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Non-profit

Democracy 21 Education Fund

Website:

www.democracy21.org
Location:

WASHINGTON, DC
Tax ID:

52-1956824
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $474,631
Expenses: $518,453
Assets: $699,879
Type:

Campaign Finance Advocacy
Founded:

1997
Founder and President:

Fred Wertheimer

Democracy 21 (D21) Education Fund is the research and education arm of the left-of-center political advocacy group Democracy 21. [1]

D21 and D21 Education Fund were founded by activist Fred Wertheimer in 1997 to advocate for left-of-center views on campaign finance and government transparency and accountability. [2] Wertheimer and his organization have been involved in campaign finance legislation, including helping develop the For the People Act [3] which would require states to expand early voting, same-day voter registration, mail-in voting, and ballot harvesting and compel the use of so-called independent commissions to draw legislative districts. [4]

Background

The Democracy 21 (D21) Education Fund was founded in 1997, along with Democracy 21, by activist Fred Wertheimer  to address campaign finance and government transparency and accountability. [5]

Funders

Funders of the D21 Education Fund have included many left-of-center grantmaking organizations including the Hopewell Fund, [6] the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Opportunity Fund, the Open Society Foundations, Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Brennan Center for Justice. [7]

Financials

In 2020 the D21 Education Fund received $381,880 in revenues, including $380,512 in grants and contributions. Total expenses were $551,071, including $307,412 in compensation and benefits. [8]

Leadership

Fred Wertheimer is founder and president of D21 and the D21 Education Fund. [9] Previously, he was president of Common Cause, a left-progressive advocacy group that focuses on campaign finance, voting policy and government accountability. [10] Wertheimer has been involved in working with Congressional Democrats on campaign finance legislation for more than 40 years. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has described Wertheimer as providing “exceptional leadership to hold government and Congress to the highest ethical standard.” [11]

Nick Ucci is board chair. [12] Previously, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer at People for the American Way (PFAW), a left-of-center advocacy group. [13]

References

  1. “Democracy 21.” Ballotpedia. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://ballotpedia.org/Democracy_21 ^
  2. “Our History.” Democracy 21 – About. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://democracy21.org/about-us/our-history ^
  3. “Our History.” Democracy 21 – About. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://democracy21.org/about-us/our-history ^
  4. “H.R.1 – For the People Act of 2021.” Congress.gov. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1 ^
  5. “Fred Wertheimer.” Just Security. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.justsecurity.org/author/wertheimerfred/ ^
  6. “Democracy 21 Education Fund.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=democracy+21+education+fund ^
  7. “Mission.” Democracy 21 – About. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://democracy21.org/about-us/mission ^
  8. Democracy 21 Education Fund. Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF – Part I). 2020. ^
  9. “Staff.” Democracy 21 – About. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://democracy21.org/about-us/staff ^
  10. “Our Work.” Common Cause. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://www.commoncause.org/our-work/ ^
  11. “Fred Wertheimer.” Rules of the Senate. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://www.rules.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/BIO_Wertheimer.pdf ^
  12. “Board of Directors.” Democracy 21 – About. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://democracy21.org/about-us/board ^
  13. “About Us.” People for the American Way. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://www.pfaw.org/about-us/ ^

Associated Organizations

  1. Democracy 21 (Non-profit)
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 1996

    • 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
    2019 Dec Form 990 $474,631 $518,453 $699,879 $0 N $473,176 $0 $1,455 $105,089 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $458,502 $486,828 $743,701 $0 N $456,850 $0 $1,652 $103,591 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $580,874 $464,064 $772,027 $0 N $579,378 $0 $1,496 $108,259
    2016 Dec Form 990 $597,723 $452,944 $655,217 $0 N $596,700 $0 $1,023 $107,478
    2015 Dec Form 990 $571,001 $465,868 $510,438 $0 N $570,303 $0 $698 $108,570 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $442,298 $411,932 $405,305 $0 N $441,686 $0 $612 $107,391 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $436,601 $434,092 $374,939 $0 N $435,994 $0 $607 $106,252 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $448,493 $456,525 $372,430 $0 N $447,830 $0 $663 $105,130 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $396,216 $394,760 $380,462 $0 N $395,152 $0 $1,064 $108,555 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Map image for Democracy 21 Education Fund

    Democracy 21 Education Fund

    2000 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036-1022