CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER INC

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

I99

Classification

2000

Street

1101 14TH ST NW STE 400

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2023

• VOTING RIGHTS: VOTING SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL CITIZENS, NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE. TO MAKE EVERY VOTE COUNT, WE NEED A SYSTEM THAT IS FREE AND FAIR TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE'S VOICE IS HEARD, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. CLC BELIEVES THAT STATE AND FEDERAL POLICIES SHOULD UNIFORMLY PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND PROMOTE VOTER PARTICIPATION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THIS CLC PROGRAM, THROUGH LITIGATION, POLICY ANALYSIS, STATE-BASED AND FEDERAL ADVOCACY, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, SEEKS TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND EXPAND ACCESS TO THE BALLOT.

  Expenses $3,320,707 · Grants $228,533 · Revenue $933,024

• CAMPAIGN FINANCE: THE FIRST AMENDMENT GUARANTEES EVERY AMERICAN THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. THE DEPENDENCE OF POLITICAL CANDIDATES ON WEALTHY SPECIAL INTERESTS IS A SERIOUS FLAW IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM AND MAKES ELECTED OFFICIALS RESPONSIVE TO THEIR LARGE DONORS RATHER THAN TO THE PUBLIC. THE TREMENDOUS POWER OF SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY IN POLITICS OFTEN DROWNS OUT THE VOICE OF EVERYDAY AMERICANS, THREATENS OUR FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS, AND ERODES THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR ENTIRE DEMOCRACY. TO RESTORE FAIRNESS TO OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM, THIS CLC PROGRAM ADVOCATES FOR PASSING AND ENFORCING STRONG CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMS THAT HELP GUARANTEE A DEMOCRACY THAT IS BOTH REPRESENTATIVE OF AND RESPONSIVE TO THE PEOPLE. THESE REFORM SOLUTIONS INCLUDE PLACING REASONABLE LIMITS ON FUNDING OF CAMPAIGNS, COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY OF CAMPAIGN SPENDING AND PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS. CLC HELPS ENACT SUCH POLICIES AT THE STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL LEVELS, AND WORKS TO ENSURE THAT THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION ENFORCES CURRENT CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS. CLC ALSO DEFENDS LAWS THAT PROMOTE THE FIRST AMENDMENT'S GUARANTEE THAT EVERY AMERICAN HAS THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

  Expenses $2,353,480

• COMMUNICATIONS: CLC'S COMMUNICATION PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE OVERALL MISSION OF CLC AND UTILIZES STRATEGIES TO LEVERAGE AND BRAND CLC AS A THOUGHT LEADER, EDUCATOR AND ADVOCATE. THE COMMUNICATION PROGRAM WORKS ACROSS CLC PROGRAM TEAMS TO CREATE AND DISSEMINATE CONTENT, BUILD PROGRAM AUDIENCES, AND SEEK PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION ON IMPORTANT PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORTING CAMPAIGN LEGAL CONVERSATIONS, WHICH EXPLORES COMPLICATED ISSUES IN DEMOCRACY, SHARING STORIES OF VOTERS WHO HAVE FACED BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATING IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, AND EDUCATING PRESS, PARTNERS AND DONORS ABOUT CLC'S LITIGATION EFFORTS.

  Expenses $2,450,879

• ETHICS: ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY IS PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE INTEGRITY OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS. THAT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IS EARNED THROUGH THE COMMITMENT OF THOSE IN AND WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLE THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS A PUBLIC TRUST. FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENACT AND ENFORCE CLEAR ETHICAL GUIDELINES AND LAWS. ONLY THEN, CAN PUBLIC OFFICIALS ADEQUATELY NAVIGATE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY BREAK THE PUBLIC'S TRUST. THIS SYSTEM IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY. THIS CLC PROGRAM PROPOSES SOLUTIONS FOR STRONGER ETHICS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, AND SERVES AS A GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG, HOLDING ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ETHICS VIOLATIONS.

  Expenses $776,922

• REDISTRICTING: DEMOCRACY WORKS BEST WHEN OUR VOTING MAPS ARE FAIRLY DRAWN ON A NONPARTISAN BASIS TO ENSURE THAT AMERICANS CAN PARTICIPATE EQUALLY IN THE ELECTION OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. UNFORTUNATELY, INCUMBENTS OFTEN RIG THE SYSTEM TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES, THEIR PARTY, AND SPECIAL INTEREST SUPPORTERS, MANIPULATING VOTING MAPS TO DICTATE THE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS. TWO SOURCES OF DISCRIMINATION IN VOTING MAPS ARE PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING AND ELECTORAL SYSTEMS THAT UNDERREPRESENT PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE RESULT IS DYSFUNCTION, MISTRUST, AND PUBLIC POLICIES THAT IGNORE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. THIS CLC PROGRAM ADVANCES AND SUPPORTS LEGAL CASES THAT ADDRESS REDISTRICTING VIOLATIONS, WORKS ON THE FRONT LINES IN THE FIGHT FOR FAIR REDISTRICTING PRACTICES IN THE STATES, AND CONTINUES TO PROMOTE VOTERS' RIGHTS TO FAIR DISTRICTS NATIONWIDE.

  Expenses $1,760,776

• POLICY: CLC'S POLICY PROGRAM WORKS TO ADVANCE PRO-DEMOCRACY, PRO-VOTER LAWS AND THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. CLC BRINGS DECADES OF POLICY AND LEGAL EXPERTISE TO OUR WORK WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND GRASSROOTS ADVOCATES. WE ARE ENGAGED THROUGH THE ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE OF THE LAW: DEVELOPING POLICY, DRAFTING LEGISLATION AND BALLOT INITIATIVES, AND ENSURING EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY. THE POLICY PROGRAM WORKS ACROSS CLC PROGRAM TEAMS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIC ADVOCACY STRATEGIES AND EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS. IN ADVANCE OF THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THE POLICY PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON PREVENTING THE THREATS OF ELECTION SABOTAGE. THIS INCLUDES IDENTIFYING STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES TO SHORE UP GAPS IN ELECTION PROCEDURES THROUGH LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY, AND DEVELOPING ROBUST COALITIONS TO RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO MANIPULATE PROCESSES.

  Expenses $1,562,010 · Grants $455,961

• OTHER PROGRAMS

  Expenses $905,197

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

Officers and directors · 2023

As listed in Part VII of the 2023 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2023

  Revenue

  $21,481,014

  Expenses

  $17,725,339

  Contributions

  $19,300,677

  Grants paid

  $684,494

• 2022

  Revenue

  $25,659,692

  Expenses

  $13,166,031

  Contributions

  $25,025,910

  Grants paid

  $243,837

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $17,926,280

  Expenses

  $11,047,025

  Assets (EOY)

  $28,094,369

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $15,501,191

  Expenses

  $9,929,583

  Assets (EOY)

  $22,291,468

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $14,267,384

  Expenses

  $7,430,324

  Assets (EOY)

  $15,604,714

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $7,993,154

  Expenses

  $6,015,755

  Assets (EOY)

  $7,770,884

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $5,729,054

  Expenses

  $4,833,452

  Assets (EOY)

  $5,809,071

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $4,901,437

  Expenses

  $3,262,688

  Assets (EOY)

  $4,848,444

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,799,003

  Expenses

  $2,153,587

  Assets (EOY)

  $3,138,246

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $4,140,185

  Expenses

  $1,924,465

  Assets (EOY)

  $3,468,899

• 2013 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,480,253

  Expenses

  $1,481,011

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,242,703

• 2012 · 990

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  $1,132,047

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,225,131

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

• ALL VOTING IS LOCAL

  $378,961

  2023 · COUNTERING ELECTION SABOTAGE

• THE PRAXIS PROJECT INC

  $95,000

  2022 · VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION

• THE PRAXIS PROJECT INC

  $70,000

  2023 · VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION

• REPRESENTUS

  $50,000

  2023 · COUNTERING ELECTION SABOTAGE

• ONE ARIZONA

  $40,665

  2023 · VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION

• KENTUCKY COALITION

  $30,000

  2022 · VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION

• FAITH IN ACTION ALABAMA

  $30,000

  2023 · VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION

• SEVENTH GENERATION FUND FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

  $27,900

  2022 · VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION

• QUAD CITIES INTERFAITH

  $26,000

  2022 · VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION

• FAITH IN ACTION ALABAMA

  $25,000

  2022 · VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION

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

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $1,538,699

  2023 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• SANDLER FOUNDATION

  $1,500,000

  2024 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $1,230,920

  2022 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $1,159,350

  2022 · HUMAN SERVICES

• SANDLER FOUNDATION

  $1,000,000

  2022 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• SANDLER FOUNDATION

  $1,000,000

  2023 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $944,440

  2024 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• UNITE AMERICA INSTITUTE INC

  $625,000

  2023 · TO SUPPORT TOP-FOUR/FIVE AND RANKED CHOICE VOTING EFFORTS, AS WELL AS INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $511,400

  2023 · HUMAN SERVICES

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $488,851

  2024 · HUMAN SERVICES

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

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Other IRS files