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Democracyfirst FY2023 filing

Washington, DCUnknown exempt organizationSince 2022 EIN 88-1027253Revenue $4.4M in FY2023

On file with the IRSdemocracyfirst.org611 Pennsylvania Ave Se 143 · Washington, DC

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Democracyfirst is a 501(c)4 dedicated to restoring public trust in the electoral system, protecting free and fair elections, and renewing the pro-democracy consensus in american politics.

94¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $0 a year · under 1% of revenue · last 4 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
94%
of spending
Looks good: 94% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.7 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $250K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$0
0% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% 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
$4.4M
-21% vs prior year
Spent
$6.2M
To programs
94%
Net assets
$357K
By yearFY2022–FY2025
Revenue
$4.4M
FY2023▼ -21%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2022$5.6M
FY2023$4.4M
FY2024$3.8M
FY2025$9.0M
Expenses
$6.2M
FY2023▲ +80%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2022$3.4M
FY2023$6.2M
FY2024$3.1M
FY2025$10.1M
Net assets
$357K
FY2023▼ -83%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2022$2.1M
FY2023$357K
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$0

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · 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 (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025.

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

Where the money goes

94 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 94% · $5.8M Management & general 6% · $367K

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

3 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Jordan Wood
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Mark Bailey
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Democracyfirst 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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Restores public trust in elections, protects fair voting, and renews pro-democracy consensus.

Questions for Democracyfirst

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $5.8M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

In 2023, democracyfirst invested in pro-democracy organizations working to protect the freedom to vote, prevent the manipulation of our electoral processes, improve election security, and hold public officials accountable.

$5.8Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Turnout Action FundFY2025$250K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$250K
Grants paid · 54 grants · $11.8M · 2021–2024
Democracyfirst PacFY2024$1,000,000
Common Sense New YorkFY2024$400,000
Women4usFY2024$100,000
Defend the Vote Action FundMD · FY2024$100,000
Defending Main Street SuperpacFY2024$25,000
Common Sense New YorkFY2023$500,000
Pro-Democracy CampaignMA · FY2023$200,000
Democracyfirst PacFY2023$150,000
Organizing Empowerment Fund INCWI · FY2023$40,000
Better Nevada PacFY2023$20,000
Activate 48 Education FundAZ · FY2022$750,000
Promote the VoteFY2022$650,000
Future Forward USA ActionDC · FY2022$500,000
Faith in MinnesotaFY2022$450,000
Citizen Action of New York INCNY · FY2022$450,000
Ohio Progressive CollaborativeOH · FY2022$400,000
Florida Rising INCFL · FY2022$300,000
America VotesDC · FY2022$290,000
See all 54 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.4M
Money outPt IX
$6.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.8M
Managementcol C$367K
Owns and owesPt X
$357K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$357K
Total assetsLn 16$357K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
3
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a3
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.4M
Total revenueLn 12$4.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$357K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$357K
Total assetsLn 16$357K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$357K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.1M$357K
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M$357K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$0
Net assetsLn 32$2.1M$357K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$5.8M$5.8M
Management feesLn 11a$107K$107K
Legal feesLn 11b$11K$11K
Accounting feesLn 11c$21K$21K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$183K$183K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$38K$38K
InsuranceLn 23$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$690$690
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.2M$5.8M$367K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $9.0M$10.1M−$1.1M$0 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.8M$3.1M$714K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $4.4M$6.2M−$1.8M$357K 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.6M$3.4M$2.1M$2.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,410,000 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,575,000$4,410,000
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,575,000$4,410,000
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $3,425,000$5,820,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $0$0
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $15,918$366,749
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,440,918$6,186,749
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,134,082−$1,776,749
Part VI · Governance 3 of 3 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body3
VI-1b Independent voting members3
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,410,000 across 3 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,410,000
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,410,000
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$4,410,000
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,186,749 across 8 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $5,820,000$5,820,000
IX-11a Management feesManagement $107,000$107,000
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $10,571$10,571
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $21,250$21,250
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $182,905$182,905
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $37,500$37,500
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $6,833$6,833
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Management $690$690
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,820,000 · Management $366,749 · Fundraising $0$6,186,749
Part X · Balance sheet $357,333 assets, 6 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,134,082$357,333
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,134,082$357,333
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,134,082$357,333
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,134,082$357,333
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,134,082$357,333
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $357,333 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,410,000
XI-2 Total expenses$6,186,749
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,776,749
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,134,082
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$357,333

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

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