Public Wise INC

Not tax-deductible

New York, NY501(c)(4)Civil Rights & AdvocacyEIN 84-2296539Revenue $3.5M in FY2024

On file with the IRSpublicwise.org270 Lafayette St, 10012-3311 · New York, NYTax-exempt since Jul 2019

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To promote, protect and preserve voting rights of all citizens of the united states. The organization is a nationwide organization, which utilizes a network of grassroot organizations, as well as internal resources, to educate, organize and complement movement against voter suppression and inclusive and accessible elections.

87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 7 volunteers and 7 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
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
1 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $576K a year · 12% of revenue · last 4 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 1 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
87%
of spending
Looks good: 87% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.5M
to officers and key staff · 35% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 87% of similar orgs
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 35% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$94K
3% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 3% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.5M
-54% vs prior year
Spent
$4.3M
To programs
87%
Net assets
$3.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$3.5M
FY2024▼ -54%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.7M
FY2022$4.8M
FY2023$7.7M
FY2024$3.5M
Expenses
$4.3M
FY2024▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.2M
FY2022$4.8M
FY2023$3.9M
FY2024$4.3M
Net assets
$3.2M
FY2024▼ -20%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$376K
FY2022$256K
FY2023$4.0M
FY2024$3.2M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jul 2019.

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

Where the money goes

87 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 87% · $3.8M Management & general 10% · $420K Fundraising 3% · $144K

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

15 people listed on the 990; $1.5M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$236,559Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Staff
$208,709Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Information Officer
$181,347Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Fundraising
$171,015Pt VII · Sec A
Partnerships Director
$158,275Pt VII · Sec A
Operations Director
$157,858Pt VII · Sec A
Data Steward
$141,858Pt VII · Sec A
Political Director
$141,767Pt VII · Sec A

Christina Baal-Owens’s $237K as Executive Director is at the 87th percentile of top reported officer pay among 797 $1–10M civil rights & advocacy 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2020
Christina Baal-Owens$236,559$258,683$227,901$183,756
Katelyn Israelski$208,709$217,894$182,428—
Maria Javier$181,347$188,614——
Eli William-Szenes—$188,514——
Christina Martin Kenny$171,015———
Maria Lee——$167,157—
Eli B Szenes-Strauss——$162,032—
Jessica Hall$157,858$159,677$143,349—

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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Advocates for and protects voting rights, fighting suppression and promoting accessible elections nationwide.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $3.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

To secure a government that reflects the will and protects the rights of the people.

$3.8Mprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K
Grants paid · 106 grants · $7.1M · 2020–2024
Progress North Carolina ActionNC · FY2024$115,000
America VotesDC · FY2024$101,293
Mi Familia VotaAZ · FY2024$75,000
Organize PennsylvaniaPA · FY2024$50,000
Ncaat in ActionNC · FY2024$50,000
Siembra NCNC · FY2024$50,000
Vote Tripling Action FundDC · FY2024$50,000
Rural Arizona ActionAZ · FY2024$50,000
Down Home North Carolina INCNC · FY2024$50,000
Sheriffs for Trusting CommunitiesNC · FY2024$50,000
Our Voice Our VoteNC · FY2024$50,000
The Watershed Center INCNY · FY2024$30,000
See all 106 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$170K
Investment incomeLn 3$31
Money outPt IX
$4.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.8M
Managementcol C$420K
Fundraisingcol D$144K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.0M
Total assetsLn 16$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$94K
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A10
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$31
Other incomeLn 4–11$170K
Total revenueLn 12$3.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.0M
SavingsLn 2$2K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5K
Other assetsLn 15$85K
Total assetsLn 16$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$94K
Net assetsLn 32$3.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
VolunteersI 67
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.9M$3.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K$5K
Total assetsLn 16$4.2M$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$282K$94K
Net assetsLn 32$4.0M$3.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$1.4M$1.4M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$836K$763K$47K$26K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$839K$721K$76K$43K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$390K$346K$29K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$97K$86K$7K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$58K$0$58K$0
Office expensesLn 13$3K$1K$2K$55
Information technologyLn 14$23K$21K$2K$964
OccupancyLn 16$117K$103K$9K$5K
TravelLn 17$61K$54K$4K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$4K$0$4K$0
InsuranceLn 23$4K$0$4K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$393K$221K$172K$76
All other expensesLn 24e$134K$81K$7K$46K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.3M$3.8M$420K$144K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $3.5M$4.3M−$799K$3.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $7.7M$3.9M$3.7M$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.8M$4.8M−$55K$256K 990 PDF
FY2021 Not on file
FY2020 $2.7M$3.2M−$584K$376K 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,539,493 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $7,676,880$3,369,104
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $33$31
I-11 Other revenue$170,358
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $7,676,913$3,539,493
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,161,614$1,377,552
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,782,113$2,162,741
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $990,015$798,365
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,933,742$4,338,658
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $3,743,171−$799,165
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
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 $3,539,493 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,369,104
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,369,104
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $31$31
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $170,358 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$170,358
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $170,358 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $31$3,539,493
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,338,658 across 14 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,377,552$1,377,552
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $762,741 · Management $46,823 · Fundraising $26,326$835,890
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $721,203 · Management $75,638 · Fundraising $42,527$839,368
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $345,731 · Management $28,531 · Fundraising $16,042$390,304
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $86,081 · Management $7,104 · Fundraising $3,994$97,179
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $58,195 · Fundraising $0$58,195
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,177 · Management $1,887 · Fundraising $55$3,119
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $20,776 · Management $1,715 · Fundraising $964$23,455
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $103,263 · Management $8,522 · Fundraising $4,791$116,576
IX-17 TravelPrograms $54,368 · Management $4,487 · Fundraising $2,522$61,377
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $0 · Management $4,192 · Fundraising $0$4,192
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $4,329 · Fundraising $0$4,329
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $221,303 · Management $171,650 · Fundraising $76$393,029
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $81,110 · Management $6,694 · Fundraising $46,289$134,093
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,775,305 · Management $419,767 · Fundraising $143,586$4,338,658
Part X · Balance sheet $3,256,951 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,896,984$3,039,215
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$2,155
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $88,174$123,496
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $10,186$2,444
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,392$4,531
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $245,521$85,110
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,244,257$3,256,951
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $49,266$33,507
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $232,631$60,249
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $281,897$93,756
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $187,360$37,601
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,775,000$3,125,594
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,962,360$3,163,195
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,244,257$3,256,951
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,163,195 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,539,493
XI-2 Total expenses$4,338,658
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$799,165
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,962,360
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,163,195

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

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