Common Cause

What it reported doing in 2024

We worked to ensure that every eligible citizen had the freedom to vote and that every vote was accurately counted. During the 2024 election cycle, we led one of the nation's largest nonpartisan voter protection efforts to defend voting rights, strengthen election administration, and help voters navigate rapidly changing election conditions.as a co-leader of the national nonpartisan election protection coalition, we mobilized more than 40,000 volunteers across 42 states to monitor polling locations, assist voters, identify election administration issues, and connect voters to legal and voter protection resources. More than 15,000 volunteers participated on election day alone, and we distributed more than $2 million in community regrants to local partners supporting voter engagement, voter education, and election protection efforts.we maintained a major volunteer presence during presidential and state primaries across the country. In Florida, more than 280 poll monitors worked across 23 counties and evaluated nearly 150 polling locations for accessibility for voters with disabilities, while also expanding our nonpartisan hotline to include a haitian creole line for the first time. In Michigan, volunteers assisted voters during severe storm-related polling disruptions. In California, more than 300 volunteers monitored polling locations across eight major counties during the super tuesday primary. In Ohio, we deployed 150 poll monitors and distributed more than 20,000 election protection hotline cards to voters statewide.we also responded to growing threats to election administration and certification. In Georgia, we mobilized advocates and trained volunteers to monitor election boards after election deniers attempted to undermine certification processes. In Arizona, we educated the public and election officials about recount-related risks that could have disrupted the state's electoral college certification process.our communications and public education efforts also contributed to more than 30,000 news stories in 2024 mentioning our organization or quoting our staff and volunteers.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 30.1%; rating input score 30
• Program expense ratio: 55.7%; rating input score 56
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.92 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 49.1%; rating input score 94; 94th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.03; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.13; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.3%; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.1% per year; rating input score 100; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 15.9% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings