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Demand Progress Education Fund

EIN 87-1987049 · Silver Spring, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPACTS OF CONCENTRATED POWER OVER OUR ECONOMY AND DEMOCRACY.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
20
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$224,759, managing 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    3 of 6 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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 (5)
  1. $549,278 spent. CORPORATE POWER AND ECONOMICS - DPEF SEEKS TO REDUCE THE CORRUPTING INFLUENCE OF CORPORATE INTERESTS IN POLICY-MAKING, BREAK UP AND REGULATE CONCENTRATIONS OF CORPORATE POWER, AND REFORM THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM - SO OUR DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMY WORK FOR EVERYONE. DPEF WORKS TO PROTECT AN INTERNET THAT AFFORDS THE PUBLIC THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE FREELY ONLINE, WITHOUT UNJUST INTERFERENCE FROM CORPORATIONS OR GOVERNMENTS.
  2. $282,266 spent. PROGRESSIVE TALENT PIPELINE PROGRAM - DPEF HELPS BRING NEW PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERTISE INTO THE HALLS OF GOVERNMENT. IN PARTICULAR, DPEF ATTRACTS, RECRUITS, AND TRAINS A DIVERSE ARRAY OF PEOPLE WHO ARENEWLY INSPIRED TO WORK IN GOVERNMENT BUT WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE USUAL ON-RAMPS-WHICH TOO-FREQUENTLY RELY ON INSIDER CONNECTIONS.
  3. $92,871 spent. DEMOCRACY AND OPEN GOVERNMENT - DEMAND PROGRESS EDUCATION FUND (DPEF) BELIEVES AN OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE, AND SUFFICIENTLY-RESOURCED GOVERNMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR A WELL-FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY - AND SMART USE OF TECHNOLOGY IS KEY TO MAKING OUR MODERN DEMOCRACY WORK. OUR WORK INTENDS TO MAKE SURE OUR DEMOCRACY CONTINUES
  4. $86,300 spent. NATIONAL SECURITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS - DPEF SUPPORTS MILITARY RESTRAINT AND CENTERING THE ROLE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN FOREIGN POLICY AND OPPOSES THE EXPANSION OF MASS SURVEILLANCE.
  5. $74,495 spent. GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM - THE GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IS A CROSS-CUTTING PROGRAM THAT ADVANCES THE EDUCATION WORK OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS.

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 October 13, 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 October 2021.

    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 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.