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← CICERO RESEARCH

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by CICERO RESEARCH.

Totals

Total revenue
$13,310,263
Total expenses
$6,083,280
Contributions and grants received
$12,717,805
Grants paid
$30,000
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$592,458
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$26,998,787
Total liabilities, end of year
$78,707
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$26,920,080
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$4,284,638
Management and general expenses
$1,780,342
Fundraising expenses
$18,300
Program service expenses (Part III)
$4,284,638

Program services were 70.4% 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.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $12,717,805

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $2,220,608

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $592,458 · excluded $592,458

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $30,000 · program services $30,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $663,310 · program services $573,289 · management and general $86,199 · fundraising $3,822

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,452,910 · program services $2,120,012 · management and general $318,764 · fundraising $14,134

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $10,106 · program services $4,892 · management and general $5,214

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $50,321 · program services $24,358 · management and general $25,963

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $945,150 · program services $457,493 · management and general $487,657

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $172,841 · program services $31,612 · management and general $141,229

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $141,698 · program services $47,565 · management and general $93,884 · fundraising $249

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $220,200 · program services $169,385 · management and general $50,815

  • 17 · Travel

    total $458,066 · program services $329,573 · management and general $128,493

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $19,587 · program services $14,093 · management and general $5,494

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $8,555 · management and general $8,555

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $6,737 · program services $777 · management and general $5,918 · fundraising $42

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM EXPENSES

    total $759,763 · program services $367,758 · management and general $392,005

  • 24b · Other expenses: EVENT EXPENSES

    total $135,436 · program services $112,841 · management and general $22,595

  • 24c · Other expenses: BUSINESS EXPENSES

    total $8,600 · program services $990 · management and general $7,557 · fundraising $53

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $6,040,884 · end of year $809,145

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    end of year $10,099,558

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $100 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $856,035 · end of year $1,171,502

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

    $34,219

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

    $27,090

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $15,684 · end of year $7,129

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $11,606,232 · end of year $14,894,849

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $3,000 · end of year $16,604

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $39,970 · end of year $78,707

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $17,866,135 · end of year $26,920,080

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $615,830 · end of year $0

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

CICERO RESEARCH IS A NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATES, ALONG WITH ITS RELATED AND INDEPENDENT 501(C)(4) ORGANIZATION CICERO ACTION, AS THE CICERO INSTITUTE. CICERO RESEARCH'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES THAT EMBRACE THE PRINCIPLES OF A FREE SOCIETY AND HIGHLIGHT THE PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY TO FIX BROKEN PUBLIC SYSTEMS AND LIFT UP MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.

  • PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH:CICERO RESEARCH UNDERTOOK ACTIVITIES AND MADE GRANTS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LIBERTY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY WITH RESPECT TO SEVERAL POLICY AREAS SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION, WORKFORCE, REGULATORY REFORM, AND HEALTHCARE.

    Expenses $4,284,638 · Grants $30,000

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Joseph Lonsdale

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related
  • Aaron Webman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related
  • Blake Brickman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related
  • Clay Spence

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related
  • Tayler Lonsdale

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related
  • Tyson Hendricksen

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related
  • Ryan Vassar

    SECRETARY & GENERAL COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $296,866
    From this org
    $125,246
    From related orgs
    $136,754
    Other
    $34,866
    Hours/week
    20 + 20 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $100,246 + $136,754 related
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,692 + $1,391 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,834 + $3,949 related
    Filer's total
    $154,772 + $142,094 related
  • Whitney Munro

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related
  • Stephen Garrison

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $430,413
    From this org
    $420,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,413
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $195,000
    Bonus
    $225,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,611 + $802 related
    Filer's total
    $429,611 + $802 related
  • Bryan Sunderland

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $298,089
    From this org
    $68,735
    From related orgs
    $194,390
    Other
    $34,964
    Hours/week
    10 + 30 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $68,735 + $159,390 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $35,000 related
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,839 + $6,900 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,354 + $17,871 related
    Filer's total
    $78,928 + $219,161 related
  • Chris Jones

    SENIOR FELLOW

    Total calculated
    $260,357
    From this org
    $230,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,357
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $225,000
    Bonus
    $5,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,967 + $233 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,622 + $535 related
    Filer's total
    $259,589 + $768 related
  • Michael Brickman

    POLICY DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $244,740
    From this org
    $220,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,740
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $210,000
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,607 + $193 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,591 + $349 related
    Filer's total
    $244,198 + $542 related
  • Stefani Buhajla

    COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $197,503
    From this org
    $165,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,503
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $157,000
    Bonus
    $8,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,414 + $306 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,610 + $1,173 related
    Filer's total
    $196,024 + $1,479 related
  • Jonathan Wolfson

    POLICY DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $296,833
    From this org
    $261,800
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $35,033
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $246,800
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,088 + $1,162 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,543 + $3,240 related
    Filer's total
    $292,431 + $4,402 related
  • Adam Meier

    SENIOR FELLOW

    Total calculated
    $290,983
    From this org
    $255,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $35,983
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $240,000
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,089 + $111 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,502 + $281 related
    Filer's total
    $290,591 + $392 related

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

  • 1a · First-class or charter travel
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 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
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
THE ORGANIZATION MAY REIMBURSE APPROVED FIRST-CLASS FLIGHTS FOR DESIGNATED INDIVIDUALS BASED ON LONG-DURATION TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
PART I, LINE 5
PURSUANT TO THE ORGANIZATION'S COMPENSATION POLICY AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION POLICY, THE ORGANIZATION PAYS NONFIXED PAYMENTS TO THE ORGANIZATION'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BASED ON SELECTED DONATIONS TO THE ORGANIZATION.
PART I, LINE 7
THE ORGANIZATION AUTHORIZED NONFIXED PAYMENTS, SUCH AS DISCRETIONARY BONUSES, ATTRIBUTABLE TO PERFORMANCE IN EMPLOYMENT.

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

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.

  • CICERO ACTION

    501(C)(4) · IDENTIFY INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE POLICY REFORMS TO SHARE WITH LAWMAKERS · TX

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

  • ARPINUM

    C · EMPLOYMENT SERVICES · VA

    Directly controlled by NONSTOCK

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
2 December 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202533439349300528

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