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Institute for Responsive Government Inc

The institute for responsive government, inc.

$11M
Granted FY2024still arriving
244
Grants FY2024still arriving
12
States reached
$1.4M
Largest
01What you fund
01100% classified

What you funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year — across FY20232024.

Public Benefit$9.3MCommunity Improvement$276kCivil Rights$250kEducation$138kArts & Culture$118kEnvironment$53kEmployment$50kRecreation & Sports$16kOther$0
02FY2024 · 244 grants

Where the money goes

Your grants by size, and where they go.

The 244 grants below total $10,179,944 — the rows itemised in this filing. The $10,744,828 headline is the total grant expense reported on the return, so the remaining $564,884 is giving the schedule does not break out: grants under the $5,000 itemisation floor, grants to individuals, and grants reported on other schedules. Every figure below describes the itemised rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k115 grants · $693k
  • $10k–50k99 grants · $1.7M
  • $50k–250k20 grants · $1.7M
  • $250k+10 grants · $6.1M
$10,000
Median grant
12
States reached
$6.4M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CLARK COUNTY ELECTION DEPARTMENT$1,350,000
CITIES FORWARD INC$1,300,000
PARTNERSHIP FOR LARGE ELECTION JURISDICT$856,000
INFORMING DEMOCRACY EDUCATION FUND$600,000
STRONG DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION$400,000
CITY OF DETROIT$350,000
WASHOE COUNTY$350,000
BERNALILLO COUNTY$350,000
US DIGITAL RESPONSE$250,000
PUBLIC RIGHTS PROJECT$250,000
CENTER FOR CIVIC DESIGN$238,000
BOULDER COUNTY$110,000
COUNT MI VOTE EDUCATION FUND$103,750
CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS$100,000
DONA ANA COUNTY CLERK$100,000
02The need
03

Do your dollars go where the need is?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, then read against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, your grants (FY23–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 78% of your dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of your grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%STRONG DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION: $400k → 11%DOCUMENTARY EDUCATIONS RESOURCES INC: $100k → 8%CITY OF MOORHEAD: $30k → 11%WORK FOR AMERICA INC: $50k → 20%COUNTY OF SANDOVAL: $100k → 10%SANTA FE COUNTY: $100k → 12%BERNALILLO COUNTY: $350k → 14%COLFAX COUNTY CLERK: $18k → 19%TORRANCE COUNTY CLERK: $18k → 20%DONA ANA COUNTY CLERK: $100k → 23%INFORMING DEMOCRACY EDUCATION FUND: $600k → 14%BEDFORD TOWNSHIP: $30k → 10%CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CLINTON: $60k → 10%CITY OF PORTAGE: $30k → 12%CITY OF BAY CITY GENERAL DISBURSEMENT: $30k → 14%WASHOE COUNTY: $350k → 10%CLARK COUNTY ELECTION DEPARTMENT: $1.4M → 13%CENTER FOR CIVIC DESIGN: $238k → 15%PUBLIC RIGHTS PROJECT: $250k → 10%PARTNERSHIP FOR LARGE ELECTION JURISDICT: $856k → 14%CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION: $30k → 8%CITY OF HOLLAND: $30k → 10%COUNT MI VOTE EDUCATION FUND: $104k → 14%CITY OF BATTLE CREEK: $30k → 14%CITY OF MUSKEGON: $30k → 15%CITY OF FLINT: $60k → 16%SAGINAW TOWNSHIP TREASURER: $30k → 18%VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP: $30k → 21%US DIGITAL RESPONSE: $250k → 10%CITIES FORWARD INC: $1.3M → 14%CITY OF ST CLAIR SHORES: $30k → 10%CITY OF FARMINGTON HILLS: $60k → 8%TOWNSHIP OF MACOMB: $60k → 10%PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP: $30k → 11%CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS: $100k → 11%CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT: $30k → 10%THE CITY OF DEARBORN: $60k → 21%CITY OF ROYAL OAK: $30k → 8%CITY OF TAYLOR: $30k → 21%CITY OF DETROIT: $350k → 21%CITY OF TROY MICHIGAN: $60k → 8%CITY OF WESTLAND: $60k → 21%CITY OF NOVI: $30k → 8%CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CANTON: $60k → 21%CITY OF LINCOLN PARK: $30k → 21%CITY OF DEARBORN HEIGHTS: $30k → 21%REDFORD TOWNSHIP: $30k → 21%CITY OF LIVONIA: $60k → 21%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount

Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty linein the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP; grantee ZIP can differ from where services are delivered.

