Commonwealth Communications

Philadelphia, PAUnknown exempt organizationEIN 84-4535961Revenue $3.5M in FY2024

On file with the IRScommonwealthcommunications.orgP O Box 22611 · Philadelphia, PA

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Organized and operated exclusively to promote social welfare specifically for the purposes of promoting legislative and public action in support of non-partisan progressive values in the Commonwealth of pennsylvania.

85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$130K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
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 $103K a year · 3% 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
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$130K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.5 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $2.7M
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$61K
11% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 11% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 3 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 3 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
+34% vs prior year
Spent
$3.7M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$519K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$3.5M
FY2024▲ +34%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$6.0M
FY2021$862K
FY2022$5.5M
FY2023$2.6M
FY2024$3.5M
Expenses
$3.7M
FY2024▲ +71%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$5.5M
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$5.3M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$3.7M
Net assets
$519K
FY2024▼ -28%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$487K
FY2021$78K
FY2022$273K
FY2023$721K
FY2024$519K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024.

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

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $3.1M Management & general 15% · $537K Fundraising 0% · $18K

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

4 people listed on the 990; $130K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Di
$129,700Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary-Tr
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Joseph Abbott$129,700$129,700$129,700$129,704$106,995
Eric Rosso————$23,500

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 Commonwealth Communications 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

Advocates for non-partisan progressive values through legislative and public action in Pennsylvania.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $3.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Defending and expanding democracy to ensure everyone has access and information to vote: commonwealth communications works to defend democracy and expand accessibility to the polls for every voter in pennsylvania.

$2.2Mprogram expense
02

Voter guide for candidates representing working people and good government principles: commonwealth communications compiles a voter's guide to inform residents of the candidates and choices on their ballots. We inform voters about their choices and candidate positions on key issues facing them and their communities.

$702Kprogram expense
03

Providing ongoing accountability for government institutions to help working people: working people in pennsylvania are often left behind by political parties, government, corporations and other institutions.

$196Kprogram 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
ProgressnowFY2024$772K
Total grants receivedfrom 5 funders$2.7M
See all 5 funders →
Grants paid · 44 grants · $2.1M · 2020–2024
People Power PennsylvaniaFY2024$250,000
Project 26 PennsylvaniaPA · FY2024$50,000
Working Families Party PacFY2024$25,000
Casa in Action PacFY2024$25,000
Pennsylvania UnitedPA · FY2024$25,000
Api PA VotesFY2024$25,000
Organize PennsylvaniaPA · FY2024$25,000
Promote the VotePA · FY2024$25,000
New Pennsylvania ProjectPA · FY2024$20,000
Action Together Nepa INCPA · FY2024$15,000
Tech for CampaignsFY2023$70,000
Planned Parenthood VotesFY2023$50,000
Api PA VotesFY2023$30,000
Organize PennsylvaniaPA · FY2023$25,000
The Voter ProjectPA · FY2023$20,000
Casa in Action PacFY2023$20,000
The Voter ProjectPA · FY2023$15,000
See all 44 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.5M
Money outPt IX
$3.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.1M
Managementcol C$537K
Fundraisingcol D$18K
Owns and owesPt X
$519K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$472K
Total assetsLn 16$581K
LiabilitiesLn 26$61K
PeoplePt VI, VII
4
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a3
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.5M
Total revenueLn 12$3.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$472K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$472K
Other assetsLn 15$108K
Total assetsLn 16$581K
LiabilitiesLn 26$61K
Net assetsLn 32$519K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$773K$472K
Total assetsLn 16$773K$581K
LiabilitiesLn 26$53K$61K
Net assetsLn 32$721K$519K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$513K$513K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.1M$764K$276K$14K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$126K$92K$32K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$85K$64K$20K$1K
Legal feesLn 11b$43K$13K$30K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$349K$221K$128K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$436K$436K$356
Office expensesLn 13$34K$11K$23K
Information technologyLn 14$16K$187$16K
TravelLn 17$21K$20K$1K
InterestLn 20$839$839
InsuranceLn 23$1K$985$31
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.0M$1.0M
All other expensesLn 24e$19K$8K$11K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.7M$3.1M$537K$18K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $3.5M$3.7M−$201K$519K 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.6M$2.2M$448K$721K 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.5M$5.3M$192K$273K 990 PDF
FY2021 $862K$1.3M−$409K$78K 990 PDF
FY2020 $6.0M$5.5M$487K$487K 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 $3,498,805 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,615,618$3,498,805
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,615,618$3,498,805
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $245,000$513,400
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $722,504$1,265,528
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,199,909$1,921,239
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,167,413$3,700,167
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $448,205−$201,362
Part VI · Governance 3 of 3 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body3
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 $3,498,805 across 3 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,498,805
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,498,805
VIII-12 Total revenue$3,498,805
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,700,167 across 14 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $513,400$513,400
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $763,906 · Management $275,657 · Fundraising $14,456$1,054,019
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $92,314 · Management $31,615 · Fundraising $2,529$126,458
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $64,188 · Management $19,655 · Fundraising $1,208$85,051
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $12,723 · Management $30,000$42,723
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $221,068 · Management $127,872$348,940
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $436,111 · Management $356$436,467
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $11,125 · Management $22,665$33,790
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $187 · Management $15,658$15,845
IX-17 TravelPrograms $19,779 · Management $1,261$21,040
IX-20 InterestManagement $839$839
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $985 · Fundraising $31$1,016
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,001,556$1,001,556
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $7,954 · Management $11,069$19,023
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,145,296 · Management $536,647 · Fundraising $18,224$3,700,167
Part X · Balance sheet $580,569 assets, 8 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $773,436$472,309
X-15 Other assets$108,260
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $773,485$580,569
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $52,775$61,221
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $52,775$61,221
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $720,710$519,348
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $720,710$519,348
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $773,485$580,569
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $519,348 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,498,805
XI-2 Total expenses$3,700,167
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$201,362
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$720,710
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$519,348

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

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