Country First Action

What it reported doing in 2024

Country first national working groups: country first national volunteer working groups provided a unique and collaborative approach to civic education by intentionally connecting americans of different backgrounds, identities, contexts, and geographies together to learn, research, and discuss the leading ideas to promote civic governance. Our working groups focused on electoral reforms, restoring civil dialogue and advancing conflict resolution, promoting civic literacy through political research, and advancing thoughtful civic debate of policies through planning and proposing speaker series for organization supporters. These working groups engaged thousands of americans within virtual formats and provided volunteers with unique, live experiences to grow in the skills needed to advance the public good.national virtual campfires: country first hosts regularly scheduled live virtual campfires at which tens of thousands gather and watch later, where members and volunteers are informed on our ongoing efforts to dismantle the pervasive toxic tribalism dividing our political system with an emphasis on a commitment to bridge divides and fortify democracy through civic action. National campfires provide country first the opportunity to update our members and volunteers on opportunities to engage and bolster our democracy, to educate on important topics or issues of the day and to bring people together to a space of free-flowing ideas and civic discourse where they feel part of a community. Future democracy leaders: the national democracy scholars program is designed to foster a new generation of leaders dedicated to nurturing democratic values. We aim to attract a legion of high school seniors and college students to compete in the creation of interesting, entertaining, and innovative digital content that educates their peers and followers on key issues that would make american democracy stronger and more inclusive.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 31.9%; rating input score 32
• Program expense ratio: 38.2%; rating input score 38
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.61 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 21; 21st 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: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • 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: 18.7%; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.61; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.08; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.2% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 18.5% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 51.3% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings