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E-Collaborative for Civic Education

EIN 27-3638741 · Bethesda, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak46 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY & HUMAN RIGHTS INTERNATIONALLY. ECCE'S FLAGSHIP PROJECT, TAVAANA, HOLDS A VISION FOR A FREE & OPEN IRANIAN SOCIETY, ONE IN WHICH EVERY IRANIAN ENJOYS EQUALITY, JUSTICE, & THE FULL SPECTRUM OF CIVIL & POLITICAL LIBERTIES.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
6
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$146,029, president/director

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: 46 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 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 (6)
  1. $345,141 spent. EMPOWERING POLITICAL PRISONERS:THE PROJECT UNDER THIS GRANT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN IRANIAN HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENTS THROUGH GREATER ADVOCACY CAPACITY, PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND MOBILIZATION IN SUPPORT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN IRAN. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:- INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS AROUND POLITICAL PRISONERS, THEIR CONDITIONS AND STRUGGLES IN IRAN.- INCREASED ADVOCACY CAPACITY; ONGOING TRAINING FOR POLITICAL ACTIVISTS IN IRAN TO EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF POLITICAL PRISONERS.
  2. $308,918 spent. BUILDING DIALOGUE BETWEEN NONBELIEVERS AND BELIEVERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN:-CREATED OPEN FORUMS FOR FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS AND HIGH-PROFILE ACTIVISTS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP, REPRISALS, HARASSMENT, AND IMPRISONMENT.-OFFERED WORKSHOPS TEACHING ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES STORYTELLING AS A FORM OF ACTIVISM.
  3. $281,835 spent. OPENING UP THE INTERNET FOR IRAN:THE PROJECT UNDER THIS GRANT AIMS TO MEET THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES BELOW:OBJECTIVE 1: TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S ACCESS TO AN UNCENSORED INTERNET THROUGH GREATER AWARENESS OF AND ABILITY TO USE CENSORSHIP CIRCUMVENTION TOOLS IN THE COUNTRY;OBJECTIVE 2: TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON CURRENT DIGITAL SAFETY THREATS AND HOW TO PROTECT AGAINST THEM IN COUNTRY;OBJECTIVE 3: TO RAISE CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISTS' CAPACITY TO STAY SAFE ONLINE AS THEY CONDUCT THEIR ADVOCACY IN THE COUNTRY.
  4. $238,143 spent. LEGAL LITERACY, ADVOCACY AND AID:THE PROJECT UNDER THIS GRANT AIMS TO BUILD HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER (HRD) AND LEGAL ADVOCATE CAPACITY, PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH INFORMATION AND TOOLS TO MOBILIZE FOR JUSTICE FOR FELLOW CITIZENS, AND IMPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL GUIDANCE TO ADDRESS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. KEY PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE A LEGAL CLINIC ACCOMMODATING THOUSANDS OF CRITICAL REQUESTS FOR LEGAL CONSULTATIONS TO HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
  5. $51,672 spent. LEGAL PROTECTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN IRAN:THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON STRENGTHENING THE SKILLS AND CAPACITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND LEGAL ADVOCATES, EQUIPPING THE PUBLIC WITH KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO TAKE COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR JUSTICE, AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO RELIABLE LEGAL SUPPORT IN RESPONSE TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE OPERATING A LEGAL CLINIC THAT HAS RESPONDED TO THOUSANDS OF URGENT LEGAL CONSULTATION REQUESTS FROM BOTH HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.
  6. CONTRACT AND OTHER 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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.