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Non-profit

Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN)

Website:

iowacan.org
Location:

Coralville, IA
Tax ID:

42-1172128
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $287,594
Expenses: $213,842
Assets: $125,062
Formation:

1979
Type:

Left-Of Center Activism Organization
Executive Director:

Sue Dinsdale

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Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN) campaigns for left-leaning social, economic, and environmental policies, such as Obamacare and expansion of Medicare and Medicaid. 1

Over a two-year period, ICAN received $300,000 from the left-of-center Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2 3 ICAN is staffed by individuals associated with the Democratic Party and other left-leaning advocacy groups, including the Alliance for Global Justice and Health Care for America Now. 4 5 6

Background

Iowa Citizen Action Network is an Iowa-based advocacy group that coordinates left-of-center community activists in support of left-leaning social, economic, and environmental policies. ICAN conducts its advocacy through individual outreach, hosting events, and digital media. 7

Originally the Iowa Citizen/Labor Coalition, ICAN was founded in 1979 by John “Skip” Laitner and Tami O’Dell. 8 The group rebranded as ICAN in 1983. 9

The Iowa Citizen Action Network is affiliated with the Iowa Citizen Action Network Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit group. 10

Activities

In 2010, Iowa Citizen Action Network supported the Health Care for America Now campaign, 11 which mobilized activists to write letters, speak at town halls, and engage sympathetic small business owners in support of efforts to maintain and expand Obamacare. 12 In 2020, ICAN shifted its health care policy efforts to support the Lower Drug Prices Now campaign as a coalition member and state partner. 13

ICAN organized public demonstrations in opposition to cuts to Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, Social Security, and the Iowa Public Employee’s Retirement Fund, 14 and in support of voter registration efforts. 15

ICAN also promoted left-of-center economic and fiscal policy, including opposition to a flat tax and support of a progressive tax system. 16 ICAN advocated for an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit 17 and raising the federal minimum wage. 18 ICAN has supported cutting the military budget, specifically the funding of the F-35 and of the F-22 fighter programs. 19

ICAN proposed expansion of unemployment insurance, health insurance, and food stamps to address unemployment, as well as federal aid to state programs, creation of public and nonprofit sector jobs, infrastructure spending, and tax incentives for businesses. 20

ICAN has supported Americans for Financial Reform, Coalition for a Better Iowa, Health Care for America Now, Jobs for America Now, Lower Drug Prices Now, Main Street Alliance, and Tax March Iowa. 21

Funding

In 2018 and 2019, Iowa Citizen Action Network reported $381,303 in revenue from grants, 22 23 with the Sixteen Thirty Fund as its largest known donor. The Iowa Citizen Action Network received a total of $300,000 in two years from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which was provided to fund capacity building. 24

People

Sue Dinsdale is the executive director for the Iowa Citizen Action Network. 25 She also organizes the Iowa campaigns of Health Care for America Now and Lower Drug Prices Now. 26 Formerly, Dinsdale worked as an organizer for Americans Against Escalation in Iraq and was a member of the University of Iowa chapter of the Alliance for Global Justice. 27

Jim McClanahan is the development and membership director for ICAN. 28

Gayle Warner is the bookkeeper and business manager for ICAN. 29

Amy Adams is an organizer for ICAN, managing the Tax March Iowa project. 30 In addition to this, Adams works as an organizer for Progress Iowa and a board member for Indivisible Iowa. 31 Furthermore, she has held positions in and received awards from the Democratic Party. 32

Mary Kahl is an organizer for ICAN, managing the Tax March Iowa project. 33

Midge Slater is the president of the board of directors for ICAN. 34 Slater is also a staffer for Iowa Alliance of Retired Americans 35

