Ohio Debate Commission Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to foster fair and substantive debates that encourage participation in our democracy, and our vision is of a stronger Ohio, with well informed voters and highly qualified public servants, candidates, and elected officials.
- Income
- $37,686
- Spending
- $7,812
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 9
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
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- The ODC Debate Playbook, a step-by-step guide for how to conduct a candidate debate, is designed to aid other nonprofit organizations in creating opportunities for and conducting candidate debates at any level of government where there are races for elected office (i.e., school board, state legislator, or a statewide seat like governor or secretary of state). The Playbook includes narrative descriptions of each phase: planning, organizing, conducting, broadcasting, and distributing candidate debates. The Playbook also includes templates and sample checklists, letters, event clocks, and other documents used throughout the work. The Playbook is available for free on our website in five languages (English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Chinese); users can download both the entire playbook or a one-page summary document to share with their membership.
- In 2024, debate program work included planning and organizing six candidate debates for the offices of the US Senate, Ohio Governor, and Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court to which all candidates were invited, and debate participation was determined based on ODC candidate participation criteria. The criteria included meeting requirements for being on the ballot and legally qualified to be a candidate, results of independent polls, and demonstrating an active campaign with evidence of activities such as having a headquarters, raising a minimum amount of money from a minimum amount of donors, being on social media with a certain number of followers, engaging in voter activities such as house parties, parades, meet and greets, etc. Program time was spent on venue visits and selection for 2022 general election debates, in preparation for conducting each debate, moderator consideration and selection, format decisions, discussion and implemenation of question solicitation and selection, designing and deploying voter outreach plans, high school and college student engagement programs, candidate communications, media engagement and press relations, selecting and working with a prduction team, and planning for and implementing the distribution of the debates content across all eight Ohio media markets, as well as multiple other types of outlets. (e.g., universities, bar associations, AARP, civic organizations).
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 2020.
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.