NonprofitsCommon Cause Education Fund

Public & Societal Benefit

Common Cause Education Fund

WASHINGTON, DC

Total revenue

$25.1M

Total expenses

$17.0M

Net assets

$28.9M

Grants received

$63.3M

697 grants

EIN

311705370

Tax year

2023

Mission

The common cause education fund works with common cause, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of american democracy, with the goals of ensuring open, honest, and accountable government; promoting equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empowering all people to make their voices heard as equals in the political process. Ccef works across four major issue areas: voting and elections; money and politics; ethics, transparency, and government accountability; and media and democracy.

Programs

3 programs

We work to create people-centered redistricting and representation that is transparent, fair, and inclusive, including the following representative campaigns:we filed a lawsuit against the city of anderson, indiana, which had refused to redraw the city council district since 1982 in a clear and unambiguous violation of the 14th amendment's guarantee of equal protection. Ultimately, we prevailed, and the court engaged a consultant to draw a new city map that actually complied with the constitution in time for the november 2024 election.ensured that the voices of black voters in michigan were not silenced by gerrymandering by helping them to advocate for their own communities before the michigan independent citizens redistricting commission.

Expenses: $4.2M

We engaged in education, research, and litigation around state-based money in politics and ethics issues, including the following representative campaigns:florida enacted a law 26 years ago that created a matching program that candidates could access to help to fund their campaigns. When an effort emerged to repeal this program, common cause florida worked hard to educate voters, the media, and civic organizations about what was at stake with amendment 6.as multnomah county, oregon the state's largest county took steps to follow portland in adopting a public financing program, we reached out to residents to help them understand how the program would affect their ability to support the candidate that best represents their interests.new york state is one of the only jurisdictions in the country that doesn't provide audio or video of court proceedings. When president trump was set to begin his criminal trial in a new york city courtroom, we filed suit and won to make the transcripts available to every american who wanted to follow this historic event.

Expenses: $3.4M

We engage in efforts to protect a free and open internet and an independent and constitutionally protected free press, to ensure that voters have accurate and reliable information they need. To do this, we worked on the following representative campaigns:after the federal communications commission (fcc) unanimously voted to outlaw robocalls that utilize artificial intelligence (ai) voice-cloning tools to mislead voters, we launched a campaign to educate the public about the deceptive use of ai in our elections.as the culmination of our successful net neutrality campaign, common cause education fund collected and delivered more than 126,000 member petition signatures directly to the fcc thanking chairwoman jessica rosenworcel and her colleagues for restoring net neutrality.the attorneys general of missouri and louisiana and private plaintiffs filed a lawsuit claiming that the federal government's communications with social media platforms violated their first amendment free speech rights. In response, we signed on to an amicus brief in support of the government's position, arguing that the spread of mis- and disinformation on social media represents a major threat to our democracy. The supreme court voted 6-3 to strike down the injunction barring government contacts with the social media platforms over the spread of mis- and disinformation.

Expenses: $364K

Financials

FY 2023

Revenue

Contributions & grants$24.6M
Program service revenue$69K
Investment income$399K
Other revenue
Total revenue$25.1M

Expenses

Grants paid$1.0M
Salaries & benefits$11.8M
Fundraising$801K
Other expenses$4.1M
Total expenses$17.0M
Total assets$31.3M
Net assets$28.9M

People

38 listed

NameRoleCompensation

ELIZABETH G MARCHANT

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (UNTIL 3/24)

Board

$222K

22.5 hrs/wk

MARILYN CARPINTEYRO

CO-PRESIDENT (UNTIL 2/24)

Board

$196K

37.5 hrs/wk

JORDAN DAVIS

CO-PRESIDENT (UNTIL 2/24)

Board

$187K

37.5 hrs/wk

REGINALD BREWINGTON JR

VP, FIN. & ADMIN (AS OF 11/23)

