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Forward Foundation

EIN 88-0808418 · Concord, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FORWARD FOUNDATION WAS FOUNDED TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF WORKING-AGE PEOPLE IN THEIR GRANITE STATE COMMUNITIES THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP GROWTH. WORKING-AGE PEOPLE ARE VASTLY UNDERREPRESENTED AS LEADERS IN LOCAL ELECTED OFFICE, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND STATE GOVERNMENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE FORWARD FOUNDATION SEEKS TO EMPOWER THIS POPULATION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BY IDENTIFYING, EDUCATING, AND SUPPORTING THEM SO THEY WILL GROW AS LEADERS AND PARTICIPATE MORE FULLY IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

Income
$424,179
Spending
$436,041
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
8
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$32,632, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1595% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 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

    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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 June 30, 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. $152,326 spent. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING: PROVIDING SPACES FOR FOLKS TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES THEY FACE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE TALK THROUGH THESE ISSUES AND SUGGEST THE BEST WAY TO GET INVOLVED TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
  2. $71,158 spent. RECRUITMENT OF APPOINTED POSITIONS THAT PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY: THE FORWARD FOUNDATION RAN A COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN TO IDENTIFY, EDUCATE, AND ACTIVATE WORKING-AGE ADULTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TO SIGN UP TO SERVE AS VOLUNTEER POLL WORKERS FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE'S CITY AND TOWN ELECTIONS. THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, PAID DIGITAL ADVERTISING, TRAINING WEBINARS, AND RELATIONAL ORGANIZING, THE FORWARD FOUNDATION IDENTIFIED 50 NEW FOLKS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN POLL WORKING, ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY ELECTIONS. THIS SET THE GROUNDWORK FOR A SMOOTH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2024 AS WELL.
  3. $68,946 spent. IN 2024, THE FORWARD FOUNDATION RAN A DIGITAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IN COMMUNITIES WITH THE HIGHEST DENSITY OF SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION TO ENSURE THIS COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THEIR CONSTITUTIONALLY-PROTECTED RIGHT TO VOTE. THE FORWARD FOUNDATION'S DIGITAL VOTER EDUCATION PROGRAM SAW STRONGER-THAN-ANTICIPATED RESULTS, SHOWING THAT THE TARGETED COMMUNITIES (THOSE WITH THE HIGHEST DENSITY OF SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION) WERE INTERESTED AND ENGAGED IN LEARNING ABOUT HOW TO REGISTER AND VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.
  4. $54,182 spent. ISSUE-BASED EDUCATION FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS: NEW HAMPSHIRE'S ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE TASKED WITH MAKING DECISIONS ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY A LEGISLATOR CANNOT BE AN EXPERT IN EACH OF THESE ISSUES. THAT IS WHY THE FORWARD FOUNDATION ENGAGES IN A GOVERNANCE PROGRAM, TO MAKE SURE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN TOWNS, CITIES, AND IN THE STATE HOUSE ARE EDUCATED ON ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO WORKING-AGE INDIVIDUALS. IN 2024, WE WERE ABLE TO TRAIN 70 ADDITIONAL FOLKS WITH THIS PROGRAM - HOWEVER, THE FIRST SET OF ABOUT 50 FOLKS WE TRAINED ON HOUSING ARE CONTINUALLY COMING BACK TO INTERACT WITH OUR ORGANIZATION, ATTEND MORE TRAININGS, AND HELP WITH OUR OTHER PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 2023.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Democracy Forward Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 82-1007988. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.