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DEMOS A NETWORK FOR IDEAS AND ACTION LTD
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 134105066 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE W05 · Public & Societal Benefit · Medium ($1M-$10M) · demos.org
revenue
$7.6M
expenses
$8.6M
net assets
$7.5M
employees
45
volunteers
12
program ratio
57%
mission · from form 990

TO GENERATE & DISSEMINATE NEW POLICY IDEAS & STIMULATE WIDER PUBLIC DEBATE OF KEY POLICY ISSUES.

profile · synthesized from sources

Policy and advocacy organization focused on advancing racial equity, democratic participation, and economic justice in the United States. Generates research, policy proposals, and narrative strategies to support grassroots movements and influence public debate. Works nationally on voting rights, money in politics, immigrant justice, and building economic power for Black and Brown communities.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.64M
    DEMOCRACY REFORM:DEMOS IS COMMITTED TO CREATING AN INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY BY PROTECTING OUR FREEDOM TO VOTE AND ENSURING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS REFLECTS OUR DIVERSE ELECTORATE. WE ANALYZE POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND POWER DYNAMICS THAT MAINTAIN RACIAL INEQUALITY AND EXCLUDE AMERICANS FROM FULL PARTICIPATION OUR DEMOCRACY. WE WORK TOWARD FULL POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND AN INCLUSIVE AND EXPANSIVE ELECTORATE IN THE AREAS OF VOTING RIGHTS, MONEY IN POLITICS, AND IMMIGRANT JUSTICE.
  2. #2 $865K
    MOVEMENT BUILDING:DEMOS WORKS TO CONNECT THE IDEAS OF DEMOS WITH STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS. OUR INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY PROJECT WORKS WITH GRASSROOTS PARTNERS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO ENSURE THAT RACIAL EQUITY IS AT THE CENTER OF ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS FOR DEMOCRACY REFORM. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS, WE WORK FOR A RESPONSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS A MORE EQUITABLE ECONOMY AND DEMOCRACY.
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Democracy Program
Works to remove barriers to full democratic and civic participation, focusing on voting rights, political representation, and inclusive electorate expansion, particularly for Black and Brown communities and immigrants.
Economic Justice Program
Advances democratic public control of economic systems and builds economic power for Black and Brown communities through policy analysis and narrative change around economic security, mobility, and government accountability.
Movement Building
Connects Demos’ research and ideas with grassroots organizations to support advocacy campaigns for democracy reform, centering racial equity and working in partnership with movement organizations nationwide.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 2 activities
    • Advocates for progressive policy reforms in democracy and economic justice
      Advances policy ideas such as debt-free college, expanded voting rights, consumer credit protections, public campaign financing, and ending birthright citizenship challenges. Promotes systemic change through public campaigns, narrative change, and legal interventions like amicus briefs.
    • Registers low-income voters through public agencies
      Helped register 3 million low-income voters through partnerships with DMVs and other public agencies to expand civic participation.
  • Website Accessibility Implementation 1 activity
    • Conducts digital accessibility testing for published content
      Implements accessibility testing for all new website content as part of the publishing workflow to ensure equitable access to information.
  • Urban Policy and Equity Research 1 activity
    • Conducts policy research and analysis to advance racial equity in democracy and economic systems
      Produces in-depth research, policy briefs, and narrative development on issues including voting rights, labor market indicators, affordability crises, and structural economic inequity, with a focus on racial justice and inclusive democracy. Research is often co-published with partner organizations.
  • Nonprofit Sector Research & Data Analysis 1 activity
    • Develops and promotes tools to measure political and economic power equity
      Created and disseminates the Power Scorecard tool to assess and advance equitable distribution of political and economic power across communities.
  • Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
    • Supports grassroots organizations in democracy reform and racial equity work
      Provides research, advocacy support, and strategic capacity-building to partner organizations through initiatives like the Inclusive Democracy Project, focusing on centering racial equity in democracy reform campaigns and strengthening movement strategies.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$7.62M
Contributions & grants$7.41M97%
Program service revenue$11K0%
Investment income$172K2%
Other revenue$27K
expenses
Total expenses$8.58M
Program expenses57%
Admin / overhead28%
Fundraising15%
Salaries & benefits$6.21M
Grants paid out$13K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8.72M
Cash$3.20M
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.26M
Net assets$7.46M
Liquid reserves4.5 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +34.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 10
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
TAIFA SMITH BUTLER PRESIDENT 40 $348K
JOSEPH DINORCIA CHIEF FINANCIAL & OPERATIONS OFFICER 40 $291K
VANESSA M FERNANDEZ CHIEF OF STAFF 40 $286K
AKLIMA KHONDOKER CHIEF OF PROGRAMS & STRATEGY 40 $242K
ELIDA RIVERA DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 40 $223K
JONATHAN BRAVER DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 40 $222K
JOSE GONZALEZ CHIEF OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE 40 $218K
PHI NGUYEN DIRECTOR OF DEMOCRACY 40 $193K
CAROL LAUTIER DIRECTOR OF MOVEMENT BUILDING 40 $188K
UDOCHI ONWUBIKO DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE 40 $186K
board members · 12
  • ANDREA CRISTINA MERCARDO — TRUSTEE
  • ANN O'LEARY — TRUSTEE
  • ASHLEY ALLISON — TRUSTEE
  • CLIFF ALBRIGHT — TREASURER
  • JUNE WILSON — TRUSTEE
  • MICHAEL D TUBBS — TRUSTEE
  • NAOMI ABERLY — TRUSTEE
  • RENE SPELLMAN — TRUSTEE
  • RUPA BALASUBRAMANIAN — CHAIR
  • SABRINA STRATTON — TRUSTEE
  • STEPHEN MCCONNELL — SECRETARY
  • XAVIER DE SOUZA BRIGGS — VICE-CHAIR
relationships · 24

