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Center for Popular Democracy

EIN 45-3813436 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY (CPD) AND ITS AFFILIATES KNOW THAT EVERYDAY PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD. WE UPEND BUSINESS AND POLITICS AS USUAL TO FORGE A REPRESENTATIVE, MULTIRACIAL GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY WHERE WE ALL THRIVE, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Income
$40.9 million
Spending
$31.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
125
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$235,179, co-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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 12 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. $12.7 million spent. CAMPAIGNS: CPD'S CAMPAIGNS PROGRAM RUNS CAMPAIGNS IN CONCERT WITH OUR AFFILIATE NETWORK ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO GOOD SCHOOLS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, QUALITY HEALTHCARE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR IMMIGRANTS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, GREATER CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY, A RESILIENT AND FAIR ECONOMY, AND A ROBUST AND RESPONSIVE DEMOCRACY. IN 2024, CPD WORKED WITH 51 AFFILIATES AND OTHER PARTNERS TO WIN OVER 30 CAMPAIGN VICTORIES AND OVER 15 KEY DEFENSIVE FIGHTS THAT STAND TO BENEFIT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
  2. $4.9 million spent. BASE-BUILDING: CPD'S BASE-BUILDING PROGRAM PROVIDES DIRECT FIELD CAPACITY TO OUR NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS AND HELPS THEM BUILD THEIR MEMBERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP. CPD'S ORGANIZERS AND TRAINERS WORK ALONGSIDE AFFILIATE LEADERS TO ACHIEVE OUR COLLECTIVE GOALS OF GROWING OUR SHARED BASE, DEVELOPING THE LEADERSHIP OF IMPACTED PEOPLE, AND INCREASING THE MOVEMENT'S RESILIENCE AND IMPACT OVER TIME. IN 2024, THE CPD NETWORK GREW TO 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE. EIGHTEEN AFFILIATES IDENTIFIED 113,231 POTENTIAL MEMBERS, AND 4,093 PEOPLE WERE TRAINED IN CIVIC EDUCATION AND ORGANIZING SKILLS.
  3. $3.6 million spent. EXECUTIVE OFFICE PROGRAMS: EXECUTIVE OFFICE PROGRAMS IN 2024 INCLUDED THE NETWORK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, THE FORGE ORGANIZING JOURNAL, AND SPECIAL CULTURAL INITIATIVES. IN 2024, CPD'S NETWORK MANAGEMENT TEAM PROVIDED SUPPORT AND CAPACITY-BUILDING TO CPD'S NETWORK OF 51 AFFILIATES, INCLUDING PROVIDING COACHING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE AREAS OF DATA MANAGEMENT, ORGANIZING FLOW, AND MEMBER LEADERSHIP TO THE NETWORK, PUBLISHING AND MAINTAINING AN ONGOING CALENDAR OF ENGAGEMENT AND ACTION OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFILIATES IN THE NETWORK, AND ORGANIZING AND CONVENING NETWORK MEETINGS WITH SENIOR STAFF FROM AFFILIATES TO STRATEGIZE AND PLAN AROUND KEY PRIORITIES. THE FORGE IS AN ONLINE JOURNAL AND COMMUNITY FOR ORGANIZERS. THE FORGE STRENGTHENS THE FIELD OF ORGANIZING BY CREATING SPACE FOR ORGANIZERS ACROSS TRADITIONS TO REFLECT, LEARN, AND STRATEGIZE, AND BY GENERATING CONVERSATION AND COLLABORATION AMONG ORGANIZERS THROUGH PUBLISHING LEARNINGS AND RESPONSES. IT PRODUCES ISSUES OF AN ONLINE JOURNAL, SPECIAL SERIES, STANDALONE ARTICLES, INTERVIEWS, PUBLIC EVENTS, PANELS AND ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS, AND OTHER MEDIA. IN 2024, THE FORGE PUBLISHED OVER 80 ARTICLES ON ITS WEBSITE ON VARIOUS TOPICS, INCLUDING RACIAL JUSTICE, RACIAL EQUITY, BUILDING RESILIENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND YOUTH ORGANIZING.IN 2024, CPD'S MURALS UNITE PROGRAM CREATED STREET ART WITH WORLD-RENOWNED ARTISTS IN 5 CITIES, ALLENTOWN, PA, PHOENIX, AZ, LAS VEGAS, NV, DETROIT, MI AND LONG ISLAND, NY. WE ALSO ORGANIZED 3 HIP HOP CONCERTS CALLING FOR PEACE.
  4. $3.3 million spent. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
  5. $1.8 million spent. DATA
  6. $54,720 spent. CONSTRUYAMOS OTRO ACUERDO

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 December 2012.

    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.