Democracy for the Arab World Now Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
DEMOCRACY FOR THE ARAB WORLD NOW (DAWN) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA). OUR VISION IS FOR A WORLD WHERE THE HUMAN RIGHTS, LIBERTY, AND DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA ARE UPHELD BY DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENTS, SAFEGUARDED BY INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING UNDER THE RULE OF LAW, AND SUPPORTED BY INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD. OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT U.S. FOREIGN POLICY SUPPORTS THE PEOPLE IN MENA BY ENDING SUPPORT FOR THEIR ABUSIVE, UNDEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $226,800, exec. dir./secretary
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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 51% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 79% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $1.0 million spent. 2024 WAS A YEAR OF SEMINAL SUCCESSES FOR DAWN, GARNERING SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND RECOGNITION FOR OUR EFFORTS IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, RAISING THE VISIBILITY OF THE ORGANIZATION AS A LEADING CENTER FOR AGGRESSIVE, RESULTS-ORIENTED PROJECTS, ARTICULATING POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SUCCESSFULLY RESONATED WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY, BROADCASTING THE VOICES AND VIEWPOINTS OF ACTIVISTS AND EXPERTS FROM THE REGION INTO FOREIGN POLICY DISCUSSIONS AND DECISION-MAKING, AND SUCCEEDING IN PRESENTING DAWN AS THE LEADING PROGRESSIVE MENA FOREIGN POLICY ORGANIZATION IN WASHINGTON DC. THE DAWN STAFF CARRIED OUT TRULY IMPRESSIVE WORK, ISSUING 46 PRESS RELEASES AND 29 PRESS ADVISORIES, 97 ARTICLES AND SIX INTERVIEWS WITH NEWSMAKERS FOR DEMOCRACY IN EXILE, AND 30 PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2022.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.