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← CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS.

Totals

Total revenue
$5,382,385
Total expenses
$6,373,340
Contributions and grants received
$5,382,000
Grants paid
$6,051,000
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$0
Other revenue
$385
Total assets, end of year
$133,482
Total liabilities, end of year
$9,133
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$124,349
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,058,469
Management and general expenses
$312,709
Fundraising expenses
$2,162
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,058,469

Program services were 95.1% 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.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $5,382,000

  • 11a · Other revenue: VENDOR REFUND

    total $385 · related or exempt $385

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $385

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $6,051,000 · program services $6,051,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $10,500 · program services $3,990 · management and general $5,355 · fundraising $1,155

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $7,303 · program services $2,775 · management and general $3,725 · fundraising $803

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,853 · program services $704 · management and general $945 · fundraising $204

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $2,964 · management and general $2,964

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $12,808 · management and general $12,808

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $1,337 · management and general $1,337

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $5,575 · management and general $5,575

  • 24a · Other expenses: ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE

    total $280,000 · management and general $280,000

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,125,514 · end of year $133,482

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $10,210 · end of year $9,133

  • 29 · Capital stock, trust principal or current funds

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 30 · Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building or equipment fund

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 31 · Retained earnings, endowment or other funds

    beginning of year $1,115,304 · end of year $124,349

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS (CFAI) IS DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT ADVANCE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS. OUR PURPOSE IS TO IDENTIFY AND EDUCATE BOTH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS ABOUT IDEAS THAT ADVANCE AND ENHANCE PROSPERITY THROUGH PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT AND LIMITED GOVERNMENT.

  • IN 2024, THE CFAI SPENT THE MAJORITY OF ITS EXPENDITURES ON POLICY EVENTS, SURVEY RESEARCH AND OUTGOING CONTRIBUTIONS IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS MISSION.

    Expenses $6,058,469 · Grants $6,051,000 · Revenue $385

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • David Avella

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $7,606
    From this org
    $7,606
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Melodie Johnson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Brian Conklin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Peggy Grande

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Molly Vinesett

    CHIEF OF STAFF

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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.

Grants on this return

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
17 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202523219349308252

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