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COMMON SENSE SOCIETY

EIN 86-1543050 WASHINGTON, DC

Revenue 2023
$6,672,204
Expenses 2023
$6,841,253

Program services were 69.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
Classification
1200
Street
1455 PENNSYLVANIA AVE 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).

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.

  • THOMAS PETERFFY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARION SMITH

    PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

    Total calculated
    $288,181
    From this org
    $254,160
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,021
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $254,160
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,166
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,855
    Filer's total
    $288,181

  • DAVID TALBOT

    SECRETARY & TREASURER, EXECUTIVE VP

    Total calculated
    $226,429
    From this org
    $198,563
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,866
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $198,563
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,943
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,923
    Filer's total
    $226,429

  • SOPHIE SCRUTON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ALEXANDRE PESEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • PAIGE HANSON

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $189,902
    From this org
    $182,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,902
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $182,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,280
    Nontaxable benefits
    $622
    Filer's total
    $189,902

  • AUSTIN STONE

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $231,621
    From this org
    $216,667
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,954
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $216,667
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,467
    Nontaxable benefits
    $6,487
    Filer's total
    $231,621

  • ELIZABETH STIFF

    CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $248,680
    From this org
    $211,505
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $37,175
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $211,505
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,288
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,887
    Filer's total
    $248,680

  • CHRISTINE EMERY

    VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $248,833
    From this org
    $220,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,833
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $220,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,833
    Filer's total
    $248,833

  • JOEL BOWERS

    VICE PRESIDENT, SOUTHERN US

    Total calculated
    $219,162
    From this org
    $183,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,162
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $183,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,320
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,842
    Filer's total
    $219,162

  • CHRISTOPHER BEDFORD

    SENIOR FELLOW & EDITOR

    Total calculated
    $239,700
    From this org
    $221,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,700
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $221,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,780
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,920
    Filer's total
    $239,700

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 — 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
    $6,672,204
    Expenses
    $6,841,253
    Contributions
    $6,230,291
    Grants paid
    $445,184
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $7,424,976
    Expenses
    $6,899,702
    Contributions
    $7,410,118
    Grants paid
    $591,313

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.

Grants made

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 10 September 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.