Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$25,064,451

Total expenses

$17,030,050

Contributions and grants received

$24,649,985

Grants paid

$1,023,950

Program service revenue

$68,550

Investment income

$399,302

Other revenue

-$53,386

Total assets, end of year

$31,288,949

Total liabilities, end of year

$2,392,479

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$28,896,470

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$15,881,363

Management and general expenses

$347,227

Fundraising expenses

$801,460

Program service expenses (Part III)

$15,881,363

Program services were 93.3% 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.

Mission and programs · 2023

• COMMON CAUSE HAS WORKED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY ELIGIBLE CITIZEN HAS THE FREEDOM TO VOTE AND THAT THEIR VOTES ARE ACCURATELY COUNTED. TO ADVANCE THIS WORK, WE HAVE:CO-LED THE NATIONAL NONPARTISAN ELECTION PROTECTION COALITION AND SERVED AS THE LEAD ORGANIZATION MOBILIZING FIELD PROGRAMS TO PROTECT THE VOTE. THIS 2024 ELECTION PROTECTION FIELD PROGRAM SPANNED 42 STATES AND REQUIRED THE RECRUITMENT OF MORE THAN 40,000 VOLUNTEERS TO MONITOR THE POLLS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO VOTERS. WE HAD MORE THAN 15,000 VOLUNTEERS IN THE FIELD ON ELECTION DAY ALONE. WE ALSO PROVIDED MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN COMMUNITY REGRANTS TO PARTNERS ON THE GROUND TO RESOURCE THEIR EFFORTS TO ENGAGE, EDUCATE, AND PROTECT VOTERS. - EVEN DURING THE PRIMARIES, WE HAD SIGNIFICANT VOLUNTEER PRESENCE AT THE POLLS IN KEY STATES:- IN FLORIDA'S AUGUST PRIMARY WE HAD MORE THAN 280 NONPARTISAN POLL MONITORS IN THE FIELD ACROSS 23 COUNTIES DURING EARLY VOTING AND ON ELECTION DAY AND EVALUATED NEARLY 150 POLLING LOCATIONS TO ENSURE THEY WERE ACCESSIBLE TO VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES. WE HAVE ALSO EXPANDED OUR NONPARTISAN VOTER HOTLINE TO INCLUDE A DEDICATED LINE FOR HAITIAN CREOLE SPEAKERS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR HISTORY.- COMMON CAUSE MICHIGAN'S VOLUNTEERS COVERED 53 POLLING LOCATIONS IN 11 COUNTIES, HELPING VOTERS NAVIGATE THE AFTERMATH OF A MASSIVE STORM THE MORNING OF THE PRIMARY, WHICH LED TO ROLLING POWER OUTAGES AND POLLING PLACE RELOCATIONS ACROSS SOUTHERN MICHIGAN.- IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAD MORE THAN 300 VOLUNTEERS IN THE FIELD FOR THE SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARY, INCLUDING IN EIGHT MAJOR COUNTIES OF LOS ANGELES, ORANGE, SAN DIEGO, RIVERSIDE, SAN BERNARDINO, KINGS, TULARE, AND KERN.- COMMON CAUSE OHIO DEPLOYED 150 POLL MONITORS AND DISTRIBUTED 20,000 ELECTION PROTECTION HOTLINE CARDS TO VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE AND HUNDREDS OF POSTERS IN MAJOR CITIES ACROSS THE EIGHT MOST POPULOUS COUNTIES.- WE HAD HUNDREDS MORE POLL MONITORS IN ARIZONA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, AND MANY OTHER STATES, FOR BOTH PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARIES AS WELL AS CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE PRIMARIES.OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM HELD DOZENS OF INFORMATIONAL BRIEFINGS FOR REPORTERS FROM LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL OUTLETS TO INFORM THEM ON KEY ELECTION ISSUES AND SHARE STORIES FROM THE FIELD. ALONG WITH OUR REGULAR NEWS RELEASES AND OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUAL REPORTERS, THESE EFFORTS RESULTED IN MORE THAN 30,000 NEWS STORIES PUBLISHED IN 2024 MENTIONING COMMON CAUSE OR QUOTING OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, HELPING TO SHAPE COVERAGE OF VOTING RIGHTS AND EDUCATING VOTERS ABOUT KEY ELECTION LAWS.SOUNDED THE ALARM TO ENSURE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, ELECTION OFFICIALS, AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS UNDERSTOOD THE RISKS AND ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH A STATE BALLOT RECOUNT PROCESS THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE STATE OF ARIZONA'S ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES FROM BEING INCLUDED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.WHEN ELECTION DENIERS ON THE GEORGIA STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS VOTED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PARTISAN ELECTION OFFICIALS TO REFUSE TO CERTIFY ELECTION RESULTS, COMMON CAUSE RESPONDED BY ACTIVATING MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS AND SUBMIT TESTIMONY; COMMON CAUSE SUBMITTED OUR OWN TESTIMONY. WE ARE RECRUITING AND TRAINING COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO MONITOR THE STATE ELECTIONS BOARD AND TARGETED LOCAL ELECTION BOARDS IN 12 KEY COUNTIES. THESE VOLUNTEERS WERE IN PLACE TO BE THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE AND ALERT ELECTION PROTECTION ADVOCATES AND ATTORNEYSAND THE MEDIAIF ANY ATTEMPTS TO SABOTAGE ELECTION RESULTS AROSE.LAUNCHED A "RIDES TO THE POLLS" PROGRAM IN MICHIGAN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RECENT REMOVAL OF THE BAN ON PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO THE POLLS. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES ENGAGING RIDE SHARE COMPANIES, COORDINATING WITH LOCAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES, AND VOTER EDUCATION. ENCOURAGED 20,000 YOUNG PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA TO VOTE AT THE FIRST-EVER CAROLINADAZE MUSIC FESTIVALS FEATURING HEADLINERS LIKE JANELLE MONE AND TIERRA WHACK. THIS CONCERT SERIES SUCCESSFULLY MERGED CULTURE, COMMUNITY, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN WAYS THAT WILL OUTLAST ANY ONE CANDIDATE OR ELECTION CYCLE. THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ATTENDED, LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE ELECTION, AND COMMITTED TO DEEPER, ONGOING ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR DEMOCRACY.

