Backbone Campaign amplifies the aspirations of We the People with creative strategies and artful activism

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
86¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$131K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · 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
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $129K a year · 28% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
86%
of spending
Looks good: 86% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$131K
to officers and key staff · 34% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 34% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $165K in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $24K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$9K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$412K
+35% vs prior year
Spent
$380K
To programs
86%
Net assets
$440K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$412K
FY2023▲ +35%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$370K
FY2021$458K
FY2022$306K
FY2023$412K
FY2024$762K
Expenses
$380K
FY2023▲ +26%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$267K
FY2021$290K
FY2022$301K
FY2023$380K
FY2024$425K
Net assets
$440K
FY2023▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$193K
FY2021$415K
FY2022$375K
FY2023$440K
FY2024$799K

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

Give Claim
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 Dec 2001.

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

Where the money goes

86 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 86% · $325K Management & general 11% · $43K Fundraising 3% · $12K

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; $131K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$65,549Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Director
$65,549Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$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

William Moyer’s $70K as Executive Director is at the 61st 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.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
William Moyer$70,411$65,549$61,835$65,000—
Amy Morrison$62,553$65,549$60,539$61,650$62,500
Bill Moyer————$60,000

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 Backbone Campaign 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

Amplifies people's aspirations using creative strategies and artful activism.

Questions for Backbone Campaign

Tap to ask. Backbone Campaign sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Backbone Campaign answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $223K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Solutionary Rail advanced our work to put rail in the public interest. We hosted a first of its kind listening session between rail labor and EJ communities, to explore the intersections in rail in the public interest and opportunities for solidarity.

$124Kprogram expense
02

Artful Activism

Backbone Campaign aupported its network of creative activists across the U.S. using light projection, bannering and props to amplify progressive values. We hosted workshops in our warehouse to teach people how to get their message out using these creative tools.

$94Kprogram expense
03

Vashon Resilience

Locally, we produced film screenings for community education With several other island organizations, we created and distributed a "Land of the Swiftwater People" yard People" yard sign in collaboration with a Puyallup artist.

$6Kprogram 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 · FY2024
See all 5 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$412K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$384K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$29K
Investment incomeLn 3−$3K
Money outPt IX
$380K
Ln 25
Programscol B$325K
Managementcol C$43K
Fundraisingcol D$12K
Owns and owesPt X
$440K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$76K
Total assetsLn 16$449K
LiabilitiesLn 26$9K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$384K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$29K
Investment incomeLn 3−$3K
Total revenueLn 12$412K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$64K
SavingsLn 2$12K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$76K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$165K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$204K
Total assetsLn 16$449K
LiabilitiesLn 26$9K
Net assetsLn 32$440K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$57K$76K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$112K$165K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$208K$204K
Total assetsLn 16$381K$449K
LiabilitiesLn 26$6K$9K
Net assetsLn 32$375K$440K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$353$353
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$66K$62K$2K$2K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$87K$78K$5K$5K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$5K$220$4K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$15K$13K$2K$555
Payroll taxesLn 10$17K$15K$1K$691
Legal feesLn 11b$482$482
Accounting feesLn 11c$4K$4K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1K$850$270$60
Advertising and promotionLn 12$20$20
Office expensesLn 13$5K$2K$3K$508
Information technologyLn 14$4K$133$4K
OccupancyLn 16$3K$300$3K
TravelLn 17$8K$8K$51$117
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$411$347$64
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$6K$6K
InsuranceLn 23$5K$832$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$153K$144K$4K$4K
Total functional expensesLn 25$380K$325K$43K$12K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $762K$425K$338K$799K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $412K$380K$32K$440K 990 PDF
FY2022 $306K$301K$5K$375K 990 PDF
FY2021 $458K$290K$168K$415K 990 PDF
FY2020 $370K$267K$103K$193K 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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $411,808 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $203,856$384,162
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $93,089$29,363
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $5,952−$3,295
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $3,224$1,578
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $306,121$411,808
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $111$353
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $176,059$189,062
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $124,625$190,650
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $300,795$380,065
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $5,326$31,743
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
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 $411,808 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$384,162
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$384,162
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $29,363$29,363
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax −$3,295−$3,295
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $1,344$1,344
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Unrelated business $234$234
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $29,363 · Unrelated business $234 · Excluded from tax −$1,951$411,808
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $380,065 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $353$353
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $62,271 · Management $1,639 · Fundraising $1,639$65,549
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $77,599 · Management $4,823 · Fundraising $4,532$86,954
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $220 · Management $4,355$4,575
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $12,583 · Management $1,749 · Fundraising $555$14,887
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $15,082 · Management $1,324 · Fundraising $691$17,097
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $482$482
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $3,870$3,870
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $850 · Management $270 · Fundraising $60$1,180
IX-12 Advertising and promotionFundraising $20$20
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,907 · Management $2,788 · Fundraising $508$5,203
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $133 · Management $4,346$4,479
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $300 · Management $2,758$3,058
IX-17 TravelPrograms $8,226 · Management $51 · Fundraising $117$8,394
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $347 · Management $64$411
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $6,224$6,224
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $832 · Management $3,845$4,677
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $144,320 · Management $4,465 · Fundraising $3,867$152,652
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $325,023 · Management $43,053 · Fundraising $11,989$380,065
Part X · Balance sheet $448,660 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $54,251$63,778
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,905$11,988
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $4,018$4,018
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $207,674$203,625
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $111,903$165,251
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $380,751$448,660
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $5,526$8,672
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,526$8,672
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $375,225$439,988
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $375,225$439,988
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $380,751$448,660
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $439,988 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$411,808
XI-2 Total expenses$380,065
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$31,743
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$375,225
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$33,384
XI-7 Investment expenses−$365
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$1
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$439,988

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 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.