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Ring of Democracy

EIN 81-4642489 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE RING OF DEMOCRACY IS A NONPARTISAN CIVIC ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AND INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT ALL ELIGIBLE CITIZENS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

Income
$418,747
Spending
$325,167
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 72%
Employees
11
Highest pay
$37,343, cfo

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% 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 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $291,376 spent. THE RING OF DEMOCRACY WAS A RECIPIENT OF SUBAWARDS THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA WORKPLACE OUTREACH PROJECT (CWOP), A GRANT INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON PROMOTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND INCREASING VOTER PARTICIPATION AMONG WORKING CALIFORNIANS. AS A CWOP SUBRECIPIENT, THE RING OF DEMOCRACY UTILIZED GRANT FUNDS TO CONDUCT NONPARTISAN VOTER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN WORKPLACE SETTINGS ACROSS CALIFORNIA, PARTNERING WITH EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT ELIGIBLE CITIZENS WITH THE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. SUBAWARD FUNDS WERE USED TO SUPPORT PROGRAM STAFFING, OUTREACH MATERIALS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITIES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY THROUGH BROAD AND INCLUSIVE CIVIC PARTICIPATION.

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 January 2017.

    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.