Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Former Members of Congress Inc

EIN 54-0883744 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FMC IS A BIPARTISAN, NONPROFIT,VOLUNTARY ALLIANCE OF FORMER UNITED STATES SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, EDUCATING ABOUNT REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY AT HOME AND ABROAD. FMC: WORKING TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT THE CONGRESS IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY BY CHAMPIONING A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO POLICY MAKING. FMC: PROTECTING AND PROMOTING DEMOCRACY WORLDWIDE AND ENCOURAGING CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
13
Highest pay
$366,000, ceo

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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    47 of 49 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 (3)
  1. $1.0 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED STUDY GROUPS WITH GERMANY, JAPAN, EUROPE AND KOREA TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERS OF PARLIMENT IN THESE COUNTRIES WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRANK DISCUSSIONS WITH CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES ON KEY ISSUES AFFECTING THEM THROUGH ONGOING, UNOFFICIAL AND INFORMAL FORA. THESE STUDY GROUPS WERE MAINLY SUPPORTED BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, ATLANTIK BRUECKE, THE SASAKAWA PEACE FOUNDATION, AND PRIVATE CORPORATIONS.
  2. $59,871 spent. THE GOAL OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SERVICE, TEACH ABOUT CONGRESS AND STRENGTHEN REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, WHILE KEEPING ITS UNIQUE MEMBERSHIP CONNECTED AFTER LEAVING CAPITOL HILL. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS DOMESTIC PROGRAMS, MOST NOTABLY THE CONGRESS TO CAMPUS PROGRAM, WHICH SENT BIPARTIAN TEAMS OF FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO ALMOST 30 COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCORPORATED A WEBCAST SERIES (THE CIVICS CONNECTION), AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO INCLUDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND OTHER INTERESTED CITIZENS. IN ADDITION TO A SMALL ADMISTRATIVE FEE CHARGED TO THE UNIVERSITIES VISITED, THE CONGRESS TO CAMPUS PROGRAM WAS SUPPORTED, BY THE PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, AND THE STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICES. IN ADDITION, VIA FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM LEGACY INTERNATIONAL, THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS VISITING DELEGATIONS FROM EMERGING DEMOCRACIES IN THE UNITED STATES FOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THE ORGANIZATION'S MAIN DOMESTIC FOCUS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN A NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO RESTORE CIVIC EDUCATION IN PUBLIC CLASSROOMS. BIPARTIAN TEAMS OF FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WORK WITH LOCAL ENTITIES AND NON PROFITS TO REACH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AS WELL AS EDUCATORS, IN AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILTY THAT COMES WITH CITIZENSHIP, ABOUT THE ROLE OF OUR THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, AND ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. THE GOAL OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SERVICE, TEACH ABOUT CONGRESS AND STRENGTHEN REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, WHILE KEEPING ITS UNIQUE MEMBERSHIP CONNECTED AFTER LEAVING CAPITOL HILL. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS DOMESTIC PROGRAMS, MOST NOTABLY THE CONGRESS TO CAMPUS PROGRAM, WHICH SENT BIPARTIAN TEAMS OF FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO ALMOST 30 COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCORPORATED A WEBCAST SERIES (THE CIVICS CONNECTION), AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO INCLUDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND OTHER INTERESTED CITIZENS. IN ADDITION TO A SMALL ADMISTRATIVE FEE CHARGED TO THE UNIVERSITIES VISITED, THE CONGRESS TO CAMPUS PROGRAM WAS SUPPORTED, BY THE PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, AND THE STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICES. IN ADDITION, VIA FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM LEGACY INTERNATIONAL, THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS VISITING DELEGATIONS FROM EMERGING DEMOCRACIES IN THE UNITED STATES FOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THE ORGANIZATION'S MAIN DOMESTIC FOCUS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN A NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO RESTORE CIVIC EDUCATION IN PUBLIC CLASSROOMS. BIPARTIAN TEAMS OF FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WORK WITH LOCAL ENTITIES AND NON PROFITS TO REACH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AS WELL AS EDUCATORS, IN AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILTY THAT COMES WITH CITIZENSHIP, ABOUT THE ROLE OF OUR THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, AND ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.
  3. $1.2 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION EMPHASIZES ITS INTERNATIONAL ENDEAVORS. PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE GLOBAL DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE CAPITALIZE ON THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AND SKILL SET OF FOMER LEGISLATORS IN DEMOCRACY-BUILDING AND PARLIAMENTARY STRENGTHENING MISSIONS. OTHER PROJECTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONGRESSIONAL STUDY GROUPS, AIM TO CREATE PEER-TO-PEER DIALOGUE INVOLVING CURRENT MEMBERERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR COLLEGUES IN OTHER LEGISLATURES. IN ADDITION, AN INTERNATIONAL EXTENSION OF THE CONGRESS TO CAMPUS PROGRAM (MOST NOTABLY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM,TURKEY, CHINA, AND CANADA), THE ORGANIZATION AIMS TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY ABROAD VIA PROJECTS SUCH AS THE GLOBAL DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE (GDI). GDI IS A JOINT PROJECT CONDUCTED WITH THE FORMER LEGISLATORS' ASSOCIATIONS OF CANADA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION (THE ASSOCIATION). PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDED SEVERAL TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED IN OTTAWA TO PREPARE FORMER LEGISLATORS FOR ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSIONS. GDI ALSO INCLUDES THEM U.S. LEGISLATORS AGAINST CORRUPTION PROJECT, WHICH SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS IN EMERGING DEMOCRACIES. VIA THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ASSOCIATION, FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CONDUCT DEMOCRACY BUILDING MISSIONS SUCH AS LEGISLATIVE STENGTHENING WORKSHOPS OR SERVING AS ELECTION OBSERVERS. THE ORGANIZATION EMPHASIZES ITS INTERNATIONAL ENDEAVORS. PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE GLOBAL DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE CAPITALIZE ON THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AND SKILL SET OF FOMER LEGISLATORS IN DEMOCRACY-BUILDING AND PARLIAMENTARY STRENGTHENING MISSIONS. OTHER PROJECTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONGRESSIONAL STUDY GROUPS, AIM TO CREATE PEER-TO-PEER DIALOGUE INVOLVING CURRENT MEMBERERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR COLLEGUES IN OTHER LEGISLATURES. IN ADDITION, AN INTERNATIONAL EXTENSION OF THE CONGRESS TO CAMPUS PROGRAM (MOST NOTABLY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM,TURKEY, CHINA, AND CANADA), THE ORGANIZATION AIMS TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY ABROAD VIA PROJECTS SUCH AS THE GLOBAL DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE (GDI). GDI IS A JOINT PROJECT CONDUCTED WITH THE FORMER LEGISLATORS' ASSOCIATIONS OF CANADA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION (THE ASSOCIATION). PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDED SEVERAL TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED IN OTTAWA TO PREPARE FORMER LEGISLATORS FOR ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSIONS. GDI ALSO INCLUDES THEM U.S. LEGISLATORS AGAINST CORRUPTION PROJECT, WHICH SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS IN EMERGING DEMOCRACIES. VIA THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ASSOCIATION, FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CONDUCT DEMOCRACY BUILDING MISSIONS SUCH AS LEGISLATIVE STENGTHENING WORKSHOPS OR SERVING AS ELECTION OBSERVERS.

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 February 1971.

    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.