Democracy Collaborative Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE OTHE DEMOCRACY COLLABORATIVE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2000 TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF DEMOCRACY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY AND TO PROMOTE EMERGING STRATEGIES AND INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAT ENHANCE DEMOCRATIC LIFE. IN PARTICULAR, OUR WORK FOCUSES ON THE CRITICAL ROLE LOCAL ECONOMIC STABILITY PLAYS IN STRENGTHENING CIVIC LIFE, PROVIDING MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT, ENHANCING FAMILY SECURITY, AND PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. THE DEMOCRACY COLLABORATIVE SPONSORS A RANGE OF EDUCATION PROJECTS INVOLVING RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND COMMUNITY-FOCUSED WORK DESIGNED TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR WEALTH BUILDING INNOVATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
- Income
- $957,542
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- -2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $190,771, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 10 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 93% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 127% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 75% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 96% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
- $1.1 million spent. COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING: IN 2024, WE PROVIDED CUSTOMIZED CWB TRAINING TO NEIGHBORWORKS AMERICA, UNITED WAY OF GREATER LOS ANGELES, THE NEW GROWTH INNOVATION NETWORK, THE PEOPLE'S ECONOMY LAB, AND NUMEROUS OTHER GROUPS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY. WE CREATED AN ACTION GUIDE TO COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING IN THE UNITED STATES AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS. WE ADVISED ON CWB INITIATIVES IN COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING SCOTLAND, IRELAND, POLAND, GERMANY, THE NETHERLANDS, KOREA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, AND THROUGH THE EUROPEAN UNION AND OECD.
- $247,699 spent. THEORY, RESEARCH AND POLICY PROGRAMS: IN 2024, WE PRODUCED THE 2024 SECOND EDITION OF THE U.S. INDEX OF SYSTEMIC TRENDS, WRITTEN UP IN THE GUARDIAN. WE PARTNERED WITH USSEN AND PNLL ON "RESIST & BUILD" TO GROW THE SOLIDARITY ECONOMY MOVEMENT. WE CONVENED THE NEXT SYSTEM MOVEMENT LAB, A RE-FOUNDING FIVE-DAY MEETING AT POCANTICO ON THE STRATEGY AND MOVEMENT FOR SYSTEM CHANGE WITH THIRTY KEY PARTNERS FROM ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. WE LAUNCHED MARJORIE KELLY'S WEALTH SUPREMACY, USING THE BOOK TO REACH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, PERHAPS EVEN MILLIONS, OF PEOPLE THROUGH MEDIA CHANNELS WITH ITS CRITIQUE OF FINANCIALIZED CAPITALISM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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