Ryan Alexander is the president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a tax policy advocacy organization that is funded by a number of left-of-center advocacy grantmakers. She has worked for non-profits for the majority of her career and often appears on news outlets to discuss tax policy and other issues.

In 2019, Alexander announced her intention to step down from Taxpayers for Common Sense on January 1, 2020. She will remain with the group as a senior fellow.¹

Taxpayers for Common Sense

Alexander began her term as president of Taxpayers for Common Sense in 2006 after previously working for a number of nonprofit organizations. Under her leadership, the organization has performed a wide variety of advocacy projects calling for cuts in government spending. Most notably, in 2012, the organization called for a $700 billion defense spending cut. Alexander claims to have increased organization revenue by over 200% during her tenure as president and has maintained a goal of keeping the organization transparent by opening its research databases to the public. Alexander served on the board of directors of the organization for seven years before joining the staff. ²

After 13 years in the position, Alexander announced in November of 2019 that she would resign as the president of Taxpayers for Common Sense effective January 1, 2020. It is unclear from the initial press release why Alexander will be stepping down. Steve Ellis, current executive vice president for the organization, will be taking over the role upon her departure. Ellis has worked for the organization for more than 20 years according to his profile on its website. Alexander said that she will be serving as a senior fellow for the organization after her resignation takes effect. ³

Appalachian Mountain Advocates

Alexander co-founded Appalachian Mountain Advocates, a left-of-center environmentalist advocacy organization. The organization is based in its advocacy efforts against coal mining, natural gas extraction, and other conventional energy use due to concerns about climate change. The organization has long opposed the construction of the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline which would have run through the states of West Virginia and Virginia. ⁴

Common Cause Education Fund

Alexander served as the executive director for Common Cause Education Fund (CCEF) from 2003-2006. CCEF is a left-of-center organization which focuses on issues such as gerrymandering, election finance law, election integrity, and accountability in media. The organization has led multiple campaigns attacking the National Rifle Association, the largest gun-rights organization in the nation, claiming that the organization was one of the main reasons contributing to gun violence in the country. The organization has become highly critical of the Trump administration and advocates against many of its stances on most issues. ^{5 6}

Other Leadership Positions

Alexander serves on a number of boards of directors for organizations which cover a variety of fields of advocacy. She is a member of the board of directors for the R Street Institute, a right-of-center and libertarian think tank which advocates for free markets and limited government while receiving funding from left-wing grantmakers and advocating for stricter environmentalist regulation. She also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Fund for Constitutional Government, an advocacy group which serves as a government watchdog organization and aims to expose corruption among elected officials. Alexander also sits on the board of directors for the Project on Government Oversight, a liberal organization criticizing American defense and security policy. ⁷

1. “Ellis to Take Helm of Taxpayers for Common Sense, Alexander to shift to Senior Fellow.” Taxpayers for Common Sense. Accessed November 18, 2019. https://www.taxpayer.net/in-the-news/leadership-transition/.
2. “User Profile: Ryan Alexander.” LinkedIn.com Accessed November 18, 2019. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-alexander-ba62384/.
3. “Ellis to Take Helm of Taxpayers for Common Sense, Alexander to shift to Senior Fellow.” Taxpayers for Common Sense. Accessed November 18, 2019. https://www.taxpayer.net/in-the-news/leadership-transition/.
4. “Ryan Alexander Profile.” Taxpayers for Common Sense. Accessed November 18, 2019. https://www.taxpayer.net/ryan-alexander/.
5. “User Profile: Ryan Alexander.” LinkedIn.com Accessed November 18, 2019. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-alexander-ba62384/.
6. “About Us.” Common Cause Education Fund. Accessed November 18, 2019. https://www.commoncause.org/education-fund/about-us/.
7. “Ryan Alexander Profile.” Taxpayers for Common Sense. Accessed November 18, 2019. https://www.taxpayer.net/ryan-alexander/.