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Davidsonians for Freedom of Thought & Discourse

EIN 87-3557064 · Davidson, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Promoting free speech and expression open debate viewpoint diversity and ideological balance at Davidson College Davidson NC. A parallel goal is ensuring that the College maintains its high pedagogical standards. DFTD is an independent alumni ae organization not affiliated with the College its membership including current and former elected federal and state officials successful businessmen nonprofit executives prominent intellectuals and journalists. DFTD stands up for the free speech rights of ALL-progressives moderates and conservatives if we see free speech or expression being threatened or denied. DFTD aims to bring to the College administrations and Trustees attention specific developments on campus that impede free expression open debate or academic freedom and to hold the administration and Trustees accountable. All Davidsonians-alumni faculty staff students and parents of students-are welcome to participate in the activities of DFTD.

Income
$243,578
Spending
$346,436
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$104,616, executive director until oct 1 2025

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • 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, 2025, 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. $329,167 spent. DFTD has just one program which is devoted solely to its mission. In 2025 we helped support the Davidson Free Speech Alliance which conducts an on-campus external speakers program that sponsored 5 speakers in 2025. The average audience for these events was 65. We published an email newsletter every six weeks that reports on the organizations work to strengthen freedom of expression and viewpoint diversity at Davidson. We maintain a vibrant website dftdunite. org that informs supporters and others of the organizations work and posts important articles published in the media on higher education free speech viewpoint diversity and academic standards issues. We interact with College leaders encouraging increased attention to freedom of expression and viewpoint diversity issues. We serve as ombudsman for students whose free speech rights appear to have been abused or threatened. We participate in the Colleges Deliberative Citizenship Initiative and are active members of the national Alumni Free Speech Alliance the consortium of prominent university and college alumni groups with the same mission as DFTDs. DFTDs leadership presents at the annual US Congressional Higher Education Free Speech Forum and at the annual Higher Education Free Speech Conference conducted by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni ACTA. DFTD works with FIRE the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression to include Davidson College in FIREs annual surveys of higher education students on freedom of expression issues.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.