Right to Democracy Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Advance democracy, equity, and self-determination in U.S. territories through participatory advocacy, narrative and cultural change, and ecosystem building.
- Income
- $640,386
- Spending
- $608,960
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 5.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $162,953, co-director & co-president
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $219,129 spent. Our Ecosystem Building strategy works to facilitate and support a multisectoral network of leaders - including civil society, community-based organizations, national civil rights groups, academia, philanthropy, and government - to co-create and build a new movement to confront and dismantle U.S. colonialism. Key highlights: conducting an artist listening tour that included 6 community dialogues with more than 70 participants across all five territories and DC; facilitating virtual and in-person learning sessions around the need to confront the undemocratic colonial framework governing the territories; co-creating and facilitating a cross-territorial coalition with five working groups focused on policy advocacy, litigation, organizing, international law & Indigenous rights, and education & media; elevating territory voices and facilitating the participation of more than 51 territorial representatives in national and local events.
- $146,086 spent. Our Participatory Advocacy program works to confront and dismantle the undemocratic colonial framework governing all five U.S. territories through policy, advocacy, and litigation strategies that are developed by engaging people and communities from each territory, their diaspora, and throughout the United States. Our advocacy is directed towards creating systemic change and accountability across all three branches of the federal government. Key highlights: engaging civil rights, social justice, and community partners as well as congressional allies to press the U.S. Department of Justice to condemn the Insular Cases; developing new client-centered litigation focused on democracy, self-governance, and self-determination; advancing equity in federal benefits programs, philanthropic investments, data collection, and veterans services; and addressing issues of climate and environmental justice. Our work is supported by more than 1,000 hours of pro bono support from law firm partners.
- $121,738 spent. Our Narrative and Cultural Change program works to combat the cultural normalization of undemocratic colonial rule in U.S. territories. We do this through engagement with journalists, educators, artists, and others, both in the territories and throughout the United States, leveraging our advocacy to raise the visibility of these issues both at a national level and in each territory. Key highlights: artist listening tour across the territories and convenings for the Decolonial Monument Project with national and local partners; highlight colonial injuries and their intersections with trending issues and current events to increase awareness of US colonialism; Op-Ed placements in national and local media; a social media campaign on the 125th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris and the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence; developing historical educational primers for each of the territories.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Protect Democracy Project (Washington, DC), EIN 81-4777062. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.