Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Non-profit

ActBlue Civics

Website:

actblue.com
Location:

Somerville, MA, United States
Tax ID:

45-5097038
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2017):

Revenue: $43,492,765
Expenses: $39,428,835
Assets: $2,260,611
Formation:

2012
Type:

Pass-Through Nonprofit

ActBlue Civics is the 501(c)(4) arm of the left-of-center pass-through political action committee ActBlue and its 501(c)(3) pass-through affiliate ActBlue Charities. ActBlue Civics functions as a fundraising platform that facilitates donations to other 501(c)(4) left-leaning activist organizations.[1]

Overview

The ActBlue website was launched in 2004 by Ben Rahn and Matt DeBergalis as a fundraising platform for left-wing nonprofits, liberal political candidates, and Democratic-aligned PACs.[2] ActBlue Civics was formed eight years later in 2012.[3] According to its own estimates, ActBlue has helped to raise $2.4 billion for its clients since its creation.[4]

ActBlue is divided into three components, each of which deals with a specific type of donation. ActBlue Non-Federal deals with PAC contributions, ActBlue Civics manages contributions to 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, and ActBlue Charities manages contributions to 501(c)(3) nonprofits.[5]

In addition to publishing its list of clients on its website for donors’ ease-of-use, ActBlue also stores contributors’ credit card information, which “reduces the friction involved in filling out donation forms to a single click.”[6]

ActBlue provides grassroots fundraising software that allows its clients to maximize their impact. These tools are available on all three of their platforms.[7] ActBlue also “run randomized experiments to increase the efficiency of its donation forms.”[8]

Clients

Act Blue Civics has served a number of left-of-center 501(c)(4)  clients, including the Center for American Progress Action Fund, American Civil Liberties Union, America Votes, National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Democratic Socialists of America, Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, MoveOn.org Civic Action, Priorities USA Action, and Demand Justice.[9]

Outside Funding

In 2012, Act Blue Civics received $7,500 from the Tides Foundation.[10]

References

  1. “About Us.” ActBlue. Accessed July 30, 2018. https://secure.actblue.com/about. ^
  2. Hartmann, Michael E. “ActBlue Fundraising Platform Strikes Gold — for Liberals | RealClearPolitics.” RealClearPolitics. January 23, 2018. Accessed July 23, 2018. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/01/23/actblue_fundraising_platform_strikes_gold_–_for_liberals_136068.html. ^
  3. “Business Entity Summary.” Corporations Division. Accessed January 16, 2019. http://corp.sec.state.ma.us/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSummary.aspx?FEIN=455097038&SEARCH_TYPE=1 ^
  4. “Billions Raised Online since 2004.” ActBlue. Accessed July 23, 2018. https://secure.actblue.com/. ^
  5. Hartmann, Michael E. “ActBlue Fundraising Platform Strikes Gold — for Liberals | RealClearPolitics.” RealClearPolitics. January 23, 2018. Accessed July 23, 2018. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/01/23/actblue_fundraising_platform_strikes_gold_–_for_liberals_136068.html. ^
  6. Willis, Derek. “How ActBlue Became a Powerful Force in Fund-Raising.” The New York Times. October 09, 2014. Accessed July 25, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/09/upshot/how-actblue-became-a-powerful-force-in-fund-raising.html. ^
  7. Castenell, Aimée. “How to Increase Donations on Giving Tuesday with ActBlue.” Fission Strategy. October 17, 2016. Accessed July 23, 2018. https://fissionstrategy.com/now-nonprofits-can-increase-donations-on-giving-tuesday-with-actblue/. ^
  8. Willis, Derek. “How ActBlue Became a Powerful Force in Fund-Raising.” The New York Times. October 09, 2014. Accessed July 25, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/09/upshot/how-actblue-became-a-powerful-force-in-fund-raising.html. ^
  9. “About Us.” ActBlue. Accessed July 30, 2018. https://secure.actblue.com/about. ^
  10. “ActBlue Civics.” Grant Analyzer. Accessed July 23, 2018. http://www.foundationsearch.com/FindFunders/GrantVisualizer.aspx?searchid=4012725. ^

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. Erin Hill
    CEO
  2. Marc Laitin
    Director
  3. Benjamin Rahn
    Director
  4. Matt DeBergalis
    President
  5. Jonathan Zucker
    CEO, Former COO
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 2013

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2017 Dec Form 990 $43,492,765 $39,428,835 $2,260,611 $0 Y $1,483,886 $42,008,878 $0 $0 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $19,371,901 $18,821,212 $1,196,681 $0 Y $681,125 $18,690,776 $0 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $6,384,327 $5,898,378 $722,949 $0 Y $778,230 $5,606,027 $0 $0
    2014 Dec Form 990 $3,977,232 $3,817,912 $263,817 $0 N $206,480 $3,770,752 $0 $48,754 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $1,144,390 $1,188,201 $104,496 $0 N $42,198 $1,102,192 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Map image for ActBlue Civics

    ActBlue Civics

    366 Summer st
    Somerville, MA 02144
    United States