  Expenses $7,929,620 · Grants $1,023,950 · Revenue $68,550

• 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 $4,202,381

• 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 $3,385,757

• 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 $363,605

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

Listed in Part VII

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

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

• NC FOR THE PEOPLE

  $150,000

  ELECTION PROTECTION WORK DURING NOV 2024 ELECTION

• DEMOCRACY NORTH CAROLINA

  $50,000

  ELECTION PROTECTION WORK DURING NOV 2024 ELECTION

• FAYETTEVILLE BRANCH NAACP

  $50,000

  ELECTION PROTECTION WORK DURING NOV 2024 ELECTION

• LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NC

  $50,000

  ELECTION PROTECTION WORK DURING NOV 2024 ELECTION

• NAACP NORTH CAROLINA

  $50,000

  ELECTION PROTECTION WORK DURING NOV 2024 ELECTION

• NC A PHILIP RANDOLPH INSTITUTE INC

  $50,000

  ELECTION PROTECTION WORK DURING NOV 2024 ELECTION

• NC LEAGUE OF CONVERSATION VOTERS FOUNDATION

  $50,000

  ELECTION PROTECTION WORK DURING NOV 2024 ELECTION

• NORTH CAROLINA BLACK ALLIANCE

  $50,000

  ELECTION PROTECTION WORK DURING NOV 2024 ELECTION

• PLANNED PARENTHOOD SOUTH ATLANTIC

  $50,000

  ELECTION PROTECTION WORK DURING NOV 2024 ELECTION

• YOU CAN VOTE

  $50,000

  ELECTION PROTECTION WORK DURING NOV 2024 ELECTION

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

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.

• COMMON CAUSE

  501(C)(4) · ADVOCATES FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESSES OF DEMOCRACY · DC

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

15 May 2025

IRS schema version

2023v6.0

Source object

202501359349310760

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.