Expand Democracy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Expand Democracy studies and offers policy solutions designed to support and advance a democracy of, by, and for the people. We spark consideration of promising pro-democracy ideas and strategies. We focus on the United States, but learn from policies and conversations in other nations.
- Income
- $79,162
- Spending
- $70,247
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 54%
- Highest pay
- $58,000, senior fellow
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (1)
- $66,732 spent. Expand Democracy had a strong opening year in our efforts to study and offer policy solutions designed to support and advance a democracy of, by, and for the people. Those efforts included the following. (1) Lifting up and evaluating ideas: We profiled nearly 100 ideas in our Substack posts and Democracy Lab podcast, authored more than 20 national commentaries, and published three new academic articles on democracy. (2) The Democracy Exchange Network (DEN): Our growing network of 175+ reform leaders, scholars, and philanthropists meets monthly to evaluate timely proposals and offer support. We hosted eleven guests, surfacing insights and building pathways from innovation to implementation. (3) Advisory groups of election officials, advocates, and scholars: We held multiple meetings with our impressive election administrators group to evaluate how proposals might affect election officials. We formed an advisory group of scholars to assist in evaluating ideas. (4) We supported other mission-aligned nonprofit organizations in their work around expanding democracy where our special skills and experience could help, including working on a book about ranked choice voting, supporting a technological innovation for administering ranked choice voting elections, and assisting aligned groups and donors with research, writing and advice on communications, strategy, and policy.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 2025.
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 September 2025.
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 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.