Defending Democracy Together FY2020 filing

Washington, DC501(c)(4)Since 2018 EIN 82-3877328Revenue $37.8M in FY2020

On file with the IRS601 PA Ave Nw S Blg Ste 900, 20004-0000 · Washington, DCTax-exempt since May 2021

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Dedicated to Defending america's democratic norms, values, and institutions and fighting for consistent conservative principles like rule of law, free trade, and expanding legal immigration.

99¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$12K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · 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
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
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.3M a year · 8% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
99%
of spending
Looks good: 99% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$12K
to officers and key staff · 0.03% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 0% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $3.2M
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$687K
10% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 10% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$37.8M
Spent
$38.1M
To programs
99%
Net assets
$6.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$37.8M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$37.8M
FY2021$13.7M
FY2022$9.0M
FY2023$4.5M
FY2024$18.8M
Expenses
$38.1M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$38.1M
FY2021$7.1M
FY2022$10.3M
FY2023$8.0M
FY2024$13.9M
Net assets
$6.4M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$6.4M
FY2021$12.9M
FY2022$11.6M
FY2023$8.1M
FY2024$13.0M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · 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 May 2021.

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

Where the money goes

99 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 99% · $37.8M Management & general 1% · $242K Fundraising 0% · $106K

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

5 people listed on the 990; $12K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$12,000Pt VII · Sec A
Director/President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director/Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director/Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Sarah Longwell$12,000$12,000$12,000$12,000$12,000
William Kristol$500$500$500$1,000—
Mona Charen$500$500$500$1,000—
Linda Chavez$500$500$500$1,000—
Tim Miller$500$500$500$1,000—

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 Defending Democracy Together 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

Defends democratic norms and fights for conservative principles like rule of law and free trade.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $36.7M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Republican voters against trump (rvat) was a coalition of republicans, former republicans, conservatives, and former trump voters who did not support donald trump for president in the 2020 election.

$24.7Mprogram expense
02

Defending democracy together's (DDT) general program promoted government accountability and strict adherence to the law and the constitution, a welcoming legal immigration policy, and free trade.

$8.3Mprogram expense
03

In 2020, republicans for the rule of law (rrol) was a high-profile, effective, center-right voice defending the institutions of our republic and urging our elected officials to uphold the rule of law.

$3.7Mprogram 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
Impetus FundFY2024$1.0M
Total grants receivedfrom 7 funders$3.2M
See all 7 funders →
Grants paid · 22 grants · $22.9M · 2020–2024
Republican Accountability Pac INCFY2024$3,000,000
C & B GroupDC · FY2024$300,000
The Liberal Patriot INCDC · FY2024$100,000
Republican Accountability Pac INCFY2023$2,000,000
Tell IT Like IT Is PacFY2023$500,000
C & B GroupDC · FY2023$212,500
C & B GroupDC · FY2022$100,000
Workmoney INCWI · FY2021$1,000,000
Sixteen Thirty FundDC · FY2021$500,000
Stand Up Republic INCDC · FY2021$30,000
Veterans for Responsible LeadershipFY2021$20,000
Operation GrantFY2021$11,598
Republican Voters Against Trump INCFY2020$6,633,762
Workmoney INCWI · FY2020$4,225,000
Pizza to the PollsOR · FY2020$2,250,000
See all 22 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$37.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$37.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$375K
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Money outPt IX
$38.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$37.8M
Managementcol C$242K
Fundraisingcol D$106K
Owns and owesPt X
$6.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.6M
Total assetsLn 16$7.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$687K
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$37.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$375K
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Total revenueLn 12$37.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$817K
SavingsLn 2$5.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$6.6M
Total assetsLn 16$7.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$687K
Net assetsLn 32$6.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51
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$6.2M$6.6M
Total assetsLn 16$7.3M$7.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$558K$687K
Net assetsLn 32$6.7M$6.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$14.4M$14.4M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$12K$12K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$5.0M$4.9M$154K$19K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1K$1K
Legal feesLn 11b$37K$31K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$63K$2K$61K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$892K$883K$2K$6K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$17.5M$17.5M
Office expensesLn 13$6K$6K$408$348
Information technologyLn 14$116K$100K$9K$7K
TravelLn 17$23K$22K$708
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$898$898
InsuranceLn 23$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$67K$6K$531$60K
All other expensesLn 24e$116$116
Total functional expensesLn 25$38.1M$37.8M$242K$106K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $18.8M$13.9M$4.9M$13.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.5M$8.0M−$3.5M$8.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $9.0M$10.3M−$1.3M$11.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $13.7M$7.1M$6.6M$12.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $37.8M$38.1M−$353K$6.4M 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 FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $37,764,313 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $9,378,608$37,388,305
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $994$374,986
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $299$1,022
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $9,379,901$37,764,313
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $55,270$14,378,762
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $417,915$5,063,064
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $30,000$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,475,736$18,675,867
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,978,921$38,117,693
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $5,400,980−$353,380
Part VI · Governance 3 of 4 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members3
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 $37,764,313 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$37,388,305
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$37,388,305
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $374,986$374,986
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,022$1,022
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $374,986 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,022$37,764,313
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $38,117,693 across 15 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $14,378,762$14,378,762
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffFundraising $12,000$12,000
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $4,876,373 · Management $154,159 · Fundraising $19,237$5,049,769
IX-10 Payroll taxesFundraising $1,295$1,295
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $31,032 · Management $6,095$37,127
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $1,819 · Management $61,377$63,196
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $883,261 · Management $2,128 · Fundraising $6,246$891,635
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $17,463,587$17,463,587
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $5,510 · Management $408 · Fundraising $348$6,266
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $100,341 · Management $9,058 · Fundraising $6,898$116,297
IX-17 TravelPrograms $21,976 · Management $708$22,684
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $898$898
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $6,973$6,973
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $6,192 · Management $531 · Fundraising $60,365$67,088
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $116$116
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $37,769,751 · Management $241,553 · Fundraising $106,389$38,117,693
Part X · Balance sheet $7,048,372 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $197,427$817,128
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $6,043,222$5,781,983
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,004,061$350,550
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,358$26,647
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $26,558$72,064
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $7,272,626$7,048,372
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $557,666$686,792
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $557,666$686,792
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $6,030,658$5,315,099
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $684,302$1,046,481
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $6,714,960$6,361,580
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $7,272,626$7,048,372
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $6,361,580 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$37,764,313
XI-2 Total expenses$38,117,693
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$353,380
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$6,714,960
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$6,361,580

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

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