Focus for Democracy Fund

Tax-deductible

Washington, DC501(c)(3)Since 2023Civil Rights & AdvocacyEIN 93-3922232Revenue $7.3M in FY2025

On file with the IRS1200 G St Nw Ste 800, 20005-6705 · Washington, DCTax-exempt since May 2024Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Focus for Democracy Fund educates donors, raises funds, and makes grants to nonprofit organizations that promote civic engagement and strengthen democratic participation.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
92¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 2 volunteers.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
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 2
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $5.8M a year · 37% of revenue · last 2 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 2 of the last 2 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 2 filings
Spent on programs
92%
of spending
Looks good: 92% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$259K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 95% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $294K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$702K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
2
of 4 voting members
Fine: 2 of 4 voting members are independent, half.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$7.3M
-70% vs prior year
Spent
$6.7M
To programs
92%
Net assets
$11.7M
By yearFY2024–FY2025
Revenue
$7.3M
FY2025▼ -70%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2024$24.6M
FY2025$7.3M
Expenses
$6.7M
FY2025▼ -50%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2024$13.4M
FY2025$6.7M
Net assets
$11.7M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2024$11.2M
FY2025$11.7M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · see the original

990 PDF Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 2024.

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

Where the money goes

92 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 92% · $6.2M Management & general 6% · $395K Fundraising 2% · $154K

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

5 people listed on the 990; $259K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Treasurer, Director of Operations
$91,834Pt VII · Sec A
President
$91,001Pt VII · Sec A
Principal
$75,833Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jennifer Antonow’s $92K as Treasurer, Director of Operations is at the 5th percentile of top reported officer pay among 129 $10–100M 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.

See Focus for Democracy Fund 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

Educates donors, raises funds, and grants to groups promoting civic engagement and democratic participation.

Questions for Focus for Democracy Fund

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $6.2M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Received donor contributions and allocated funds in support of pro-democracy organizations.

$6.2Mprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$294K
Grants paid · 21 grants · $5.8M · 2024–2025
Accelerate Change INCMA · FY2025$1,300,000
Southern Vision AllianceNC · FY2025$1,081,507
Courier NewsroomFY2025$432,252
Working America Education FundDC · FY2025$389,345
New Venture FundDC · FY2025$300,000
The Justice Project ActionMA · FY2025$250,000
Public Democracy AmericaVA · FY2025$250,000
People Not PoliticiansFY2025$200,000
Headcount INCNY · FY2025$200,000
Asian American Voices MediaGA · FY2025$65,000
Coalition for Civic DutyDC · FY2025$50,000
Black Voters Matter Fund INCGA · FY2025$40,000
Neo Philanthropy INCNY · FY2025$25,000
Poder LatinxDC · FY2025$20,000
Tides FoundationFY2024$1,000,000
Accelerate Change INCMA · FY2024$41,195
See all 21 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$7.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$359K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6K
Money outPt IX
$6.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.2M
Managementcol C$395K
Fundraisingcol D$154K
Owns and owesPt X
$11.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.5M
Total assetsLn 16$12.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$702K
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b2
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.9M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$829K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6K
Investment incomeLn 3$359K
Other incomeLn 4–11$803
Gains on assetsLn 7$2K
Total revenueLn 12$7.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$10.9M
Total assetsLn 16$12.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$702K
Net assetsLn 32$11.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 62
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$11.2M$1.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$10.9M
Total assetsLn 16$11.3M$12.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$112K$702K
Net assetsLn 32$11.2M$11.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$4.7M$4.7M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$259K$188K$48K$24K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$145K$105K$27K$14K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$388$281$71$36
Other employee benefitsLn 9$303$219$56$28
Payroll taxesLn 10$33K$24K$6K$3K
Legal feesLn 11b$11K$11K
Accounting feesLn 11c$81K$81K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$967K$699K$177K$90K
Office expensesLn 13$96K$69K$18K$9K
Information technologyLn 14$130K$94K$24K$12K
OccupancyLn 16$2K$1K$359$183
TravelLn 17$2K$2K$443$225
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$15K$11K$3K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$5K$3K$852$434
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$319K$319K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.7M$6.2M$395K$154K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $7.3M$6.7M$514K$11.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $24.6M$13.4M$11.2M$11.2M 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $7,253,054 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $24,112,321$6,887,462
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $454,428$6,157
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,300$358,632
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$803
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $24,568,049$7,253,054
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,130,719$4,673,243
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $21,046$437,892
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $12,261,549$1,627,787
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $13,413,314$6,738,922
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $11,154,735$514,132
Part VI · Governance 2 of 4 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members2
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
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $7,253,054 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$6,887,462
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$828,969
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$6,887,462
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $6,157$6,157
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $356,942$356,942
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $1,690$1,690
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $803$803
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $6,960 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $358,632$7,253,054
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,738,922 across 16 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $4,673,243$4,673,243
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $187,604 · Management $47,549 · Fundraising $24,207$259,360
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $105,114 · Management $26,642 · Fundraising $13,563$145,319
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $281 · Management $71 · Fundraising $36$388
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $219 · Management $56 · Fundraising $28$303
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $23,525 · Management $5,962 · Fundraising $3,035$32,522
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $10,834$10,834
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $81,121$81,121
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $699,207 · Management $177,218 · Fundraising $90,220$966,645
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $69,234 · Management $17,549 · Fundraising $8,934$95,717
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $94,208 · Management $23,878 · Fundraising $12,156$130,242
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,417 · Management $359 · Fundraising $183$1,959
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,747 · Management $443 · Fundraising $225$2,415
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $10,889 · Management $2,759 · Fundraising $1,405$15,053
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,360 · Management $852 · Fundraising $434$4,646
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $319,155$319,155
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,189,203 · Management $395,293 · Fundraising $154,426$6,738,922
Part X · Balance sheet $12,369,757 assets, 10 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $11,206,644$1,518,130
X-11 Publicly traded securities$10,851,627
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $11,266,622$12,369,757
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $39,104$41,416
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $72,783$660,968
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $111,887$702,384
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $10,102,289$11,530,497
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,052,446$136,876
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $11,154,735$11,667,373
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $11,266,622$12,369,757
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $11,667,373 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$7,253,054
XI-2 Total expenses$6,738,922
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$514,132
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$11,154,735
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$1,494
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$11,667,373

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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