Americans for Financial Reform

What it reported doing in 2024

Public Education and Communications: Our public education and communications materials and activities provide information and analysis on a broad range of finance and financial markets related matters, from the impact of high-cost lending, to investor protections, to capital markets and derivatives regulation and more. Our audiences include our institutional allies (national, state and local groups), the general public, opinion leaders, policymakers, and various forms of media. We work to build public will for substantial reform toward a just and accountable financial system. Our work has resulted in thousands of mentions in the press and social media. . Building and Maintaining a Broad Coalition: We bring together a nonpartisan nonprofit coalition of more than 200 civil rights, consumer, labor, investor, small business, and civic and community-based organizations. We build connections among disparate groups; put together and nurture an infrastructure to develop and share information, experiences, insights, tools, tactics, and strategies; and provide materials, research, and other tools so that together we can develop and advance economic and racial justice priorities to reform the financial system. Policy Analysis and Development: We analyse policy proposals in the financial space, including regulatory proposals from the CFPB, Federal Reserve, FDIC, SEC, CFTC and more, as well as legislative proposals; write regulatory comment letters arguing for consumer and investor protection, financial stability, big bank accountability, increased transparency, an end to racial discrimination, etc; testify as experts before Congress; convene public policy conversations; research and write memoranda and reports. And we work with our allies to develop and propose policy solutions to stop financial sector abuses of economically vulnerable families and communities, and reverse growing inequality that results from unchecked financialization and speculation.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 90.3%; rating input score 90
• Program expense ratio: 81.9%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $17.29 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -9.9%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.32; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.09; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 17.3% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.5% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 12.2% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings