M$1.8M$3.1M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $19.6M$10.0M$9.6M$17.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $8.4M$9.3M−$900K$8.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $8.4M$9.7M−$1.3M$8.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $10.1M$8.8M$1.3M$9.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $13.3M$8.0M$5.3M$8.7M 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $13,316,479 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $9,065,727$13,242,387
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $96,000$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $45,943$31,536
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$24,308$42,556
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $9,183,362$13,316,479
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,986,728$2,541,078
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $5,608,734$5,431,487
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $8,595,462$7,972,565
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $587,900$5,343,914
Part VI · Governance 26 of 27 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body27
VI-1b Independent voting members26
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 $13,316,479 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$6,455
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$13,235,932
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$11,132
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$13,242,387
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $28,036$28,036
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $22$22
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax −$513−$513
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $3,500$3,500
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$193−$193
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $43,240$43,240
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $74,092$13,316,479
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $7,972,565 across 19 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $114,886 · Management $107,274 · Fundraising $147,664$369,824
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,185,883 · Management $158,607 · Fundraising $348,978$1,693,468
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $46,158 · Management $7,410 · Fundraising $18,808$72,376
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $169,255 · Management $27,170 · Fundraising $68,966$265,391
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $89,298 · Management $14,335 · Fundraising $36,386$140,019
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $394,983 · Management −$18,500$376,483
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $6,387$6,387
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $28,331$28,331
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $92,951$92,951
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $403,600 · Management $45,044 · Fundraising $42,000$490,644
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $114,758 · Management $24,448 · Fundraising $2,228,965$2,368,171
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $98,594 · Management $52,721 · Fundraising $45,733$197,048
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $105,651 · Management $419,585 · Fundraising $186,472$711,708
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $163,738 · Management $703,307 · Fundraising $64$867,109
IX-17 TravelPrograms $6,173 · Management $41$6,214
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $20,214$20,214
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $193,148$193,148
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $50,658$50,658
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $4,553 · Management $17,868$22,421
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,010,695 · Management $1,837,834 · Fundraising $3,124,036$7,972,565
Part X · Balance sheet $10,130,473 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,163$1,163
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,920,444$6,112,339
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $112,968$125,445
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $297,379$372,778
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $842,817$672,698
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,361,074$2,554,561
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $207,217$291,489
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,743,062$10,130,473
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $325,435$336,244
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,190,093$1,067,453
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,515,528$1,403,697
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,248,253$7,638,873
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $979,281$1,087,903
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,227,534$8,726,776
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,743,062$10,130,473
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $8,726,776 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$13,316,479
XI-2 Total expenses$7,972,565
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$5,343,914
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,227,534
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$155,328
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$8,726,776

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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