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Nonprofiteer
← THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$7,933,632
Total expenses
$7,959,144
Contributions and grants received
$7,517,098
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$70,000
Investment income
$263,198
Other revenue
$83,336
Total assets, end of year
$11,690,657
Total liabilities, end of year
$409,702
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$11,280,955
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,559,882
Management and general expenses
$696,078
Fundraising expenses
$703,184
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,559,882

Program services were 82.4% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $4,404

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $7,512,694

  • 2a · Program service revenue: CONTRACT INCOME

    total $70,000 · related or exempt $70,000

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $263,198 · excluded $263,198

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $83,336 · related or exempt $83,336

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $83,336

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $446,877 · program services $218,137 · management and general $188,241 · fundraising $40,499

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $4,609,910 · program services $4,075,142 · management and general $199,842 · fundraising $334,926

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $297,353 · program services $264,701 · management and general $11,467 · fundraising $21,185

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $329,908 · program services $292,529 · management and general $14,099 · fundraising $23,280

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $389,922 · program services $333,025 · management and general $28,266 · fundraising $28,631

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $176,961 · program services $146,758 · management and general $22,534 · fundraising $7,669

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $42,120 · management and general $42,120

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $365,221 · program services $250,564 · management and general $107,943 · fundraising $6,714

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $136,302 · program services $83,002 · management and general $29,900 · fundraising $23,400

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $218,653 · program services $197,703 · management and general $5,476 · fundraising $15,474

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $97,026 · program services $83,082 · management and general $7,122 · fundraising $6,822

  • 17 · Travel

    total $62,263 · program services $55,105 · management and general $3,190 · fundraising $3,968

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $66,880 · program services $61,994 · management and general $3,197 · fundraising $1,689

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $10,542 · program services $9,116 · fundraising $1,426

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $36,542 · program services $19,593 · management and general $15,222 · fundraising $1,727

  • 24a · Other expenses: OUTREACH

    total $581,376 · program services $395,648 · fundraising $185,728

  • 24b · Other expenses: RESEARCH MATERIALS

    total $74,002 · program services $73,783 · management and general $173 · fundraising $46

  • 24c · Other expenses: RECRUITING

    total $17,286 · management and general $17,286

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $457,598 · end of year $351,187

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,730,153 · end of year $3,165,848

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $2,095,792 · end of year $972,241

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $6,470 · end of year $20,255

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $309,499 · end of year $173,665

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $193,350

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $14,142

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $44,500 · end of year $179,208

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $6,142,496 · end of year $6,825,538

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $2,715 · end of year $2,715

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $54,807 · end of year $81,002

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $312,028 · end of year $328,700

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $8,187,300 · end of year $8,475,037

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,235,088 · end of year $2,805,918

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT (POGO) IS A NONPARTISAN INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG THAT INVESTIGATES AND EXPOSES WASTE, CORRUPTION, ABUSE OF POWER, AND WHEN THE GOVERNMENT FAILS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC OR SILENCES THOSE WHO REPORT WRONGDOING.

  • GENERAL PROGRAM AND POLICY: POGO'S GENERAL PROGRAM AND POLICY WORK IS DIRECTED TOWARD PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING ANTI-CORRUPTION AND GOOD GOVERNMENT MECHANISMS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. A GOVERNMENT THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IT SERVES HELPS STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY OVER THE LONG TERM. OUR WORK INCLUDES ENSURING THAT OUR GOVERNMENT'S INSTITUTIONAL CHECKS AND BALANCES FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THAT GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICES REMAIN INDEPENDENT.

    Expenses $3,486,781

  • CENTER FOR DEFENSE INFORMATION: THIS PROJECT ATTEMPTS TO SERVE AS A VOICE OF REASON AND TO COUNTERBALANCE THOSE WHO PROMOTE WASTEFUL SPENDING WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT FIRST THE SECURITY NEEDS OF THE COUNTRY. THE GOAL IS TO SECURE A FAR MORE EFFECTIVE MILITARY FORCE AND MUCH MORE ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL MILITARY AND CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP AT SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER COST.

    Expenses $664,821

  • CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: OUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PLACES OPINION PIECES UPLIFTING GOOD GOVERNMENT REFORMS IN LOCAL MEDIA MARKETS. COMPLEMENTING POGO'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS ON CAPITOL HILL, THESE LOCAL PARTNERS HELP POGO BUILD STATE-SIDE PRESSURE ON MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO CHAMPION GOOD GOVERNMENT REFORMS.

    Expenses $416,879

  • OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES.

    Expenses $1,991,401 · Revenue $70,000

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Nithi Vivatrat

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Debra Katz

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dina Rasor

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ryan Alexander

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $70,000
    From this org
    $70,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related
  • Lisa Baumgartner Bonds

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Michael Cavallo

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Andrew Cockburn

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lia Epperson

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Armando Gomez

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • David Hunter

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Norm Ornstein

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Virginia Sloan

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jeanine Abrams McLean

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Virginia Case Solomon

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Hina Shamsi

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Wallace Jefferson

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Danielle Brian

    PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $251,378
    From this org
    $221,152
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,226
    Hours/week
    40 + 3 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $221,152
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $17,696
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,530
    Filer's total
    $251,378
  • Keith Rutter

    SECRETARY/EXEC OPERATING OFF. AND EX

    Total calculated
    $195,499
    From this org
    $168,676
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $26,823
    Hours/week
    40 + 3 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $168,676
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $13,651
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,172
    Filer's total
    $195,499
  • Scott Amey

    GENERAL COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $175,448
    From this org
    $153,676
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,772
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $153,676
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $12,298
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,474
    Filer's total
    $175,448
  • Tim Farnsworth

    VP OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND

    Total calculated
    $155,909
    From this org
    $137,918
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,991
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $137,918
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,513
    Nontaxable benefits
    $6,478
    Filer's total
    $155,909
  • Zoe Reiter

    DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

    Total calculated
    $147,750
    From this org
    $127,494
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,256
    Hours/week
    40
  • Brandon Brockmyer

    DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS AND RESEARCH

    Total calculated
    $141,469
    From this org
    $130,035
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,434
    Hours/week
    40
  • Miah Ulysse

    VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS

    Total calculated
    $141,277
    From this org
    $137,710
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,567
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

  • POGO ACTION

    501(C)(4) · SOCIAL WELFARE · DC

    Directly controlled by PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
21 May 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.0
Source object
202431499349301013

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