Democracy Forward Foundation FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Washington, DC501(c)(3)Since 2017Crime & LegalEIN 82-1007988Revenue $5.3M in FY2021

On file with the IRSdemocracyforward.org1445 New York Ave Nw, 20005-2134 · Washington, DCTax-exempt since Jun 2017Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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To protect the rights and institutions that make our nation's Democracy strong by working through the legal system and administrative processes to preserve the rule of law and hold government accountable, and to educate the public about those efforts.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$2.1M 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

FY2021 · 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
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.3M a year · 25% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.1M
to officers and key staff · 57% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 57% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
13 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 12.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
10
named funders · $266K
Looks good: 10 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$32K
0.8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% 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
$5.3M
+11% vs prior year
Spent
$3.7M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$4.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$5.3M
FY2021▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.8M
FY2021$5.3M
FY2022$6.2M
FY2023$12.4M
FY2024$17.8M
FY2024$65.7M
Expenses
$3.7M
FY2021▼ -12%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.3M
FY2021$3.7M
FY2022$5.2M
FY2023$8.5M
FY2024$13.0M
FY2024$29.0M
Net assets
$4.0M
FY2021▲ +63%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.5M
FY2021$4.0M
FY2022$5.1M
FY2023$8.9M
FY2024$13.6M
FY2024$50.3M

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

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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 Jun 2017.

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

Where the money goes

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $3.4M Management & general 8% · $311K Fundraising 1% · $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; $2.1M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Legal Director
$265,625Pt VII · Sec A
Exec Dir Resigned April 2021
$238,333Pt VII · Sec A
Managing SR Counsel
$195,600Pt VII · Sec A
Managing SR Counsel
$195,560Pt VII · Sec A
Managing SR Counsel
$184,986Pt VII · Sec A
Managing SR Counsel
$184,903Pt VII · Sec A
Public Affairs Director
$153,000Pt VII · Sec A
External Affairs
$144,000Pt VII · Sec A

Skye L Perryman’s $591K as President and CEO is at the 96th percentile of top reported officer pay among 247 $10–100M crime & legal 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Skye L Perryman$590,521$453,887$331,402———
Sean Lev——$231,011$257,083$265,625—
Anne Harkavy————$238,333$260,000
Javier Guzman—————$249,687
Robin F Thurston$236,713$221,039$176,811———
Victoria Nugent$233,016—————
Sunu P Chandy$222,353—————
Jeffery Dubner—$219,447$175,584———

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 Democracy Forward Foundation 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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Advocates for government accountability and the rule of law through legal action and public education to strengthen democracy.

Provided by the organization

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1 program · $3.4M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

To protect the rights and institutions that make our nation's democracy strong by working through the legal system and administrative processes to preserve the rule of law and hold the united states government accountable, and to educate the public about those efforts.

$3.4Mprogram 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
See all 10 funders →
Grants paid · 4 grants · $120K · 2022–2024

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.3M
Money outPt IX
$3.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.4M
Managementcol C$311K
Fundraisingcol D$33K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.0M
Total assetsLn 16$4.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$32K
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A12
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.3M
Gains on assetsLn 7−$8K
Total revenueLn 12$5.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$4.0M
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$4.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$10K
Other assetsLn 15$18K
Total assetsLn 16$4.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$32K
Net assetsLn 32$4.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 587
VolunteersI 66
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.4M$4.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$42K$10K
Total assetsLn 16$2.5M$4.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$53K$32K
Net assetsLn 32$2.5M$4.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.3M$1.2M$28K$28K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.5M$1.4M$145K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$53K$47K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$70K$54K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$202K$187K$14K$2K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$13K$2K$11K
Accounting feesLn 11c$25K$25K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$52K$49K$3K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$48K$33K$15K$80
Information technologyLn 14$20K$18K$2K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$227K$205K$23K
TravelLn 17$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2K$2K$67
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$24K$24K
InsuranceLn 23$31K$28K$3K$45
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$154K$153K$817
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.7M$3.4M$311K$33K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $17.8M$13.0M$4.7M$13.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $12.4M$8.5M$3.8M$8.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.2M$5.2M$1.0M$5.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $5.3M$3.7M$1.6M$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $4.8M$4.3M$513K$2.5M 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,297,085 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,764,100$5,305,000
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0−$7,915
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,764,100$5,297,085
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 $3,598,104$3,145,566
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $653,012$595,503
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,251,116$3,741,069
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $512,984$1,556,016
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
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
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $5,297,085 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,305,000
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,305,000
VIII-3 Investment income$0
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$7,915−$7,915
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueExcluded from tax −$7,915$5,297,085
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,741,069 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,248,928 · Management $27,777 · Fundraising $27,777$1,304,482
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,370,888 · Management $145,333$1,516,221
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $47,057 · Management $5,813$52,870
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $53,685 · Management $16,090$69,775
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $186,865 · Management $13,627 · Fundraising $1,726$202,218
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $2,281 · Management $10,528$12,809
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $24,883$24,883
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $48,777 · Fundraising $3,000$51,777
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $32,612 · Management $14,860 · Fundraising $80$47,552
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $18,290 · Management $2,032$20,322
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $204,660 · Management $22,740$227,400
IX-17 Travel$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,868 · Management $67$1,935
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $23,898$23,898
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $27,628 · Management $3,019 · Fundraising $45$30,692
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $153,418 · Management $817$154,235
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,396,957 · Management $311,484 · Fundraising $32,628$3,741,069
Part X · Balance sheet $4,068,777 assets, 24 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,449,193$3,977,874
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $0$5,500
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $8,192$192
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $34,833$57,143
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $41,536$9,723
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$18,345
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,533,754$4,068,777
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $53,297$32,304
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $53,297$32,304
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,376,290$4,036,473
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $104,167$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,480,457$4,036,473
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,533,754$4,068,777
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,036,473 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,297,085
XI-2 Total expenses$3,741,069
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,556,016
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,480,457
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,036,473

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

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