The Committee of Seventy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE COMMITTEE OF SEVENTY IS A NONPARTISAN CIVIC LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT ADVANCES REPRESENTATIVE, ETHICAL AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT IN PHILADELPHIA AND PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY.
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $256,913, president an
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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 71% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 60% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2575 of 76 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 (4)
- $1.3 million spent. ELECTION & CIVIC EDUCATION ENGAGEMENT SEVENTY'S ELECTION PROGRAM HAS SEVERAL TOOLS AVAILABLE TO HELP VOTERS LEARN ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AS A VOTER AND MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS WHEN THEY VOTE. THE INTERACTIVE VOTER GUIDE ALLOWS VOTERS TO TYPE IN THEIR ADDRESS AND REVIEW ALL OF THE CANDIDATES ON THEIR BALLOT BEFORE THEY HEAD TO THE POLLS. THEY CAN REVIEW THE OPTIONS, SELECT THEIR CANDIDATES AND PRINT OR SAVE THEM; THEY CAN EVEN SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO VOTE, FIND THEIR POLLING PLACE, OR APPLY TO VOTE BY MAIL. SEVENTY ALSO BROADCASTS FACEBOOK LIVE INTERVIEWS FROM STUDIO C70. THE INTERVIEWS, WITH CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, THOUGHT LEADERS, AND POLITICAL INSIDERS, HELP VOTERS GET MORE INFORMED AND CIVICALLY ENGAGED. ALL OF THIS INFORMATION CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND WEBSITE. THE WEVOTE INITIATIVE PROMOTES A CULTURE OF VOTING IN BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION AND ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. PARTICIPANTS CAN ENCOURAGE ALL EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND CONSTITUENTS TO VOTE, EASILY SHARE OUR VOTER RESOURCES, AND OFFER AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE ON ELECTION DAY SO THERE ARE FEWER OBSTACLES FOR VOTING. SEVENTY ALSO SUPPORTS WELL-RUN ELECTIONS BY RECRUITING AND EDUCATING POLL WORKERS IN PHILADELPHIA. WITH A WIDELY DISTRIBUTED TOOLKIT OF RESOURCES FOR POLL WORKERS, INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS, AND A GROWING COMMUNITY OF INFORMED, ENGAGED POLL WORKERS, SEVENTY SUPPORTS DEMOCRACY'S ESSENTIAL WORKERS. SEVENTY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS IN PHILADELPHIA AND ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED, NOT JUST AROUND ELECTIONS. SEVENTY'S YOUTH CIVICS INITIATIVES ENGAGE STUDENTS AS YOUNG AS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGE UP THROUGH COLLEGE. A CORE COMPONENT OF THIS WORK IS THE COMPREHENSIVE ELECTIONS & VOTING CURRICULUM, WHICH GIVES STUDENTS AN ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING OF VOTING RIGHTS AND HISTORY, MEDIA LITERACY, HOW TO USE VOTER GUIDES, AND HOW NEW AND FUTURE VOTERS CAN CAST THEIR OWN BALLOTS. THE CURRICULUM IS SUPPORTED BY THE PA YOUTH VOTE MOCK ELECTION; IN 2024 NEARLY 20,000 STUDENTS FROM DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH CAST BALLOTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. SEVENTY ALSO COORDINATED INTERVIEWS WITH CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ELECTION THROUGH THE STUDIO C70 CANDIDATE INTERVIEW SERIES, WHERE CLASSROOMS CONNECT WITH CANDIDATES AND INTERVIEWS ARE STREAMED LIVE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IN 2023, SEVENTY LAUNCHED CAN WE TALK? TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN PRODUCTIVE CIVIL DIALOGUE. STARTED AS A COLLEGE-LEVEL PROGRAM, SEVENTY ENGAGED EIGHT HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS PA IN PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN SKILLS FOR ENGAGING WITH OTHERS FROM DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCES AND BACKGROUNDS. SEVENTY ALSO STARTED OUR DEMOCRACY FOR KIDS PROGRAM, WORKING WITH YOUTH FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL ON THE BASICS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SEVENTY IS ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE PA CIVICS COALITION, A STATEWIDE GROUP OF NONPROFITS, MUSEUMS, AND FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING PENNSYLVANIA'S CIVIC EDUCATION. ELECTION & CIVIC EDUCATION ENGAGEMENT SEVENTY'S ELECTION PROGRAM HAS SEVERAL TOOLS AVAILABLE TO HELP VOTERS LEARN ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AS A VOTER AND MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS WHEN THEY VOTE. THE INTERACTIVE VOTER GUIDE ALLOWS VOTERS TO TYPE IN THEIR ADDRESS AND REVIEW ALL OF THE