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Demos a Network for Ideas and Action Ltd

EIN 13-4105066 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEMOS IS A NON-PARTISAN PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 2000. HEADQUARTERED IN NEW YORK CITY, DEMOS WORKS WITH ADVOCATES AND POLICYMAKERS AROUND THE COUNTRY IN PURSUIT OF THREE OVER-REACHING COMMITMENTS: ACHIEVING A TRUE DEMOCRACY BY REDUCING THE ROLE OF MONEY IN POLITICS AND GUARANTEEING THE FREEDOM TO VOTE; CREATING PATHWAYS TO ENSURE A DIVERSE, EXPANDED MIDDLE CLASS IN A NEW, SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY; AND TRANSFORMING THE PUBLIC NARRATIVE TO EVALUATE THE VALUES OF COMMUNITY AND RACIAL EQUITY.

Income
$7.6 million
Spending
$8.6 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
45
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$348,492, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE:DEMOS IS WORKING TO COMBAT THE INEQUALITY OF OUR CURRENT ECONOMIC SYSTEM. THIS INCLUDES IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS, NARRATIVE DEVELOPMENT, AND POLICY PROPOSALS TO BUILD ECONOMIC POWER FOR ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, ENSURE ECONOMIC SECURITY AND MOBILITY FOR ALL, DEMOCRATIZE THE ECONOMY, AND ENSURE PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE USED FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD IN THE AREAS OF BUDGET AND TAX JUSTICE, WORKER JUSTICE, AND FINANCIAL JUSTICE.
  2. $1.6 million spent. DEMOCRACY REFORM:DEMOS IS COMMITTED TO CREATING AN INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY BY PROTECTING OUR FREEDOM TO VOTE AND ENSURING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS REFLECTS OUR DIVERSE ELECTORATE. WE ANALYZE POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND POWER DYNAMICS THAT MAINTAIN RACIAL INEQUALITY AND EXCLUDE AMERICANS FROM FULL PARTICIPATION OUR DEMOCRACY. WE WORK TOWARD FULL POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND AN INCLUSIVE AND EXPANSIVE ELECTORATE IN THE AREAS OF VOTING RIGHTS, MONEY IN POLITICS, AND IMMIGRANT JUSTICE.
  3. $865,443 spent. MOVEMENT BUILDING:DEMOS WORKS TO CONNECT THE IDEAS OF DEMOS WITH STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS. OUR INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY PROJECT WORKS WITH GRASSROOTS PARTNERS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO ENSURE THAT RACIAL EQUITY IS AT THE CENTER OF ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS FOR DEMOCRACY REFORM. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS, WE WORK FOR A RESPONSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS A MORE EQUITABLE ECONOMY AND DEMOCRACY.
  4. $739,523 spent. POWER AGENDA:A FRAMEWORK FOR BUILDING PEOPLE POWER REFLECTS OUR AFFIRMATIVE VISION FOR CREATING A JUST, INCLUSIVE, MULTIRACIAL DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMY BY BUILDING CIVIC, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC POWER FOR ALL. THIS REQUIRES STRUCTURAL REFORMS THAT INCLUDE GOALS AND INTERVENTIONS THAT RESTORE AND EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS, STRENGTHEN WORKER RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS, AND SHIFT POWER TO THE PEOPLE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.