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Cities Forward Inc

EIN 93-1383745 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CITIES FORWARD IS A NONPARTISAN EFFORT FOCUSED ON HELPING CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY MAKE PARTICIPATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS A PRIORITY. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
3

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: 58 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 519% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    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.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $6.4 million spent. IN 2024, CITIES FORWARD DEVELOPED A THEORY OF CHANGE FOCUSED ON INVESTING IN NONPARTISAN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE CITY GOVERNMENTS ABILITY TO BUILD GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS. THIS INCLUDED 1 CONNECTING TO SERVICES SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO HELP COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND HOW TO ACCESS LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS. 2 COMMUNITY BUILDING CREATING AWARENESS ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED EVENTS TO HELP BUILD AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. 3 ENGAGING IN CIVIC LIFE, INCLUDING VOTING REMOVING BARRIERS THAT PREVENT RESIDENTS FROM FULLY PARTICIPATING IN CIVIC LIFE, PROVIDING RESIDENTS WITH RELIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND TO SHARE NONPARTISAN INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING ELECTIONS.
  2. $276,000 spent. CITIES FORWARD BELIEVES THAT GOVERNMENTS HAVE IMMENSE POTENTIAL AS DRIVERS OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO DRIVE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AMONG THEIR MEMBERS AND REDUCE BARRIERS TO VOTING FOR NATIVE COMMUNITIES. THE TRIBES FORWARD PROJECT DIRECTLY SUPPORTED TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS SEEKING TO EXPAND UPON THEIR EXISTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. TRIBES FORWARD ALSO ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS WITH NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP FOSTER GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TRIBES AND LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS.

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 January 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.