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Defending Democracy Together Institute

EIN 83-1567380 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ELEVATE AND ASSEMBLE PRO-DEMOCRACY VOICES IN AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTION AND VALUE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND TO ENCOURAGE INNOVATIVE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO SOLVE THE EMERGING CHALLENGES FACING AMERICA.

Income
$25.3 million
Spending
$17.7 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
2
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$200,000, sr. program director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 142% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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 (4)
  1. $12.8 million spent. IN 2024, DEFENDING DEMOCRACY TOGETHER INSTITUTE'S GENERAL PROGRAMMING CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTION AND VALUE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTED CONVENINGS AND RESOURCES THAT FOSTERED CIVIC TRUST AND HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND NORMS. BOARD MEMBERS AND AFFILIATED EXPERTS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN PUBLIC FORUMS AND NEWS MEDIA TO PROMOTE THESE IDEALS AND BROADEN THE REACH OF THE INSTITUTE'S EDUCATIONAL MISSION.
  2. $2.8 million spent. THE DEMOCRACY INNOVATION FUND (DIF) INCUBATES AND ACCELERATES PRO-DEMOCRACY INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE CENTER-RIGHT. DIF GRANTS TO NASCENT ORGANIZATIONS TO PUT THESE ORGANIZATIONS ON A PATH TO INDEPENDENT GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY. DURING 2024, DIF SAW SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS BY ITS GRANTEES AND MADE GRANTS TO NEW ORGANIZATIONS.
  3. $1.1 million spent. IN 2024, PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY CONTINUED AS A NONPARTISAN CIVIC INITIATIVE DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION. THE PROGRAM CONVENED COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS THROUGH BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS, HIGHLIGHTING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF TRUSTED LOCAL INSTITUTIONS IN SUPPORTING DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES. THESE EFFORTS EMPHASIZED TRANSPARENCY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AROUND ELECTION SYSTEMS.
  4. $759,990 spent. THE LYCEUM LABS PROJECT UNDERTOOK THREE MAIN ACTIVITIES IN 2024: (1) CONTINUING TO FORM AND CONVENE THE LEADING TO GOVERN NETWORK. THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITY IN 2024 WAS ENGAGING LEADERS OF MORE THAN TWO DOZEN 501(C) ORGANIZATIONS IN THE LEADING TO GOVERN NETWORK THROUGH QUARTERLY CALLS AND OUR FIRST EVER 2-DAY IN-PERSON CONVENING IN WASHINGTON, DC. ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS SHARE A BELIEF IN AND COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING SUPPORT TO PRAGMATIC, SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS THROUGH NONPARTISAN RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. (2) ORCHESTRATING THE "LEADING TO GOVERN" SYMPOSIUM IN DEMOCRACY JOURNAL. LYCEUM LABS CURATED A SYMPOSIUM ON "REVITALIZING POLITICAL LEADERSHIP" FOR THE SUMMER 2024 ISSUE OF DEMOCRACY: A JOURNAL OF IDEAS. IN THE SYMPOSIUM, LEADERS OF SEVEN NETWORK PARTNERS PUBLISHED ESSAYS ON THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY ARE PURSUING THROUGH THEIR ORGANIZATIONS' RESPECTIVE MISSIONS AND WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED THROUGH THEIR WORK. LYCEUM LABS WORKED WITH MICHAEL TOMASKY, EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL, TO ENVISION THIS SYMPOSIUM, SELECT THE THEMES, AND SOLICIT THE ESSAYS. LYCEUM LABS ALSO SUB-GRANTED TO THE DEMOCRACY JOURNAL TO SUPPORT ITS EDITORIAL WORK ON THIS EFFORT. THIS SPECIAL ISSUE SERVED IN EFFECT AS A PUBLIC DEBUT FOR THE NETWORK. (3) CONTINUING TO CONDUCT RESEARCH FOR A FORTHCOMING PUBLICATION. THROUGHOUT 2024, EMILY CHERNIACK OF THE NEW POLITICS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AND DANIEL STID OF LYCEUM LABS CONTINUED TO CONDUCT IN-DEPTH FIELD INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL AND STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THESE INTERVIEWS MARKED THE SECOND PHASE OF A TWO-YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT THAT WILL INFORM AND INSPIRE MILLENNIAL AND GEN Z AMERICANS WHO HAVE LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL BUT RIGHT NOW SEE POLITICS AS THE LAST PLACE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO CONSIDER RUNNING FOR OFFICE.IN 2024, THE PRESIDENTIAL REFORM PROJECT ADVANCED PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH ACCOUNTABILITY BY PUBLISHING RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON ISSUES SUCH AS THE EXPANDED ROLE OF THE PRESIDENCY, THE INSURRECTION ACT, ETHICS REFORM, DOMESTIC TROOP DEPLOYMENT, AND EMERGENCY POWERS. THESE TOPICS TOOK ON HEIGHTENED IMPORTANCE AS NEW CHALLENGES EMERGED TO TRADITIONAL UNDERSTANDINGS OF EXECUTIVE POWER AND AS COURT RULINGS RESHAPED LONG-STANDING PRECEDENTS. THE PROJECT SERVED AS A TRUSTED EXPERT RESOURCE FOR POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRATIC NORMS AND THE RULE OF LAW.IN 2024, THE POLITICAL EMAILS PROGRAM CONTINUED TO COLLECT, ORGANIZE, AND MAKE PUBLIC LARGE VOLUMES OF EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS FROM POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, LEGISLATORS, NGOS, AND OTHER GROUPS ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY AND CIVIC DEBATE. THE PROGRAM'S ANALYSIS HAS BEEN USED EXTENSIVELY IN THE MEDIA AND PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP AUDIENCES UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION IN SHAPING POLITICAL DISCOURSE.

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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 April 2019.

    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 November 4, 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.