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Fairvote

EIN 54-1635649 · Silver Spring, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FAIRVOTE IS A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION SEEKING BETTER ELECTIONS FOR ALL. IT RESEARCHES AND ADVANCES VOTING REFORMS THAT MAKE DEMOCRACY MORE FUNCTIONAL AND REPRESENTATIVE FOR EVERY AMERICAN. SINCE 1992, IT HAS A PROVEN RECORD AS A NONPARTISAN INNOVATOR IN ELECTIONS AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVEL THROUGH STRATEGIC RESEARCH, COMMUNICATIONS, AND COLLABORATION.

Income
$7.2 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
38
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$225,520, president & 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 (1)
  1. $4.3 million spent. 2024 FAIRVOTE (C3) ACCOMPLISHMENTSFAIRVOTE HAS CONTINUED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING ELECTORAL REFORM MOVEMENT. IN 2024, FV: PROVIDED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND MEDIA SUPPORT FOR FOUR STATES WITH RCV BALLOT CAMPAIGNS, FOUR MUNICIPAL RCV BALLOT MEASURES, AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VOTERS USING RCV.PUBLISHED RESEARCH REPORTS AND ANALYSES ON THE NEED FOR ELECTORAL REFORM, INCLUDING THE MONOPOLY POLITICS PROJECT THAT PREDICTED THE RESULTS OF ALL 2024 US HOUSE RACES WITH 98% ACCURACY - TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE. THIS DEMONSTRATES HOW MUCH PARTISANSHIP IS A DEFINING FACTOR IN ELECTION OUTCOMES, INSTEAD OF LOCAL ISSUES, CANDIDATE QUALITY OR HOW CAMPAIGNS ARE RUN.MONITORED ELECTIONS THAT IMPLEMENTED RCV IN 12 CITIES ACROSS SIX STATES. ONE OF THE 12 CITIES, PORTLAND OR, IMPLEMENTED RCV FOR THE FIRST TIME.PUBLISHED RESEARCH REPORTS AND ANALYSES COVERING CIVIL CAMPAIGNS, BETTER REPRESENTATION, AND HIGH VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN ALASKA, SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK CITY, ARLINGTON, VA, PORTLAND, OR, AND OTHER CITIES USING RCV AROUND THE COUNTRY.ENGAGED WITH MEDIA TO GROW THE NUMBER OF RCV EDITORIAL BOARD ENDORSEMENTS, DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF RCV IN PARTY PRIMARIES AND THE FAIR REPRESENTATION ACT, AND MAINTAIN POSITIVE NEWS COVERAGE OF RCV. CONVENED FOUR ROUNDTABLES AROUND RCV MOVEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND PARTICIPATED IN ONE PARTNER'S ROUNDTABLE FOCUSED ON PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. THE CONVENINGS ARE TO STRENGTHEN COORDINATION AND ALIGNMENT AMONG MOVEMENT PARTNERS, BUILD TRUST, AND SUPPORT STATE AND LOCAL INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE REFORM CYCLE. THE ROUNDTABLES FOCUSED ON NATIONAL RCV/ELECTION REFORM, LEGAL, RESEARCH, AND ELECTION ADMINISTRATION. MAINTAINED ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE THROUGH EFFECTIVE BOARD GOVERNANCE, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, STRONG FUNDRAISING, AND CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND LEARNING.

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 1992.

    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.

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