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Foundation for Independent Voter Education

EIN 45-2992162 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, CONDUCT EDUCATION AND HOLD EDUCATION MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES TO EDUCATE AND INFORM VOTERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS ON CRITICAL ISSUES AND TO GRANT SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP ACCOMPLISH THIS PURPOSE.

Income
$597,167
Spending
$255,795
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
19.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$124,000, cfo/treasurer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 57% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 171% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $236,500 spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS CO-PUBLISHER OF INDEPENDENT VOTER NEWS, AN OPEN NEWS PLATFORM FOR INDEPENDENT-MINDED AUTHORS AND READERS PROVIDING UNFILTERED POLITICAL NEWS AND POLICY ANALYSIS FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM. SINCE 2008 INV.US HAS PUBLISHED THOUSANDS OF ARTICLES FROM JOURNALISTS AND INDIVIDUALS OF DIFFERING POLITICAL TENDENCIES REACHING MORE THAN 500,000 READERS EVERY MONTH PROVIDING NONPARTISAN EDUCATION TO VOTERS AND ENCOURAGING CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AMONG WRITERS AND READERS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM. IN PURSUIT OF OUR MISSION OF VOTER EDUCATION, WE CONDUCT ONGOING STUDIES TO EXPLORE EFFECTIVE WAYS TO BROADEN THE OUTREACH TO VOTERS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS, WE CONDUCT POLLS TO DETERMINE THE BEST METHODS TO GIVE VOTERS ACCURATE INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR VOTING RIGHTS AND WE PROMOTE (CON'T ON SCH O) INITIATIVES THAT EXPANDTHE VOTING POPULATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 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 June 2012.

    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.