Public Wise INC FY2023 filing

Not tax-deductible

New York, NY501(c)(4)Civil Rights & AdvocacyEIN 84-2296539Revenue $7.7M in FY2023

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.

84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.4M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · 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
84%
of spending
Looks good: 84% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.4M
to officers and key staff · 36% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 36% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
12 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 11.9 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
$282K
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% 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
$7.7M
+60% vs prior year
Spent
$3.9M
To programs
84%
Net assets
$4.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$7.7M
FY2023▲ +60%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.7M
FY2022$4.8M
FY2023$7.7M
FY2024$3.5M
Expenses
$3.9M
FY2023▼ -19%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.2M
FY2022$4.8M
FY2023$3.9M
FY2024$4.3M
Net assets
$4.0M
FY2023▲ ×15
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$376K
FY2022$256K
FY2023$4.0M
FY2024$3.2M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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 Jul 2019.

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

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $3.3M Management & general 14% · $559K Fundraising 2% · $69K

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

14 people listed on the 990; $1.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$258,683Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Staff
$217,894Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Information Officer
$188,614Pt VII · Sec A
Political Director
$188,514Pt VII · Sec A
Operations Director
$159,677Pt VII · Sec A
Data Steward
$148,646Pt VII · Sec A
Partnerships Director
$120,077Pt VII · Sec A
Partnership Manager
$106,346Pt 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 · $3.3M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

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

$3.3Mprogram 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 FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$7.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$33
Money outPt IX
$3.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.3M
Managementcol C$559K
Fundraisingcol D$69K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.9M
Total assetsLn 16$4.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$282K
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$33
Total revenueLn 12$7.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Other assetsLn 15$246K
Total assetsLn 16$4.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$282K
Net assetsLn 32$4.0M
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$170K$3.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$10K$3K
Total assetsLn 16$256K$4.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$282K
Net assetsLn 32$256K$4.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$1.2M$1.2M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$845K$726K$98K$21K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$565K$448K$92K$25K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$275K$233K$34K$9K
Payroll taxesLn 10$97K$82K$12K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$92K$0$92K$0
Office expensesLn 13$7K$6K$1K$230
Information technologyLn 14$24K$20K$3K$783
OccupancyLn 16$144K$122K$18K$5K
TravelLn 17$42K$35K$5K$1K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$6K$0$6K$0
InsuranceLn 23$1K$0$1K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$609K$420K$190K$54
All other expensesLn 24e$64K$53K$8K$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.9M$3.3M$559K$69K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $3.5M$4.3M−$799K$3.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $7,676,913 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,790,741$7,676,880
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $13$33
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,790,754$7,676,913
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $2,160,228$1,161,614
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,639,367$1,782,113
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,046,246$990,015
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,845,841$3,933,742
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$55,087$3,743,171
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 $7,676,913 across 4 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$7,676,880
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$7,676,880
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $33$33
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $33$7,676,913
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,933,742 across 14 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,161,614$1,161,614
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $725,895 · Management $97,587 · Fundraising $21,209$844,691
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $447,588 · Management $92,082 · Fundraising $25,113$564,783
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $232,611 · Management $33,668 · Fundraising $9,182$275,461
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $82,061 · Management $11,878 · Fundraising $3,239$97,178
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $92,179 · Fundraising $0$92,179
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $5,833 · Management $1,098 · Fundraising $230$7,161
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $19,847 · Management $2,873 · Fundraising $783$23,503
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $121,759 · Management $17,623 · Fundraising $4,806$144,188
IX-17 TravelPrograms $35,199 · Management $5,095 · Fundraising $1,389$41,683
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $0 · Management $6,351 · Fundraising $0$6,351
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $1,429 · Fundraising $0$1,429
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $419,780 · Management $189,564 · Fundraising $54$609,398
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $53,106 · Management $7,646 · Fundraising $3,371$64,123
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,305,293 · Management $559,073 · Fundraising $69,376$3,933,742
Part X · Balance sheet $4,244,257 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $170,392$3,896,984
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $43,029$88,174
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$10,186
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $9,743$3,392
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $32,499$245,521
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $255,663$4,244,257
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expenses$49,266
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$232,631
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$281,897
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $255,663$187,360
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$3,775,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $255,663$3,962,360
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $255,663$4,244,257
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,962,360 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$7,676,913
XI-2 Total expenses$3,933,742
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$3,743,171
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$255,663
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$36,474
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,962,360

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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