Citizens Project is a fearless, bold advocate and an engaging voice that empowers and challenges our entire community to embrace equity, inclusion and justice.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
63¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2020 · 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
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $115K a year · 31% 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
63%
of spending
Worth a look: 63% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
17 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 16.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $6K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$19K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$217K
Spent
$133K
To programs
63%
Net assets
$287K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$217K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$217K
FY2021$193K
FY2022$185K
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$102K
Expenses
$133K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$133K
FY2021$146K
FY2022$259K
FY2023$380K
FY2024$362K
Net assets
$287K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$287K
FY2021$345K
FY2022$245K
FY2023$1.0M
FY2024$781K

From the FY2020 Form 990 · see the original

Give 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 Apr 1994.

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

Where the money goes

63 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 63% · $84K Management & general 18% · $24K Fundraising 19% · $25K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

10 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Joseph M Williams’s $64K as Executive Dir. is at the 54th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2168 $100K–1M human services 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.

See Citizens Project executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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

Empowers and challenges the community to embrace equity, inclusion, and justice.

Questions for Citizens Project

Tap to ask. Citizens Project sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Citizens Project answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $72K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Education/Advocacy Citizens Project runs ongoing programs to educate the community and advocate for our values. We watchdog local government and public schools to ensure that equality, diversity, and separation of church and state are being upheld.

$35Kprogram expense
02

Civic Engagement Citizens Project provides election education resources for the community. The signature voter guide reaches more than 180,000 people by being published in the Colorado Springs Business Journal, Colorado Springs Independent, in other community newspapers, and online.

$29Kprogram expense
03

Separation of Church and State Citizens Project is a unique local resource on separation of church and state, particularly in the public schools. Citizens Project frequently facilitates seminars in public schools and universities on ensuring a religiously neutral learning environment.

$8Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$6K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$217K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$209K
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Money outPt IX
$133K
Ln 25
Programscol B$84K
Managementcol C$24K
Fundraisingcol D$25K
Owns and owesPt X
$287K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$185K
Total assetsLn 16$306K
LiabilitiesLn 26$19K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$209K
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Gains on assetsLn 7$6K
Total revenueLn 12$217K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$185K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$185K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$120K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$100
Total assetsLn 16$306K
LiabilitiesLn 26$19K
Net assetsLn 32$287K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54
VolunteersI 675
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$84K$185K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$110K$120K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$300$100
Total assetsLn 16$203K$306K
LiabilitiesLn 26$3K$19K
Net assetsLn 32$200K$287K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$76K$46K$14K$16K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3K$2K$506$590
Payroll taxesLn 10$6K$4K$1K$1K
Management feesLn 11a$8K$6K$2K$85
Accounting feesLn 11c$2K$0$2K$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1K$1K$0$0
Office expensesLn 13$4K$3K$187$782
Information technologyLn 14$6K$4K$1K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$9K$5K$2K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$200$122$36$42
InsuranceLn 23$3K$2K$466$543
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$15K$11K$2K$3K
All other expensesLn 24e$1K$1K$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$133K$84K$24K$25K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $102K$362K−$260K$781K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.2M$380K$777K$1.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $185K$259K−$73K$245K 990 PDF
FY2021 $193K$146K$47K$345K 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $217K$133K$84K$287K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

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 $217,147 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $172,936$209,432
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,870$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $3,101$7,715
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $177,907$217,147
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $93,638$85,008
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $72,819$48,385
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $166,457$133,393
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $11,450$83,754
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
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 $217,147 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$209,432
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$209,432
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,569$1,569
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $6,146$6,146
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $7,715$217,147
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $133,393 across 13 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $46,413 · Management $13,696 · Fundraising $15,977$76,086
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,714 · Management $506 · Fundraising $590$2,810
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $3,729 · Management $1,099 · Fundraising $1,284$6,112
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $5,553 · Management $1,939 · Fundraising $85$7,577
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $1,900 · Fundraising $0$1,900
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,329 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$1,329
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,760 · Management $187 · Fundraising $782$3,729
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,659 · Management $1,079 · Fundraising $1,260$5,998
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $5,258 · Management $1,551 · Fundraising $1,810$8,619
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $122 · Management $36 · Fundraising $42$200
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,579 · Management $466 · Fundraising $543$2,588
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $10,901 · Management $1,738 · Fundraising $2,690$15,329
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,116 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$1,116
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $84,133 · Management $24,197 · Fundraising $25,063$133,393
Part X · Balance sheet $306,308 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $84,009$184,951
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $913$931
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $300$100
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $110,241$120,326
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $203,178$306,308
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,826$1,433
X-18 Grants payable$17,448
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,826$18,881
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $172,202$287,427
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $200,352$287,427
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $203,178$306,308
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $287,427 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$217,147
XI-2 Total expenses$133,393
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$83,754
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$200,352
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$3,321
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$287,427

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.