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Citizen Action Defense Fund

EIN 85-0910069 · Olympia, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUSTAIN, DEFEND AND PROVIDE THE MEANS TO PRESERVE THE INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF ALL WASHINGTONIANS, INCLUDING FREEDOM OF RELIGION, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY, FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION, FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION, PARTICULARLY DURING DECLARED STATES OF EMERGENCIES, AND TO CARRY ON OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PURPOSE AS ALLOWED BY LAW.

Income
$736,646
Spending
$734,746
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$327,950, executive 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 71% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $450,383 spent. LITIGATION - CADF FILES LAWSUITS, REPRESENTS AFFECTED PARTIES, AND INTERVENES IN OTHER CASES WHEN THE STATE ENACTS LAWS THAT VIOLATE THE STATE OR FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS, WHEN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TAKE ACTIONS THAT INFRINGE UPON FIRST AMENDMENT OR OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, OR WHEN AGENCIES PROMULGATE RULES IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW.CADF V. OFM. CADF PREVAILED IN LITIGATION AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR WITHHOLDING DOCUMENTS FROM BILLION-DOLLAR NEGOTIATIONS WITH PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS.UNDIVIDED MEDIA V. CITY OF SEATTLE. CADF FILED A PUBLIC RECORDS LAWSUIT IN STATE COURT TO OBTAIN RECORDS REGARDING A COUNCILMEMBER'S PUBLIC SAFETY VOTE.CADF ET AL. V. STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL. LAWSUIT FILED IN FEDERAL COURT TO BLOCK OR DELAY RESTRICTIONS TO THE NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HARMED BUSINESSES AND HOMEOWNERS IN WASHINGTON STATE.SMITH V. WSDOT. CADF DEFENDED A WHISTLEBLOWER WHO WAS FORCED OUT OF HIS JOB AFTER HE WAS PRESSURED TO LIE ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THE GOVERNOR'S CAP AND TRADE PROGRAM ON FUEL COSTS.N. PEARL ST. V. TACOMA. CADF CHALLENGED AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL MEASURE (THE TACOMA INITIATIVE) THAT WILL INCREASE THE COST OF HOUSING IN TACOMA.DORIOT V. WSDOT. CADF FILED A SUIT ON BEHALF OF A SMALL BUSINESS CHALLENGING THE STATE LEGISLATURE'S PASSING OF A TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE THAT VIOLATED THE SINGLE SUBJECT REQUIREMENT OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION.WALSH V. HOBBS. CADF INTERVENED IN A LAWSUIT THAT CHALLENGED THE LAW THAT ALLOWED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO WRITE MISLEADING ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENTS FOR STATEWIDE INITIATIVES.
  2. $24,961 spent. COMMUNICATION - CADF ENGAGES WITH THE MEDIA, THE PUBLIC, STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, LAWMAKERS AND STAFF, AND DONORS ON LEGAL ISSUES THAT ADVANCE FREE MARKETS, RESTRAIN GOVERNMENT OVERREACH OR DEFEND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
  3. EDUCATION - CADF EDUCATES WASHINGTON CITIZENS ABOUT LEGAL ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEIR FREEDOM AND RIGHTS UNDER THE FEDERAL AND STATE CONSTITUTIONS. CADF ALSO PROVIDES A GUIDE TO ASSIST AND EDUCATE STATE VOTERS ON THE RECORD OF DECISIONS OF JUDGES AND WHETHER THEY ARE BIASED OR INCONSISTENT WITH CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND COMMON SENSE.

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 2024.

    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 February 2024.

    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.