Non-profit

Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation

Location:

WASHINGTON, DC

Tax ID:

04-3454684

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2016):

Revenue: $1,304,767
Expenses: $1,043,766
Assets: $1,727,229

Formation:

1999

Board Chair:

Robb Gray

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Founded in 1999 as the 501(c)(3) educational counterpart of the 501(c)(4) corporation, the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation provides research and other support to left-of-center groups seeking to use state-level ballot referenda to change laws and constitutions. The organization’s revenue grew substantially 2004 to 2013, from $180,116 to $1,270,552.1

Founding

In 1996, the progressive People for the American Way began Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) as a multi-group project.2 BISC filed as the 501(c)(4) nonprofit Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Inc. in 1998,3 allowing unlimited political lobbying, and as the 501(c)(3) Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation in 1999,4 allowing the organization to accept tax-deductible donations for certain purposes.

Organizational Overview

Organizationally, BISC does not strongly delineate between the activities of its main 501(c)(4) group and of its foundation. The BISC Web site,5 for example, touts an activist training session and “Road Ahead” conference that are actually activities of the foundation.6 IRS rules limit but do not prohibit the foundation’s involvement in ballot measure campaigns. (The IRS considers campaigning for ballot measures to be “lobbying the electorate” not electioneering, permitting limited 501(c)(3) participation.) but it provides support for campaigns where it can be promoted as research and education, including assistance with messaging for campaigns.

Overall, BISC’s original emphasis on countering “right-wing ballot measures” has expanded to include a “rogues gallery” list of conservative activists7 and resources for tracking and responding to initiatives on a state-by-state basis. The organization has also increased its activity and resources for initiating ballot measures that advance liberal policies, such as the minimum wage, LGBT issues, and abortion access.

Funding

Both sides of BISC’s operation keep their donor lists private. Known sources of donations to BISC, however, include left-leaning foundations, such as the Ford Foundation,8 NARAL (formerly the National Abortion Rights Action League),9 and George Soros’s Open Society Foundations.10

BISC also plays a role in shuffling money among progressive organizations. In 2014, for example, the foundation paid $131,500 to Planned Parenthood and $108,247 to progressive pollsters Lake Research Partners.11

Democracy Alliance

Democracy Alliance is a collective of wealthy left-progressive donors that meet at semi-annual conferences for the purpose of providing a list of recommended recipients to major donors. Ballot Initiative Strategy Center is on Democracy Alliance’s list because of its advocacy for ballot measures at the national level. 12

People

According to IRS filings, BISC Foundation does not “directly hire or compensate” any of its 11 employees, who are all technically employed by the 501(c)(4).

BISC’s current executive director is Justine Sarver, whose total compensation exceeds $175,000. In the past, Sarver worked for President Barack Obama during his 2008 campaign and transition before serving as a deputy chief of staff in the Department of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration.  Before that, she worked for the American Civil Liberties Union in Northern California.

Other employees of BISC have experience working for labor unions, pro-abortion-rights groups, and other left-wing organizations.13

References

  1. “Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed January 8, 2017. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/43454684
  2. “The BISC Mission.” Internet Archive WayBackMachine. Captured April 22, 1999. Accessed January 8, 2017. http://web.archive.org/web/19990422234830/http://ballot.org/background/home.htm
  3. “Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Inc.” GuideStar. Accessed January 8, 2017. http://www.guidestar.org/profile/04-3411708
  4. “Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation” GuideStar. Accessed January 8, 2017. http://www.guidestar.org/profile/04-3454684
  5. “What We Do: Special Events.” Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. Accessed July 9, 2017. https://ballot.org/what-we-do/special-events/
  6. “About Us.” Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation. Accessed July 9, 2017. http://biscfoundation.org/about
  7. Dellinger, James, and Karl Crow. “The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center: How It Promotes Big Labor’s Political Strategy.” Capital Research Center Labor Watch. April 2008. Accessed January 8, 2017. https://www.scribd.com/document/140833117/The-Ballot-Initiative-Strategy-Center-How-It-Promotes-Big-Labor-s-Political-Strategy
  8. “Search All Grants.” Ford Foundation. Accessed July 9, 2017. http://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/grants-database/grants-all?page=2
  9. Dellinger, James, and Karl Crow. “The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center: How It Promotes Big Labor’s Political Strategy.” Capital Research Center Labor Watch. April 2008. Accessed January 8, 2017. https://www.scribd.com/document/140833117/The-Ballot-Initiative-Strategy-Center-How-It-Promotes-Big-Labor-s-Political-Strategy
  10. “U.S. Programs: Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed January 8, 2017. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/about/programs/us-programs/grantees/ballot-initiative-strategy-center-foundation-0
  11. U.S. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Form 990. “Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation.” 2014 Accessed January 8, 2017. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/043/454/2014-043454684-0c055224-9.pdf
  12. “Organizations Archive.” Democracy Alliance. Accessed January 25, 2021. http://democracyalliance.org/investments/.
  13. “Staff Bios.” Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. Accessed January 8, 2017. https://ballot.org/who-we-are/staff-bios/

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. Tracy Sturdivant
    Former Board Member
  2. Justine Sarver
    Executive Director (BISC)
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: September 1, 1999

  • 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
    2016 Dec Form 990 $1,304,767 $1,043,766 $1,727,229 $495,312 N $1,302,303 $2,464 $0 $86,637
    2015 Dec Form 990 $1,295,248 $704,728 $1,147,255 $176,339 N $1,290,250 $4,998 $0 $95,101 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $999,885 $1,055,542 $506,338 $125,942 N $963,500 $28,163 $0 $105,521 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $1,270,552 $1,112,122 $902,798 $466,745 N $1,231,647 $38,904 $1 $56,355 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $599,064 $572,898 $370,429 $92,806 N $598,000 $960 $2 $45,088 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $553,950 $517,546 $141,076 $14,618 N $552,300 $1,575 $75 $56,788 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation

    1815 ADAMS MILL ROAD NW NO 300
    WASHINGTON, DC 20009-1987