Democratizing Philanthropy Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 31% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
DEMOCRATIZING PHILANTHROPY PROJECT GIVES ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING THE SYSTEMIC ISSUES FACING OUR NATION THE ABILITY TO BUILD A POWERFUL, LASTING REVENUE STREAM AND NETWORK OF ENGAGED ACTIVISTS AND DONORS THEY CAN RELY ON. SPECIFICALLY, WE WORK TO HELP ORGANIZATIONS TEST OUT AND BUILD NEW APPROACHES TO EARNING REVENUE; ENSURE VULNERABLE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MORE POWER, HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN HOW TO SPEND THOSE RESOURCES, AND RESPOND MORE NIMBLY AND RAPIDLY TO CRITICAL NEEDS AS THEY EMERGE; EXPAND THE SMALL DONOR APPARATUS TO GRASSROOTS, NONPROFITS, HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED FRONTLINE ORGANIZATIONS; AND CONVERT NATIONAL INTEREST IN RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INTO LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STRENGTH FOR CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED AND HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED ORGANIZATIONS.
- Income
- $605,000
- Spending
- $626,915
- Spent on programs
- 31%
- Reserves
- 6.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
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
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1531% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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
7 of 7Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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)
- $158,461 spent. ACCELERATOR: DEMOCRATIZING PHILANTHROPY PROJECT'S ACCELERATOR PROGRAM IS A COHORT-BASED MODEL DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PROGRESSIVE NON-PROFITS IN GROWING THEIR CAPACITY AROUND SMALL DONOR REVENUE GENERATION. UTILIZING LEAD GENERATION AND OTHER DIGITAL FUNDRAISING TACTICS, PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS WILL COME TOGETHER OVER FOUR MONTHS FOR WEEKLY WORKSHOPS, INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING, AND ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING VIA A SHARED SLACK CHANNEL AND GOOGLE DRIVE. ORGANIZATIONS IN AN ACCELERATOR COHORT ALSO RECEIVE CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS AND ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL GRANT INVESTMENTS FOR LEAD GENERATION. THE ACCELERATOR COHORT AIMS TO BUILD LARGER, MORE ENGAGED EMAIL LISTS WHILE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO CONVERT THOSE NAMES INTO TRUSTED ACTIVISTS AND COMMITTED DONORS.
- $37,710 spent. RAPID RESPONSE: RAPID RESPONSE IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS TO ENGAGE IN RAPID RESPONSE FUNDRAISING WHEN THE PUBLIC SUPPORT IS THERE FOR THEM.
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 October 2022.
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.