Electoral Innovation Lab
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 42% 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
TO BUILD A SCIENCE OF DATA-DRIVEN DEMOCRACY REFORM USING MATH LAW AND PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE
- Income
- $254,875
- Spending
- $100,823
- Spent on programs
- 42%
- Reserves
- 27.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 27.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 60% of income.
Spending floor
0 of 1542% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $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, 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 (3)
- $8,457 spent. Civic Technology: Developed algorithms and software tools to provide neutral data-driven evaluations of democracy repairs. These tools help policymakers advocacy groups researchers and individuals assess the effectiveness of proposed voting system changes. In this reporting year the Civic Technology program supported policy research and offered access to these tools for users in all fifty US states reaching over 10,000 unique users in total.
- $18,932 spent. Interns Fellows and Mentors IFM: Supported one academic fellow and two interns in conducting research and publishing reports on election systems voting reforms and democracy-strengthening strategies. Fellow and interns made contributions that advanced public understanding of voting system impacts and was shared shared with policymakers academics and advocacy organizations influencing discussions on evidence-based electoral reforms and contributing to overall career trajectory of fellow and interns.
- $15,289 spent. Policy Research: Conducted in-depth research and data analysis on electoral systems in Ohio Tennessee North Carolina and New York City and produced detailed reports proposing practical policy solutions aligned to state and local political cultures and conditions supporting the efforts of peer organizations advocating for reforms and potentially impacting nearly 25 million voters.
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
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 November 6, 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 2025.
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 August 2024.
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 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.