Board

$29K

22.5 hrs/wk

NICOLE M AUSTIN-HILLERY

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

RICHARD BAINTER

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

BRAXTON BREWINGTON

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

REBECCA COKLEY

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

DAN CONLEY

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

GREGORY DISKANT

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

ARCHON FUNG

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

SHAE HARRIS

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

WILLIAM N HUBBARD III

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

MARILYN MELKONIAN

BOARD MEMBER (UNTIL 10/23)

Board

1 hrs/wk

LENNY MENDONCA

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

CHANG K PARK

BOARD MEMBER (UNTIL 10/23)

Board

1 hrs/wk

BILAL DABIR SEKOU PHD

BOARD MEMBER (UNTIL 03/24)

Board

1 hrs/wk

DAVID BEAUMONT SMITH

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

WES TOMER

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

JESSIE ULIBARRI

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

TRACY WESTEN

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

ALAN WIERSBA

BOARD MEMBER

Board

1 hrs/wk

CHRIS MELODY FIELDS-FIGUEREDO

BOARD MEMBER (AS OF 06/24)

Board

1 hrs/wk

VANESSA GONZALEZ

BOARD MEMBER (AS OF 06/24)

Board

1 hrs/wk

JENNIFER GREMMERT

BOARD MEMBER (AS OF 06/24)

Board

1 hrs/wk

PETER REINKE

BOARD MEMBER (AS OF 06/24)

Board

1 hrs/wk

MARK REV THOMPSON

BOARD MEMBER (AS OF 06/24)

Board

1 hrs/wk

OLENA BERG LACY

TREASURER (UNTIL 10/23)

Board

1 hrs/wk

VIRGINIA KASE SOLOMON

PRESIDENT/CEO (AS OF 2/24)

Board

30 hrs/wk

WENDY FIELDS

VICE CHAIR (AS OF 6/24)

Board

1 hrs/wk

OLGA KAUFFMAN

SECRETARY

Board

1 hrs/wk

NANCY RATZAN

VICE CHAIR (UNTIL 3/24)

Board

1 hrs/wk

SHAREEN PUNIAN

TREASURER (AS OF 6/24)

Board

1 hrs/wk

MARTHA TIERNEY

CHAIR

Board

1 hrs/wk

KATHAY FENG

VP, PROGRAMS & STRATEGY

Staff

$165K

37.5 hrs/wk

PAMELA WILMOT

VP, STATE OPERATIONS

Staff

$154K

18.75 hrs/wk

JESSE LITTLEWOOD

VP FOR CAMPAIGNS (UNTIL 10/23)

