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← BILL OF RIGHTS INSTITUTE

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by BILL OF RIGHTS INSTITUTE.

Totals

Total revenue
$9,751,649
Total expenses
$9,691,444
Contributions and grants received
$9,300,929
Grants paid
$764,111
Program service revenue
$321,800
Investment income
$84,783
Other revenue
$44,137
Total assets, end of year
$7,589,798
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,680,620
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$3,909,178
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,675,372
Management and general expenses
$1,338,450
Fundraising expenses
$1,677,622
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,675,372

Program services were 68.9% 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

    $9,300,929

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $52,218

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Program Revenue

    total $321,800 · related or exempt $321,800

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $32,861 · excluded $32,861

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $4,600,000

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

    securities $4,548,078

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $51,922 · other assets $0

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $51,922 · excluded $51,922

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: Other Revenue

    total $44,137 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $44,137

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $44,137

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $565,000 · program services $565,000

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $199,111 · program services $199,111

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0 · program services $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,129,782 · program services $465,279 · management and general $330,970 · fundraising $333,533

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,779,975 · program services $2,004,600 · management and general $317,406 · fundraising $457,969

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $172,486 · program services $108,963 · management and general $28,604 · fundraising $34,919

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,211,222 · program services $722,354 · management and general $225,606 · fundraising $263,262

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $322,952 · program services $206,672 · management and general $52,021 · fundraising $64,259

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $59,840 · management and general $59,840

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $24,790 · management and general $24,790

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,293,715 · program services $844,533 · management and general $195,136 · fundraising $254,046

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $264,501 · program services $264,501

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $126,065 · program services $87,173 · management and general $16,557 · fundraising $22,335

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $125,834 · program services $122,744 · management and general $0 · fundraising $3,090

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $467,279 · program services $302,008 · management and general $67,063 · fundraising $98,208

  • 17 · Travel

    total $648,682 · program services $529,165 · management and general $8,718 · fundraising $110,799

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $276,637 · program services $238,557 · management and general $7,718 · fundraising $30,362

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,359 · program services $838 · management and general $245 · fundraising $276

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $22,214 · program services $13,874 · management and general $3,776 · fundraising $4,564

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $965,802 · end of year $1,077,301

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $946,426 · end of year $2,576,878

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,839,810 · end of year $1,263,465

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $546 · end of year $43,374

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $54,663 · end of year $86,250

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

    $872,088

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

    $854,004

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $9,441 · end of year $18,084

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $939,673 · end of year $0

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $2,931,462 · end of year $2,524,446

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $770,232 · end of year $684,105

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $16,666

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $3,128,433 · end of year $2,979,849

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,446,813 · end of year $1,377,768

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,342,345 · end of year $2,531,410

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

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

  • Educator Programs and Outreach The Bill of Rights Institute delivers professional development to educators nationwide through conference presentations, independent programs, and programs coordinated with local schools and districts. During 2024, the Bill of Rights Institute continued to grow its network of 80,000 educators and engaged 4,486 educators in 219 separate professional development trainings, resulting in 10,017 contact hours.

    Expenses $3,066,398 · Grants $647,404 · Revenue $237,800

  • Digital Resource Development and Distribution Established 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 2024, BRI's digital platform, which includes its websites, YouTube channel, and social media outlets, served 6.54 million users, with a total engagement time of more than 462,000 hours. BRI did some educational resource development on a contract basis during the period.

    Expenses $2,882,384 · Grants $65,000 · Revenue $84,000

  • Student Programs THE BILL OF RIGHTS INSTITUTE ENGAGES DIRECTLY WITH students through intensive student study, debate, and civic entrepreneurship 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 STUDENTS WERE SELECTED FOR THE STUDENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN 2024. MYIMPACT CHALLENGE IS BRI'S NATIONAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CONTEST THAT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO DEVELOP CONSTITUTIONALLY- PRINCIPLED SERVICE PROJECTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN 2024, MYIMPACT CHALLENGE ENGAGED 3,619 STUDENTS IN ITS NATIONAL CONTEST, AND HOSTED REGIONAL EVENTS IN PENNSYLVANIA, UTAH, AND MISSOURI.

    Expenses $726,590 · Grants $51,707

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

Listed in Part VII

  • 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

  • Ryan Stowers

    Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Todd Zywicki

    Director/Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Adam Cushing

    COO and Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $318,442
    From this org
    $261,105
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $57,337
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $206,105
    Bonus
    $55,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $13,611
    Nontaxable benefits
    $43,726
    Filer's total
    $318,442

  • David Bobb

    CEO and President

    Total calculated
    $452,313
    From this org
    $398,893
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $53,420
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $228,893
    Bonus
    $170,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,692
    Nontaxable benefits
    $43,728
    Filer's total
    $452,313

  • Stan Swim

    Chief Program Officer

    Total calculated
    $301,159
    From this org
    $244,678
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $56,481
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $194,678
    Bonus
    $50,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $12,789
    Nontaxable benefits
    $43,692
    Filer's total
    $301,159

  • Anthony Simone

    Vice President, Development

    Total calculated
    $189,273
    From this org
    $171,084
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,189
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $150,084
    Bonus
    $21,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,572
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,617
    Filer's total
    $189,273

  • Joanne McKinney

    Vice President, Human Resources

    Total calculated
    $223,475
    From this org
    $183,777
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,698
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $163,777
    Bonus
    $20,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,981
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,717
    Filer's total
    $223,475

  • Kevin Hart

    Vice President, Communications

    Total calculated
    $186,652
    From this org
    $176,564
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,088
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $154,564
    Bonus
    $22,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,189
    Nontaxable benefits
    $899
    Filer's total
    $186,652

  • Jennifer Seal

    Director, Strategic Partnerships

    Total calculated
    $147,301
    From this org
    $128,624
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,677
    Hours/week
    40

  • Kirk Higgins

    Sr. Director, Content

    Total calculated
    $154,482
    From this org
    $125,223
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,259
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $113,223
    Bonus
    $12,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,861
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,398
    Filer's total
    $154,482

  • Michael Torres

    Director, Business Operations

    Total calculated
    $140,926
    From this org
    $124,970
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,956
    Hours/week
    40

  • Rachel Davison Humphries

    Sr. Director, Civic Learning Initiatives

    Total calculated
    $162,483
    From this org
    $124,173
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,310
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $113,173
    Bonus
    $11,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,520
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,790
    Filer's total
    $162,483

  • Scott Knowles

    Director, Finance

    Total calculated
    $149,605
    From this org
    $130,214
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,391
    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 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

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
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Schedule J, Part I, Line 7 Non-fixed payments
Incentive compensation is based on extraordinary efforts and services provided to the organization, not based on financial results of the organization.

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

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.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • BRI Free Speech & Debate LLC

    DEBATE OPERATIONS · KS · income $24,271 · assets $32,195

    Directly controlled by Bill of Rights Institute

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
17 June 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202521689349301507

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