Which US states your grants reach

MT
MN
MI
NY
MA
NV
CA
CO
MD
AZ
NM
DC

US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are actually delivered. Need from public data — U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA — shown as context about the area, never attributed to your giving.

03Your field

The map has a center of gravity: the average direction from the rest of the sector toward the organizations the foundation funds — the shape of its giving. Scoring every nonprofit along that direction surfaces the ones that look most like the portfolio. These are the closest matchesthat aren’t grantees — a resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Center for Popular Democracy Inc

The center for popular democracy (cpd) and its affiliates know that everyday people have the power to change the world. we upend business and politics as usual to forge a representative, multiracial government and society where we all…

Public Benefit
2
The Democracy Integrity Project

The democracy integrity project (tdip) is a 501(c)4 nonprofit that provides research on matters of public interest to government entities, media, and other nonprofits to educate the public on matters such as foreign election interference,…

Civil Rights
3
Commission On Presidential Debates

Organize general election presidential and vice-presidential debates

Civil Rights
4
Democracy Planning & Enhancement Fund

The democracy planning & enhancement fund works to strengthen democratic practice and uphold the constitution.

5
Democracy Works Inc

The organization's mission is to leverage web-technologies to improve civic engagement and voter education.

Civil Rights
6
One for Democracy Action Fund

One for democracy unlocks resources to build a healthy democracy by fostering meaningful relationships between philanthropists and the democracy leaders of our time.

7
Democracy Forward

See schedule o.this organization seeks to build collective power to defend and advance a vibrant democracy that benefits all people.

8
Advance American Democracy Inc

To protect democracy by advocating for policies to strenghten democracy, educating the public about threats to our democracy, and highlighting the unpopularity of federal policies that places money and power over the rights and freedom of…

9
Democracy Matters

Democracy matters was formed to connect and build a community of pro-democracy donors.

Civil Rights
10
Center for Democracy and Technology

Advocating for public policies that advance democratic values in the digital age.

Civil Rights
11
The Center for Election Innovation & Research

CEIR seeks to restore trust in the American election system and promote election procedures that encourage participation while ensuring election integrity and security.

Civil Rights
12
Informing Democracy

The organizations mission is to build a central repository of research and information about how votes are counted and elections are certified in order to protect the integrity of our elections.

For reference, the grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Work for America Inc and the most unlike its peers is Partnership for Large Election Juri. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.

04the grantee network

13 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each one resolved to its own IRS returns and tracked year by year — your grant beside their revenue from every source. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

Counted here: distinct organizations you funded across 20172025, not grant rows in a single year — so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 13 of the 245 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile; the rest are funded organizations whose filings we could not track year by year.

3
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
0
Early backer (in before they grew)
13/13
Grantees still filing
3/13
Grew since you first funded

Where your money sits — by cause, then by grantee

CLARK COUNTY ELECTION DEPARTMENT — $1,350,000 · OtherCLARK COUNTY ELECTION DEPARTMENTBERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO — $350,000 · OtherBERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICOCITY OF DETROIT — $350,000 · OtherCITY OF DETROITWashoe County — $350,000 · OtherWashoe County+184 more — $3,367,500 · Other+184 moreCITIES FORWARD INC — $1,300,000 · Public BenefitCITIES FORWARD INCPartnership for Large Election Juri — $856,000 · Public BenefitPartnership for Large Ele…COUNT MI VOTE EDUCATION FUND — $103,750 · Public BenefitINFORMING DEMOCRACY EDUCATION FUND — $600,000 · Civil RightsINFORMING DEMOCR…STRONG DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION — $400,000 · Civil RightsSTRONG DEMOCRACY…PUBLIC RIGHTS PROJECT — $250,000 · Civil RightsPUBLIC RIGHTS PR…CENTER FOR CIVIC DESIGN INC — $238,000 · Civil RightsCENTER FOR CIVIC…US DIGITAL RESPONSE — $250,000 · Public Safety & DisasterDOCUMENTARY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INC — $100,000 · Arts & CultureWESTERN ORGANIZATION OF RESOURCE COUNCILS EDUCATION PROJECT — $35,000 · Community ImprovementCONTINA IMPACT — $10,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC — $10,000 · Education
Other$5,767,500Public Benefit$2,259,750Civil Rights$1,488,000Public Safety & Disaster$250,000Arts & Culture$100,000Community Improvement$35,000Education$20,000

Showing your 200 largest grantees by grant value.

