Represent US Education Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
See Schedule O
- Income
- $3.8 million
- Spending
- $7.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- -8.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 15,000
- Highest pay
- $310,401, 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: 8 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 175% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 103% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 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
0 of 10Did not give 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)
- $2.9 million spent. Education and Communications: RepresentUs Education Fund leverages its large reach on social media to educate national audiences across ideological lines about what is happening and why it matters. Our mass communications reach national audiences with messages that are:-Easy to understand, informative and engaging-Nonpartisan and focused on issues-like corruption-that strike a chord with everyone regardless of political party-Rooted in storytelling about ordinary people experiencing harm due to corrupt authoritarianism-Solution-oriented, with a vision for a government truly accountable to the people that recognizes that-as we have argued for years-the status quo has been deeply flawed for a long time.
- $513,793 spent. Grantmaking: RepresentUs Education Fund made grants to Represent.Us to support public education, research, and cross-partisan outreach activities. Grant funds were used to develop multi-channel public-education campaigns to inform voters about the challenges faced by our democracy and on viable policy solutions. Funds were also used to promote educational content about popular, smart political reforms; to produce compelling videos; and to provide of-the-moment communications on news items impacting our democracy. Grantmaking also underwrote the recruitment and training of volunteers.
- $55,531 spent. Research and Planning: Fund conducts research related to anti-corruption, pro-democracy, campaign-finance and electoral-systems reform.
- $1.2 million spent. Other Program Services: The Organization conducts various projects to promote ethics, transparency and accountability in elections and governments.
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 March 2009.
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.
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.