References

  1. “About Us.” Lower Drug Prices Now. February 15, 2021. https://www.lowerdrugpricesnow.org/about-us/#state_partners.
  2. Sixteen Thirty Fund. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2019. Accessed May 18, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/264486735/202033179349303983/full
  3. Iowa Citizen Action Network. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990EO). 2019.
  4. Lynch, James Q. “Profile: Personal Experience Drives Amy Adams to Help Amplify Iowans’ Voices. The Gazette. June 27, 2021. https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/personal-experience-drives-amy-adams-to-help-amplify-iowans-voices/.
  5. Lerer, Lisa. “While Congress Is Away, Anti-War Groups Flay.” POLITICO. August 22, 2007. https://www.politico.com/story/2007/08/while-congress-is-away-anti-war-groups-flay-005488.
  6. Dinsdale, Sue. “Capping Costs No Substitute for Lowering Drug Prices.” Bleeding Heartland. April 28, 2022. https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2022/04/27/capping-costs-no-substitute-for-lowering-drug-prices/.
  7. Iowa Citizen Action Network. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990EO). 2019.
  8. “History.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. February 17, 2022. https://iowacan.org/history/.
  9. “History.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. February 17, 2022. https://iowacan.org/history/.
  10. “ICAN Education Foundation.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. April 23, 2022. https://iowacan.org/education-fund/.
  11. Warner, GS. “Health Care for America Now.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. September 12, 2012. https://iowacan.org/campaigns-ican/health-care-for-america-now/.
  12. “History.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. February 17, 2022. https://iowacan.org/history/
  13. “About Us.” Lower Drug Prices Now. February 15, 2021.https://www.lowerdrugpricesnow.org/about-us/#state_partners.
  14. “History.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. February 17, 2022. https://iowacan.org/history/.
  15. “History.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. February 17, 2022. https://iowacan.org/history/.
  16. Dinsdale, Sue. “Flat Taxes Are Not Fair.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. February 25, 2022. https://iowacan.org/flat-taxes-are-not-fair/.
  17. “History.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. February 17, 2022. https://iowacan.org/history/.
  18. “Raise the Minimum Wage.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. April 23, 2022. https://iowacan.org/campaigns-ican/raise-the-wage/.
  19. “Pentagon Spending Reform.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. April 23, 2022. https://iowacan.org/campaigns-ican/pentagon-spending-reform/.
  20. “Jobs for America Now.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. April 23, 2022. https://iowacan.org/campaigns-ican/jobs-for-america-now/.
  21. “Campaigns.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. January 27, 2020. https://iowacan.org/campaigns-ican/.
  22. Iowa Citizen Action Network. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990EO). 2018.
  23. Iowa Citizen Action Network. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990EO). 2019.
  24. Sixteen Thirty Fund. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2019. Accessed May 18, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/264486735/202033179349303983/full.
  25.  “Contact.” Iowa Citizen Action Network, March 8, 2021. https://iowacan.org/contact/.
  26. Dinsdale, Sue. “Capping Costs No Substitute for Lowering Drug Prices.” Bleeding Heartland. April 28, 2022. https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2022/04/27/capping-costs-no-substitute-for-lowering-drug-prices/.
  27. Lerer, Lisa. “While Congress Is Away, Anti-War Groups Flay.” POLITICO. August 22, 2007. https://www.politico.com/story/2007/08/while-congress-is-away-anti-war-groups-flay-005488.
  28. “Contact.” Iowa Citizen Action Network, March 8, 2021. https://iowacan.org/contact/
  29. “Contact.” Iowa Citizen Action Network, March 8, 2021. https://iowacan.org/contact/.
  30. “Contact.” Iowa Citizen Action Network, March 8, 2021. https://iowacan.org/contact/.
  31. Lynch, James Q. “Profile: Personal Experience Drives Amy Adams to Help Amplify Iowans’ Voices. The Gazette. June 27, 2021. https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/personal-experience-drives-amy-adams-to-help-amplify-iowans-voices/.
  32. Lynch, James Q. “Profile: Personal Experience Drives Amy Adams to Help Amplify Iowans’ Voices. The Gazette. June 27, 2021. https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/personal-experience-drives-amy-adams-to-help-amplify-iowans-voices/.
  33. “Contact.” Iowa Citizen Action Network. March 8, 2021. https://iowacan.org/contact/.
  34. Iowa Citizen Action Network. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990EO). 2019.
  35. “Staff.” Iowa AFL-CIO, January 10, 2019. https://www.iowaaflcio.org/ia-staff.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November

    • 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 $287,594 $213,842 $125,062 $20,545 N $260,392 $22,897 $7 $0
    2018 Dec Form 990EZ $181,258 $178,923 $42,892 $12,127 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2017 Dec Form 990EZ $169,036 $168,370 $42,298 $13,868 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2016 Dec Form 990 $164,776 $139,013 $44,513 $16,749 N $98,885 $56,910 $0 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $199,029 $198,556 $40,894 $38,893 N $107,760 $84,649 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $205,139 $203,674 $44,556 $43,028 N $136,140 $67,474 $3 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $238,480 $229,597 $38,153 $38,090 N $154,031 $48,366 $34 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $274,892 $229,740 $64,561 $73,381 N $203,982 $65,658 $35 $37,523 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $249,190 $258,409 $37,542 $91,514 N $160,915 $63,953 $9 $35,273 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN)


    Coralville, IA