Each org by its size and your share of it — top-left is where you’re load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ your share of their budgetCITIES FORWARD INC — $1,300,000 over 1y, 21% of budgetPartnership for Large Election Juri — $856,000 over 1y, 29% of budgetINFORMING DEMOCRACY EDUCATION FUND — $600,000 over 1y, 28% of budgetSTRONG DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION — $400,000 over 1y, 100% of budgetPUBLIC RIGHTS PROJECT — $250,000 over 1y, 3.8% of budgetUS DIGITAL RESPONSE — $250,000 over 1y, 3.4% of budgetCENTER FOR CIVIC DESIGN INC — $238,000 over 1y, 10.0% of budgetCOUNT MI VOTE EDUCATION FUND — $103,750 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetDOCUMENTARY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INC — $100,000 over 1y, 4.8% of budgetWORK FOR AMERICA INC — $50,000 over 1y, 8.1% of budgetWESTERN ORGANIZATION OF RESOURCE COUNCILS EDUCATION PROJECT — $35,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetCONTINA IMPACT — $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC — $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Go grantee by grantee — a decade per org, and how each moved after you funded them

A decade per grantee — revenue shaded, your grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds CITIES FORWARD INC
  • Who funds Partnership for Large Election Juri
  • Who funds INFORMING DEMOCRACY EDUCATION FUND
  • Who funds STRONG DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION
  • Who funds PUBLIC RIGHTS PROJECT
  • Who funds US DIGITAL RESPONSE
  • Who funds CENTER FOR CIVIC DESIGN INC
  • Who funds COUNT MI VOTE EDUCATION FUND
  • Who funds DOCUMENTARY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INC
  • Who funds WORK FOR AMERICA INC
  • Who funds WESTERN ORGANIZATION OF RESOURCE COUNCILS EDUCATION PROJECT

The grantmakers whose grantees overlap with yours far more than size alone predicts. Each orbits closer the stronger the alignment; the arcs between them show where they also fund each other. Here it reads as a tightly interlocked camp — most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Center for Technology and Civic LifeIL131.2× affinity140 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Center for Technology and Civic Life · Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Inc · The Recycling Partnership Inc · Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · Consumers Energy Foundation · Battle Creek Community Foundation · Fair Food Network Inc · Grosse Pointe Public Safety Foundation · Henry Ford Health Providence Hospital · National Recreation and Park Association · Michigan Humanities Council · Democracy Fund Inc

Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. A research starting point: overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Government reliance of your grantees

Every dot is one organization Institute for Responsive Government Inc funds. Left–right is the share of its income from government; up–down is the share from you. Bigger dots raise more. Filter to federal, a single department, or state — and drag the year to watch it move.

2024
202122232425
no gov · 30%6%25%56%100%your share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from governmentmedian 1%
  • Documentary Educational Resources Inc1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
3get no government money at all
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
typical government reliance, FY2025

Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending — grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that your grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first — a floor, not a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12–24 months.

04Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Institute for Responsive Government Inc?

Find your warmest path to Institute for Responsive Government Inc through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read directly from IRS e-file XML — your own 990/990-PF and the multi-year returns of the 245 grantees we resolved across every year we hold, several hundred filings in all (a different count from the grant rows on the cover, which are one fiscal year)— each linked to its source. Grantee achievements and outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III); we read these as association with sustained funding — the foundation is one of several forces — suppress low-confidence name matches rather than guess, and say so where a figure rests on a single grant or filing. Not everything on this page is a filed figure, and the difference matters. Filed is what you reported on your return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears. How we build these →

Generated from your IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12–24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

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