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Equal Citizens Foundation

EIN 82-3949758 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PUBLIC EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND LITIGATION TO PROMOTE THE IDEA OF EQUAL POLITICAL RIGHTS TO CITIZENS.

Income
$269,229
Spending
$190,568
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
14.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Highest pay
$36,000, treasurer

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 (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.5 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 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $63,649 spent. THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED AN ONLINE CONTENT CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION PROJECT CALLED "CITIZENS CREATE", WHICH AIMS TO PROMOTE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF DEMOCRACY REFORM ONLINE CONTENT BY CHANNELING DONATIONS TO THE PROJECT TO PAY INDEPENDENT CREATORS FOR MAKING THE CONTENT AND DIGITAL ADVERTISEMENT TO PROMOTE THE CONTENT. THE PROGRAM EXPENSES INCLUDE ADVERTISING FEES, COMPENSATIONS TO CONSULTANTS FOR DIGITAL MARKETING, CONTENT CREATION, PUBLIC RELATIONS.
  2. $45,081 spent. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ONGOING DIGITAL CAMPAIGNS AND LITIGATIONS THAT SEEK TO FUNDAMENTALLY REFORM OUR ELECTION SYSTEM AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON DEMOCRACY REFORM ISSUES. THE DIGITAL CAMPAIGN CREATES ORIGINAL EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS, PODCASTS, GRAPHICS, AND WRITTEN COMMENTARIES ON CURRENT EVENTS RELATED TO U.S. DEMOCRACY REFORM, AND DISSEMINATES THE CONTENT TO THE PUBLIC VIA THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. THE DIGITAL CAMPAIGNS INCLUDE AN EDUCATION PROJECT NAMED "DELIBERATIONS.US" THAT INVITES THE PUBLIC TO DELIBERATE THE PROS AND CONS OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM AND REFORM OPTIONS. PARTICIPANTS WILL MEET IN SMALL GROUPS ON AN ONLINE PLATFORM, LEARN ABOUT THE FACTS OF THE ISSUES, AND SHARE THEIR OPINIONS IN GROUP CONVERSATIONS. THE PROGRAM EXPENSES INCLUDE COMPENSATIONS TO PROJECT ORGANIZERS, CONSULTANT FOR CONTENT CREATION AND TECHNOLOGY, AND WEBSITE HOSTING FEES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ONGOING DIGITAL CAMPAIGNS AND LITIGATIONS THAT SEEK TO FUNDAMENTALLY REFORM OUR ELECTION SYSTEM AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON DEMOCRACY REFORM ISSUES. THE DIGITAL CAMPAIGN CREATES ORIGINAL EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS, PODCASTS, GRAPHICS, AND WRITTEN COMMENTARIES ON CURRENT EVENTS RELATED TO U.S. DEMOCRACY REFORM, AND DISSEMINATES THE CONTENT TO THE PUBLIC VIA THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. THE DIGITAL CAMPAIGNS INCLUDE AN EDUCATION PROJECT NAMED "DELIBERATIONS.US" THAT INVITES THE PUBLIC TO DELIBERATE THE PROS AND CONS OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM AND REFORM OPTIONS. PARTICIPANTS WILL MEET IN SMALL GROUPS ON AN ONLINE PLATFORM, LEARN ABOUT THE FACTS OF THE ISSUES, AND SHARE THEIR OPINIONS IN GROUP CONVERSATIONS. THE PROGRAM EXPENSES INCLUDE COMPENSATIONS TO PROJECT ORGANIZERS, CONSULTANT FOR CONTENT CREATION AND TECHNOLOGY, AND WEBSITE HOSTING FEES.
  3. $13,902 spent. THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED AN ONLINE VIDEO COMPETITION WITH A PRIZE OF 50,000 TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON SUPERPACS. THE VIDEOS SUBMITTED TO THE COMPETITION WERE ADVERTISED IN SOCIAL MEDIA TO RAISE AWARENESS ON SUPERPACS AND ATTRACT MORE ENGAGEMENTS TO THE COMPETITION. A PANEL OF INDEPENDENT JUDGES DECIDED THE WINNING VIDEO AND THE PRIZE WAS AWARDED. THE PROGRAM EXPENSES INCLUDE THE PRIZE MONEY, ADVERTISING FEES, COMPENSATIONS TO CONSULTANTS FOR DIGITAL MARKETING, CONTENT CREATION, PUBLIC RELATIONS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2018.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.