Clean Elections Minnesota
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CLEAN ELECTIONS MINNESOTA IS A NONPARTISAN, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SEEKS AN INCLUSIVE AND HEALTHY DEMOCRACY FOR OUR STATE. WE EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE FOR EXPANDED VOTER ACCESS, TRANSPARENCY, AND REFORMS THAT LIMIT THE POWER OF WEALTHY DONORS AND SPECIAL INTERESTS IN OUR POLITICAL PROCESS.
- Income
- $182,008
- Spending
- $168,917
- Reserves
- 6.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Highest pay
- $47,945, executive director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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)
- $46,897 spent. OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS: CLEAN ELECTIONS MINNESOTA (CEM) WROTE WEEKLY NEWS UPDATES THAT PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN DEMOCRACY NEWS IN MINNESOTA AND NATIONALLY, ACTIONS SUPPORTERS CAN TAKE AND LINKS ARTICLES FOR THOSE INTERESTED. BIMONTHLY BOARD MEMBERS WRITE AND DISTRIBUTE A NEWSLETTER ON DEMOCRACY RELATED AND ELECTION INTEGRITY ISSUES. WE HAVE A PRESENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND A WEBSITE. VOLUNTEERS AND BOARD MEMBERS WROTE ARTICLES OR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE ISSUES AND ISSUES RELATED TO PROTECTING DEMOCRACY THAT WERE PUBLISHED IN THE MINNESOTA REFORMER AND THE STAR TRIBUNE AND MINNPOST. WE GAVE IN PERSON PRESENTATIONS TO THIRD ACT, REV UP MN, HUMPHREY FELLOWS PROGRAMS AND THE PEACEMAKERS OF MINNESOTA AS WELL AS APPEARED ON THE PUBLIC ACCESS PROGRAM SPEAK MINNEAPOLIS.
- $9,589 spent. EDUCATION FORUMS: IN 2024, CLEAN ELECTIONS MINNESOTA HOSTED TWO VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL FORUMS THAT WERE VERY WELL ATTENDED BY MINNESOTANS, EACH RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF REGISTRANTS.FIRST WAS A FORUM ABOUT THE NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC FINANCING PROGRAM PRESENTED BY MARINA PINA AND CELINA AVALOS JARAMILLO OF THE NATIONAL BRENNEN CENTER FOR JUSTICE. THE CONVERSATION WAS CO-HOSTED BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MN, COMMON CAUSE MN, WE CHOOSE US, AND FAIR VOTE MN. THIS CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTED A GROUNDBREAKING CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM PROGRAM FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK--A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM OF SMALL DONOR PUBLIC FINANCING FOR STATE ELECTIONS ALLOWING SMALL DONORS A LARGER ROLE IN ELECTIONS. THE SECOND CEM EDUCATION PROGRAM WAS A CONVERSATION WITH BARBARA MCQUADE, AUTHOR OF THE ACCLAIMED BOOK, ATTACK FROM WITHIN, HOW DISINFORMATION IS SABOTAGING AMERICA. OUR ALLIES, LWV, COMMON CAUSE, FAIR VOTE, AND WE CHOOSE US CO-HOSTED THE CONVERSATION. MCQUADE DISCUSSED HOW DISINFORMATION WORKS, HOW IT UNDERMINES DEMOCRACY AND HOW TO COUNTER IT. SHE CALLED FOR A COMMITMENT TO TRUTH---A NECESSARY, CENTRAL TENET TO DEMOCRACY. BUILDING TRUST IN ELECTIONS EDUCATIONAL EFFORT: CEM LED A MAJOR STATEWIDE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO BUILD PUBLIC TRUST IN MINNESOTA ELECTIONS- THE SAFE AND SECURE ELECTIONS AD CAMPAIGN. WE BUILT A BIPARTISAN, NONPARTISAN COALITION WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, LWV MN, FAIRVOTE MN, COMMON CAUSE MN, AND WE CHOOSE US. WE CONDUCTED FOCUS GROUPS WITH A NATIONAL FIRM, CITIZEN DATA, TO IDENTIFY VOTERS WHO WAVERED IN THEIR TRUST OF ELECTIONS AND TARGETED 500,000 MINNESOTANS TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE CLEAN, FAIR, ACCURATE, AND SECURE ELECTION SYSTEM THAT MINNESOTA HAS BUILT. THE DIGITAL CAMPAIGN HAD 2.7 MILLION AD IMPRESSIONS, OVER 230,000 INDIVIDUAL USERS, AND 13,000 UNIQUE VISITORS TO OUR SAFE AND SECURE ELECTIONS LANDING PAGE WITH FACTS ABOUT VOTING IN MINNESOTA. THE CAMPAIGN FEATURED ELECTION JUDGES AND BIPARTISAN ELECTION OFFICIALS IN COMPELLING SHORT VIDEOS. IT OUTPERFORMED NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT BENCHMARKS. WE ADDRESSED OVER 200 QUESTIONS VOTERS HAD ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS. WE PRODUCED VIDEOS AND A VOTER TOOLKIT SHARED BY 100+ COALITION PARTNERS.
- $9,589 spent. LEGISLATION AND POLICY: WE PROVIDED INFORMATION TO MINNESOTANS AND TO LEADERS IN SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING BILLS: -THE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION REFUND MODERNIZATION BILL -A DEEPFAKE BILL THAT ADDS PENALTIES TO A PERSON WHO DISSEMINATES A DEEPFAKE CAMPAIGN AD TO SPREAD ELECTION DISINFORMATION OR ENTERS INTO A CONTRACT OR OTHER AGREEMENT TO DISSEMINATE THEM. -THE MINNESOTA VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT PROHIBITS VOTER SUPPRESSION AND VOTER DILUTION. -THE RANKED CHOICE VOTING LOCAL OPTIONS BILL -MOVE TO AMEND RESOLUTION TO END CITIZENS UNITED: -TWO REDISTRICTING BILLS: THE BETTER GOVERNMENT BILL THAT INCLUDED A CITIZEN LED REDISTRICTING COMMISSION AND A STANDALONE CITIZEN-LED REDISTRICTING COMMISSION BILL. -WE CONTINUED OUR DEFENSE OF THE BAN ON FOREIGN SPENDING ON ELECTIONS BY FOREIGN CORPORATIONS.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 February 2017.
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.