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First Amendment Coalition

EIN 33-0308483 · San Rafael, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION PROTECTS AND PROMOTES A FREE PRESS, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
10
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$198,860, executive 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

Good: 83 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $847,339 spent. STRATEGIC LITIGATION, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACYFAC USES INTEGRATED ADVOCACY - LITIGATION, EDUCATION AND POLICY ADVOCACY - TO ADVANCE OPEN GOVERNMENT, FREE-PRESS RIGHTS, AND THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW. SOME EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT FAC ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2024: - SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION IN FEDERAL COURT TO PREVENT ENFORCEMENT OF CALIFORNIA LAW CRIMINALIZING PUBLICATION OF SEALED ARREST REPORTS - IN CLEAR VIOLATION OF FIRST AMENDMENT CASE LAW.- LED COALITION OF 26 ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR STUDENT JOURNALIST DILAN GOHILL, 19, WHO WAS ARRESTED JUNE 5 WHILE COVERING PROTESTS AND THE OCCUPATION OF THE STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.- FAC WORKED IN THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE AND AT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE STATE TO ADVANCE LAWS AND POLICIES THAT STRENGTHEN FIRST AMENDMENT AND OPEN-GOVERNMENT RIGHTS, AND TO FIGHT LAWS THAT WOULD WEAKEN THOSE RIGHTS.- IN FEDERAL COURT, CHALLENGED ON FIRST AMENDMENT GROUNDS A LOCAL ORDINANCE THAT CRIMINALIZES JOURNALISM BY BARRING PRESENCE WITH INTENT TO OBSERVE OR RECORD AT "SIDESHOWS," DANGEROUS AUTOMOTIVE EVENTS THAT HAVE FREQUENTLY CAPTURED HEADLINES IN THE BAY AREA. - REPRESENTING A STUDENT JOURNALIST AT CAL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO, FAC OBTAINED SIGNIFICANT POLICY CHANGES IN HOW THE UNIVERSITY HANDLES PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS AFTER FILING A CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT LAWSUIT AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY.- FAC'S WORK ON AMICUS BRIEFS THROUGHOUT 2024, AT BOTH THE TRIAL COURT AND APPELLATE LEVEL, HELPED ADVANCE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF FREE EXPRESSION, PRESS FREEDOMS AND OPEN GOVERNMENT.- AS PART OF ITS PRESS FREEDOM INITIATIVE, FAC REPRESENTED, ON A PRO BONO BASIS, SEVERAL JOURNALISTS WHO WERE SUBPOENAED IN 2024 FOR THEIR CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES AND NOTES. SOME EXAMPLES OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING THE PUBLIC TO USE THEIR RIGHTS: - HOSTED DAYLONG WATCHDOG WORKSHOP FOR CENTRAL VALLEY JOURNALISTS. THE TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDED TIPS AND TACTICS ON NEWSGATHERING ISSUES, INCLUDING ACCESSING PUBLIC RECORDS, COVERING PUBLIC MEETINGS, PROTECTING CONFIDENTIAL NEWS SOURCES AND RIGHTS AND RISKS SURROUNDING RECORDING IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS. - TRAINED SECOND ANNUAL COHORT OF CALIFORNIA LOCAL NEWS FELLOWS ON COVERING OPEN MEETINGS AND USING PUBLIC RECORDS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY JOURNALISM.- MENTORED EARLY CAREER JOURNALISTS AS PART OF NATIONAL FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COALITION'S FOI BOOT CAMP FOR JOURNALISTS OF COLOR.- FAC RESPONDED TO 1,111 QUERIES ON ITS FREE LEGAL HOTLINE, EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING JOURNALISTS, ACTIVISTS AND OTHERS TO USE THEIR RIGHTS TO SPEAK AND PUBLISH FREELY, AND TO PROMOTE GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY.- FAC HOSTED AND/OR ORGANIZED NUMEROUS WORKSHOPS ON PRESS FREEDOMS AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY LAWS. - UPDATED AND EXPANDED OUR EXTENSIVE LIBRARY OF PUBLISHED RESOURCES.
  2. PRESS FREEDOM INITIATIVEFAC'S PRESS FREEDOM INITIATIVE HELPS JOURNALISTS OPPOSE SUBPOENAS SEEKING THEIR CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES AND NOTES PROTECTED UNDER CALIFORNIA'S JOURNALIST SHIELD LAW.
  3. LEGAL HOTLINE SERVICE IN 2024, FAC RESPONDED TO 1,111 QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCESSING PUBLIC RECORDS, PARTICIPATING IN GOVERNMENT MEETINGS, AND FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, EMPOWERING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS.
  4. LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHTFAC WORKS WITH ALLIES TO ADVOCATE FOR BILLS IN THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD EXPAND THE RIGHT OF PUBLIC ACCESS OR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, AND TO OPPOSE BILLS THAT WOULD LIMIT THESE RIGHTS.

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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 June 1993.

    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 October 21, 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.