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Nonprofiteer
← BILL OF RIGHTS INSTITUTE

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by BILL OF RIGHTS INSTITUTE.

Totals

Total revenue
$8,928,624
Total expenses
$8,827,680
Contributions and grants received
$8,646,604
Grants paid
$227,013
Program service revenue
$269,780
Investment income
$11,370
Other revenue
$870
Total assets, end of year
$7,687,823
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,898,665
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$3,789,158
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$5,932,312
Management and general expenses
$712,955
Fundraising expenses
$2,182,413
Program service expenses (Part III)
$5,932,312

Program services were 67.2% 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

    $8,646,604

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $101,806

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Program revenue

    total $269,780 · related or exempt $269,780

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $11,370 · excluded $11,370

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $448,939

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $448,939

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: Other revenue

    total $870 · related or exempt $870

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $870

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $227,013 · program services $227,013

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,504,919 · program services $850,691 · management and general $143,530 · fundraising $510,698

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,788,723 · program services $1,576,396 · management and general $265,971 · fundraising $946,356

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $93,034 · program services $52,590 · management and general $8,873 · fundraising $31,571

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $370,830 · program services $209,620 · management and general $35,368 · fundraising $125,842

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $307,428 · program services $173,781 · management and general $29,321 · fundraising $104,326

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $6,702 · management and general $6,702

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $20,380 · management and general $20,380

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,063,607 · program services $732,546 · management and general $133,444 · fundraising $197,617

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $431,279 · program services $318,980 · management and general $21,733 · fundraising $90,566

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $898,517 · program services $898,027 · management and general $176 · fundraising $314

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $224,735 · program services $126,332 · management and general $35,345 · fundraising $63,058

  • 17 · Travel

    total $499,355 · program services $405,274 · management and general $8,183 · fundraising $85,898

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $366,013 · program services $353,079 · management and general $1,535 · fundraising $11,399

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,358 · program services $740 · management and general $222 · fundraising $396

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $13,290 · program services $7,243 · management and general $2,172 · fundraising $3,875

  • 24a · Other expenses: List rental

    total $10,497 · fundraising $10,497

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,238,413 · end of year $965,802

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $3,253,004 · end of year $946,426

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $358,333 · end of year $1,839,810

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $407 · end of year $546

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $26,072 · end of year $54,663

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

    $862,088

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

    $852,647

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $10,799 · end of year $9,441

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $298,787 · end of year $939,673

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,271,217 · end of year $2,931,462

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $712,111 · end of year $770,232

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $603,769 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,452,571 · end of year $3,128,433

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,840,275 · end of year $2,446,813

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $848,306 · end of year $1,342,345

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

The Bill of Rights Institute teaches civics. We equip students and teachers to live the ideals of a free and just society.

Activities or mission (Part I)

The Bill of Rights Institute teaches civics with content and programs for teachers and students.

  • Educator Programs and OutreachThe Bill of Rights Institute delivers professional development to educators nationwide through conference presentations, independent programs, and programs coordinated with local schools and districts. During 2023, the Bill of Rights Institute continued to grow its network of 75,000 educators and engaged 2,099 educators in professional development, resulting in 12,711 contact hours.

    Expenses $2,786,604 · Grants $180,918 · Revenue $183,150

  • Digital Resource Development and DistributionEstablished in 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a leading publisher of open educational resources (OERs). BRI offers U.S. history and civics curricula and resources to educators and students free of charge, primarily through digital distribution. These classroom resources are designed to help students examine the story of our country and exercise the skills of citizenship, and to equip students and teachers to live the ideals of a free and just society.In 2023, BRI's digital platform, which includes its websites, YouTube channel, and social media outlets, served 6.34 million users, with a total engagement time of more than 383,000 hours.

    Expenses $2,717,119 · Revenue $87,500

  • Student ProgramsThe Bill of Rights Institute engages directly with students through its Student Fellowship and MyImpact Challenge programs. The BRI Student Fellowship is an elite, competitive six-month educational program that helps high school students grow as leaders and develop skills in building civil society. Twenty-five students were selected for the Student Fellowship program in 2023. MyImpact Challenge is BRI's national civic engagement contest that encourages students to develop constitutionally-principled service projects in their communities. In 2023, MyImpact Challenge engaged 1,713 students in its national contest, and hosted regional events in New York and Utah.

    Expenses $428,589 · Grants $46,095

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Ryan Stowers

    Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Charles Widger

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kristina Arriaga

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mark Humphrey

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Todd Zywicki

    Director and Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • David Bobb

    CEO and President

    Total calculated
    $410,713
    From this org
    $374,167
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,546
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $217,244
    Bonus
    $150,000
    Other
    $6,923
    Deferred
    $7,577
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,969
    Filer's total
    $410,713
  • Adam Cushing

    COO and Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $287,199
    From this org
    $246,913
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,286
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $196,913
    Bonus
    $50,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,349
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,937
    Filer's total
    $287,199
  • Stan Swim

    Chief Programs Officer

    Total calculated
    $268,992
    From this org
    $231,020
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $37,972
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $186,020
    Bonus
    $45,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,070
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,902
    Filer's total
    $268,992
  • Joanne McKinney

    Vice President, Human Resources

    Total calculated
    $195,986
    From this org
    $167,531
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,455
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $144,531
    Bonus
    $23,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,766
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,689
    Filer's total
    $195,986
  • Kevin Hart

    Vice President, Communications

    Total calculated
    $178,080
    From this org
    $168,769
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,311
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $153,769
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,438
    Nontaxable benefits
    $873
    Filer's total
    $178,080
  • Anthony Simone

    Vice President, Development

    Total calculated
    $163,949
    From this org
    $154,093
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,856
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $144,843
    Bonus
    $9,250
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,856
    Filer's total
    $163,949
  • Rachel Wildavsky

    Dir. of Dev., Strategy & Major Gifts

    Total calculated
    $162,881
    From this org
    $131,169
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,712
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $116,669
    Bonus
    $14,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,862
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,850
    Filer's total
    $162,881
  • Rachel Davison Humphries

    Sr. Dir., Civic Learning Initiatives

    Total calculated
    $153,666
    From this org
    $124,429
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,237
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $112,429
    Bonus
    $12,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,498
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,739
    Filer's total
    $153,666
  • Thomas Cauley

    Director, Strategic Partnerships

    Total calculated
    $149,810
    From this org
    $131,618
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,192
    Hours/week
    40
  • Michael Torres

    Director, Operations

    Total calculated
    $143,293
    From this org
    $110,204
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,089
    Hours/week
    40
  • Scott Knowles

    Director, Finance

    Total calculated
    $139,829
    From this org
    $128,083
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,746
    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 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment

Answered no

  • 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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Part I, Line 4a
One person listed in Form 990 Part VII was entitled to a severance payment as of November 2023. Bill of Rights Institute's balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 included the amount in Accrued Compensation. Severance was paid out in February 2024.

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.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
22 May 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.0
Source object
202421449349300517

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