Staff

$133K

18.75 hrs/wk

KAREN HOBERT FLYNN

FORMER PRESIDENT

Staff

$98K

0

Independent contractors

BOARDWALK CONSULTING

EXECUTIVE SEARCH

$118K

Grants received

Showing 200 of 697

FromAmountPurposeYear
$5M
CHARITABLE GIFT
2024
$999K
CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL ACTION, ADVOCACY
2024
$600K
GENERAL PURPOSE
2024
$485K
Civic Participation
2024
$400K
HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES
2024
$364K
NONPARTISAN CIVIC EDUCATION
2024
$350K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2024
$350K
Program Grant
2024
$305K
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LANGUAGE ACCESS CAMPAIGN. FOR THE CALIFORNIA INITIATIVE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH AS WELL AS FOR THE CALIFORNIA COMMON CAUSE PROJECT'S INDEPENDENT REVENUE GENERATION EXPERIMENT. FOR CALIFORNIA COMMON CAUSE FOR DEMOCRACY REFORM.
2024
$225K
General support
2024
$217K
CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL ACTION, ADVOCACY
2024
$200K
General Operating Support
2024
$200K
CIVIL PARTICIPATION
2024
$180K
CAMPUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
2024
$170K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2024
$155K
FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, WNC DISASTER RELIEF
2024
$150K
Program Support for Election Protection in Texas
2024
$150K
Funding for Operations
2024
$138K
DEMOCRACY
2024
$125K
to support the Minnesota program
2024
$110K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2024
$110K
General support
2024
$100K
to provide information and assistance to voters
2024
$100K
SUPPORTING COMMON CA
2024
$78K
GENERAL PURPOSE
2024
$75K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2024
$75K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2024
$75K
2024-2025 Unrestricted Grant
2024
$63K
TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
2024
$63K
QUALITY EDUCATION
2024
$60K
Support of its Media & Democracy Program in California
2024
$60K
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
2024
$50K
SUPPORT FOR NON-PARTISAN PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS ACROSS FLORIDA TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY
2024
$50K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2024
$50K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2024
$50K
SGP: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2024
$50K
Grassroots Organizaing & Voter Education in Ind.
2024
$50K
PROJECT SUPPORT
2024
$33K
General operating support
2024
$31K
COMMUNITY & HUMAN SERVICES
2024
$28K
CIV - CIVIC LIFE (PRIMARY)
2024
$27K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2024
$26K
GOTV VOTER REGISTRATION
2024
$25K
GENERAL PURPOSE
2024
$25K
Colorado program support, general operating support
2024
$25K
EVENT SPONSORSHIP
2024
$25K
Program support for Media and Democracy Program
2024
$25K
COMMON CAUSE CALIFORNIA MONEY IN POLITICS PROGRAM
2024
$25K
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
2024
$25K
OPENING ACCESS TO DATA IN MARYLAND
2024
$25K
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
2024
$25K
GENERAL OPERATING
2024
$25K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2024
$25K
General & Unrestricted
2024
$25K
general support
2024
$20K
Program
2024
$17K
CIVIL RIGHTS
2024
$16K
TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
2024
$15K
ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION AND ORGANIZING EFFORTS RELATED TO OHIO REDISTRICTING
2024
$15K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2024
$11K
General & Unrestricted
2024
$10K
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
2024
$10K
general support
2024
$10K
501(C)(3) GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT
2024
$9K
5 grant(s) for varying purposes
2024
$8K
ALLIANCES & ADVOCACY
2024
$6K
FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
2024
$6K
General support
2024
$6K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2024
$6K
Civic Engagement
2024
$6K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2024
$5K
General & Unrestricted
2024
$5K
GENERAL PURPOSE / FUND OPERATIONS
2024
$5K
FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENTFURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENTFURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENTFURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENT
2024
$5K
for work in Florida fund
2024
$5K
TO SUPPORT OPEN AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT THROUGH RESEARCH, PUBLIC EDUCATION, CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT.
2024
$5K
GENERAL OPERATING
2024
$3K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2024
$2K
OPERATING SUPPORT
2024
$2K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2024
$2K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2024
$1K
IN SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS
2024
$200
TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND FAITH IN PUBLIC GOVERNMENT
2024
$180
DONATIONS TO COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS UNDER "MATCHING GIFTS PROGRAM."
2024
$100
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
2024
$100
MATCHING CONTRIBUTION (GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT)
2024
$1.0M
For grant recipient's exempt purposes
2023
$1M
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
2023
$1M
CHARITABLE GIFT
2023
$635K
CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL ACTION, ADVOCACY
2023
$500K
GENERAL PURPOSE
2023
$409K
PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT
2023
$360K
Program Grant
2023
$350K
Democracy