CANDIDATES ON THEIR BALLOT BEFORE THEY HEAD TO THE POLLS. THEY CAN REVIEW THE OPTIONS, SELECT THEIR CANDIDATES AND PRINT OR SAVE THEM; THEY CAN EVEN SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO VOTE, FIND THEIR POLLING PLACE, OR APPLY TO VOTE BY MAIL. SEVENTY ALSO BROADCASTS FACEBOOK LIVE INTERVIEWS FROM STUDIO C70. THE INTERVIEWS, WITH CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, THOUGHT LEADERS, AND POLITICAL INSIDERS, HELP VOTERS GET MORE INFORMED AND CIVICALLY ENGAGED. ALL OF THIS INFORMATION CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND WEBSITE. THE WEVOTE INITIATIVE PROMOTES A CULTURE OF VOTING IN BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION AND ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. PARTICIPANTS CAN ENCOURAGE ALL EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND CONSTITUENTS TO VOTE, EASILY SHARE OUR VOTER RESOURCES, AND OFFER AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE ON ELECTION DAY SO THERE ARE FEWER OBSTACLES FOR VOTING. SEVENTY ALSO SUPPORTS WELL-RUN ELECTIONS BY RECRUITING AND EDUCATING POLL WORKERS IN PHILADELPHIA. WITH A WIDELY DISTRIBUTED TOOLKIT OF RESOURCES FOR POLL WORKERS, INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS, AND A GROWING COMMUNITY OF INFORMED, ENGAGED POLL WORKERS, SEVENTY SUPPORTS DEMOCRACY'S ESSENTIAL WORKERS. SEVENTY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS IN PHILADELPHIA AND ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED, NOT JUST AROUND ELECTIONS. SEVENTY'S YOUTH CIVICS INITIATIVES ENGAGE STUDENTS AS YOUNG AS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGE UP THROUGH COLLEGE. A CORE COMPONENT OF THIS WORK IS THE COMPREHENSIVE ELECTIONS & VOTING CURRICULUM, WHICH GIVES STUDENTS AN ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING OF VOTING RIGHTS AND HISTORY, MEDIA LITERACY, HOW TO USE VOTER GUIDES, AND HOW NEW AND FUTURE VOTERS CAN CAST THEIR OWN BALLOTS. THE CURRICULUM IS SUPPORTED BY THE PA YOUTH VOTE MOCK ELECTION; IN 2024 NEARLY 20,000 STUDENTS FROM DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH CAST BALLOTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. SEVENTY ALSO COORDINATED INTERVIEWS WITH CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ELECTION THROUGH THE STUDIO C70 CANDIDATE INTERVIEW SERIES, WHERE CLASSROOMS CONNECT WITH CANDIDATES AND INTERVIEWS ARE STREAMED LIVE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IN 2023, SEVENTY LAUNCHED CAN WE TALK? TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN PRODUCTIVE CIVIL DIALOGUE. STARTED AS A COLLEGE-LEVEL PROGRAM, SEVENTY ENGAGED EIGHT HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS PA IN PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN SKILLS FOR ENGAGING WITH OTHERS FROM DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCES AND BACKGROUNDS. SEVENTY ALSO STARTED OUR DEMOCRACY FOR KIDS PROGRAM, WORKING WITH YOUTH FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL ON THE BASICS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SEVENTY IS ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE PA CIVICS COALITION, A STATEWIDE GROUP OF NONPROFITS, MUSEUMS, AND FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING PENNSYLVANIA'S CIVIC EDUCATION.
- $215,402 spent. FALL & SPRING EVENTS SEVENTY'S FALL AND SPRING EVENTS HAVE BECOME IMPORTANT AND INFORMATIVE ANNUAL PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INFLUENCE AND AN INTEREST IN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT AT EVERY LEVEL. PAST SPEAKERS HAVE INCLUDED A US VICE PRESIDENT, US SENATORS, GOVERNORS, HISTORIANS AND POLITICAL COMMENTATORS.
- $319,059 spent. STATE ADVOCACY SEVENTY'S STATE ADVOCACY INCLUDES POLICY AGENDA DEVELOPMENT AND LOBBYING AROUND PRIORITY ISSUES THAT RELATE TO ETHICAL, REPRESENTATIVE, AND/OR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT IN HARRISBURG. SPECIFIC ISSUE AREAS OF INTEREST FOR STATE GOVERNMENT REFORM INCLUDE REDISTRICTING (STATE LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL), ELECTIONS AND VOTING, ETHICS AND GIFTS, AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE. ADVOCACY EFFORTS INCLUDE EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS (PRESS STATEMENTS, EMAILS, SOCIAL MEDIA), WORKING WITH COALITIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND DIRECT LOBBYING (MEETING WITH STATE OFFICIALS AND STAFF). SEVENTY IS ALSO THE SPONSOR OF THE BALLOT PA INITIATIVE, WHICH ADVOCATES FOR OPEN PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
- $44,671 spent. OTHER MISSION CRITICAL PROGRAMS
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
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