Center for Digital Democracy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 108 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The Center for Digital Democracy's (CDD) mission is to ensure that digital technologies serve and strengthen democratic values, institutions and processes. CDD strives to safeguard privacy and civil and human rights, as well as to advance equity, fairness and community. CDD works to protect and expand digital rights and data justice through research-led initiatives designed to influence policymakers, corporate leaders, the news media, civil society and the general public. The organization focuses on developing and advocating for rules and policies that: (1) foster privacy, justice and non-discriminatory treatment in the digital marketplace; (2) safeguard young people against unfair, manipulative and other harmful practices; (3) promote responsible commercial data and digital marketing operations in political campaigns and elections; and (4) ensure that digital marketing practices contribute to fair and equitable public health outcomes.
- Income
- $105,491
- Spending
- $580,980
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 77%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $158,021, deputy 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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 451% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 90% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 108 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (2)
- $532,100 spent. Digital Safeguards for Children and Youth: Children are growing up tethered to social media, video entertainment, gaming and mobile platforms operated by Facebook, Google, and other powerful corporations. There is a growing body of evidence documenting how the technology industry has significantly increased risks to children's privacy; bombarded them with misinformation, hate and racist speech; exposed them to cyberbullying and sexual predation and contributed to behaviors that threaten their health and well-being. It appears that just as they do for adults, digital platforms data practices can also produce disparate outcomes for children of color and low income youth exacerbating existing disparities in racial, economic and political equity. The growing power of global big tech platforms creates an urgent need for comprehensive, coordinated, international efforts to promote greater corporate accountability and stronger government policies on behalf of children, and to ensure that safeguards are built into the foundation of emerging platforms and services. The Center is working with allies to conduct a number of efforts aimed at informing the public, the news media and policymakers, about the growing risks to young people from the unregulated digital technology industry in order to elevate the importance of this issue in the policy disclosure, place it higher on the Washington political agenda, and ultimately bring about policy change. The Center's project is focused on the following objectives: Influencing major technology companies to strengthen their internal policies and practices for protecting the privacy of children and adolescents, analyzing emerging commercial technologies and services to assess their implications for youth exposure, and engaging with civil society organizations and other stakeholders in the U.S. and elsewhere to foster consensus and collaboration on how to protect privacy and the well-being of young people in the digital environment promoting public health policies in the digital environment - The Center continues its work addressing the impact of digital media on health outcomes, including the role that marketing plays in contributing to the obesity epidemic. The Center has produced numerous reports documenting how unhealthy foods are marketed to young people through digital media and continue to operate a comprehensive research and public education initiative on that issue. We also analyze how drug companies market their products on new media platforms, assessing their impact on influencing consumer and medical professional health behaviors ensuring competition in the retail and grocery sector-We track and analyze developments related to the transformation of retail as a result of new technologies and also omnichannel marketing strategies. Our in-depth research initiative identifies the latest trends and practices, making the information available to journalists, policymakers and NGOs.
- $13,700 spent. The Center's Media Accountability Program identifies, analyzes and develops public education initiatives to ensure the U.S. digital media system operates in ways that support democracy.
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 December 2001.
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.
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.