2023
$308K
IN HONOR OF JONATHAN MEHTA STEIN; FOR THE FUND'S 70TH ANNIVERSARY; FOR DEMOCRACY REFORM; FOR ASSISTANCE WITH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF POLLING ON CALIFORNIA'S DEMOCRACY.
2023
$300K
For core support of its nonpartisan voting and elections program
2023
$300K
General support
2023
$200K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2023
$200K
Project Support to Build and Support a Website for Election Protection Poll Monitor Volunteers
2023
$155K
HBCU SUPPORT
2023
$150K
THE NEW MEXICO PLEDGE FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT
2023
$150K
Program Support for Election Protection in Texas
2023
$125K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR CALIFORNIA COMMON CAUSE
2023
$125K
FOR RESEARCH.
2023
$105K
FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
2023
$100K
FOR CORE OPERATING SUPPORT TO BUILD CAPACITY OF PRINT MEDIA TO REPORT ON LINKS BETWEEN HEALTHY DEMOCRACY AND HEALTH EQUITY IN CALIFORNIA.
2023
$100K
General Operating Support
2023
$100K
MEDIA - PROJECT SUPPORT
2023
$100K
GENERAL OPERATIONS
2023
$100K
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
2023
$95K
CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL ACTION, ADVOCACY
2023
$78K
GENERAL PURPOSE
2023
$75K
TO SUPPORT RCV OUTREACH & EDUCATION, CANDIDATE & CAMPAIGN TRAINING, AND WORK WITH THE NYC BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD
2023
$70K
FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2023
$64K
CIV RTS/SOC ACTN
2023
$63K
TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
2023
$60K
Support of its Media & Democracy Program in California
2023
$60K
HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES
2023
$58K
HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES
2023
$57K
FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT
2023
$50K
COMMON CAUSE TEXAS ELECTION PROTECTION
2023
$50K
OPERATIONS
2023
$50K
COMMON CAUSE TEXAS ELECTION PROTECTION
2023
$50K
DEMOCRACY & VOTING ACCESS
2023
$50K
Money in Politics project in California
2023
$50K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2023
$50K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2023
$50K
CIVIC PARTICIPATION - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2023
$42K
CIVIL RIGHTS
2023
$35K
FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2023
$35K
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
2023
$35K
ENVIRONMENT, ANIMALS
2023
$34K
Civic Participation
2023
$30K
BAY AREA COMMUNITY LISTENING AND INFO NEEDS ASSESSMENT
2023
$27K
GENERAL PURPOSE
2023
$25K
Program support for the Media and Democracy program
2023
$25K
OPENING ACCESS TO DATA IN MARYLAND
2023
$25K
General & Unrestricted
2023
$25K
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
2023
$25K
SUPPORT COMMON CAUSE TEXAS
2023
$25K
TO SUPPORT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE IRS TAX CODE
2023
$23K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2023
$21K
Civic Engagement
2023
$20K
GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT
2023
$20K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2023
$20K
OFFICE BEAUTIFICATION
2023
$20K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2023
$16K
TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
2023
$15K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2023
$15K
OPERATING SUPPORT
2023
$12K
Election Protection
2023
$11K
GRANT TO COALITION MEMBERS ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY TO ENSURE PASSAGE OF A FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE EARLY VOTING SYSTEM
2023
$10K
PROJECT SUPPORT
2023
$10K
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
2023
$10K
general support
2023
$10K
General & Unrestricted
2023
$10K
Designated Grant: General operating and support
2023
$10K
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
2023
$10K
EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS
2023
$9K
MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR PROGRAMS, OPERATIONS, OR OTHER PURPOSES
2023
$8K
IN FURTHERANCE OF GRANTEE'S TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE
2023
$6K
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT.
2023
$6K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2023
$6K
FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
2023
$5K
TO PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.
2023
$5K
General & Unrestricted
2023
$5K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2023
$5K
CHARITABLE
2023
$5K
FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENTFURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENTFURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENTFURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENT
2023
$5K
OPERATING SUPPORT
2023
$3K
GENERAL OPERATING
2023
$3K
OPERATING SUPPORT
2023

Funded by

$63.3M from 300 funders · 697 grants · 2017–2024

Foundation For The Carolinas

$6.0M · 3 grants · 2020–2024

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

$5.5M · 8 grants · 2017–2023

Wellspring Philanthropic Fund Inc

$5.4M · 5 grants · 2019–2023

New Venture Fund

$3.5M · 5 grants · 2019–2024

NEO Philanthropy Inc

$2.9M · 4 grants · 2020–2024

Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc

$2.8M · 7 grants · 2017–2023

National Philanthropic Trust

$2.4M · 6 grants · 2017–2023

Democracy Fund Inc

$2.3M · 11 grants · 2018–2024

Details

EIN311705370
NTEE codeW20
Subsection03
Ruling date2000-07
Formed2000
Employees154
Volunteers3330
COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND — Mission, Financials & Grants Received | Grantivo