Who they work with

  • 1063 West Broad Partner — Alencia Johnson, board member of Demos, is Founder of 1063 West Broad, indicating a leadership role and potential organizational partnership
  • Amalgamated Bank Partner — Sabrina Stratton, Chair of the Board of Demos, is Senior Vice President and Northeast Regional Director at Amalgamated Bank, indicating a professional affiliation and potential institutional partnership
  • Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Partner — Co-published a policy brief on language assistance and voter turnout.
  • Black Voters Matter Fund Partner — Cliff Albright, Treasurer of Demos, is co-founder and Executive Director of Black Voters Matter Fund, indicating a leadership role and potential organizational alignment
  • Black Wealth Data Center Partner — Tené Traylor, board member of Demos, is Executive Director at the Black Wealth Data Center, indicating a leadership role and organizational connection
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics Government — Uses data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to analyze labor force participation trends.
  • Common Cause Coalition — Member of a coalition that submitted an amicus brief with Demos in Trump v. Barbara.
  • Compton Foundation Partner — June Wilson, board member of Demos, is Executive Director of the Compton Foundation, indicating a leadership role and institutional relationship
  • HIT Strategies Partner — Terrance Woodbury, board member of Demos, is President and Founding Partner of HIT Strategies, indicating a leadership role and organizational affiliation
  • Inclusive Democracy Project Partner — Collaborates with grassroots partners nationwide to center racial equity in democracy reform advocacy campaigns.
  • Nonprofit Quarterly Partner — Co-produced and published a six-week article series on racial justice and democracy.
  • Obsidianworks Partner — René Spellman, Secretary of Demos, was Chief Impact Officer and founding partner at Obsidianworks, indicating a leadership role and potential strategic connection
  • People's Action Partner — Co-published a report on solving the affordability crisis.
  • People's Action Partner — Collaborated with Dēmos on a policy brief about the affordability crisis and structural solutions.
  • Power Agenda Coalition — Initiative launched by Demos to establish universal goals for economic and political equity.
  • Southern Coalition for Social Justice Partner — Co-authored a research report on missing voters in Alabama.
  • Spitfire Partner — Jen Carnig, board member of Demos, is President of Spitfire, indicating a leadership role and potential institutional relationship
  • Stand Up Mobile Partner — Co-authored a research report on missing voters in Alabama.
  • The Campaign Legal Center Coalition — Member of a coalition that submitted an amicus brief with Demos in Trump v. Barbara.
  • The Equity Fund Partner — Andrea Cristina Mercado, board member of Demos, is President and CEO of The Equity Fund, indicating a leadership role and institutional affiliation
  • The Fulcrum Partner — Co-published an article on private prisons, ICE, and democratic accountability.
  • Washington, D.C. Government — Worked to implement pro-democracy reforms in Washington, D.C.
  • Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology Partner — Uses the Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology in its accessibility review process.
  • grassroots and state-based organizations Partner — Collaborates with grassroots and state-based organizations to build power and advance policy solutions.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Narrative Change to Reframe Democracy and Equity
    methodology: narrative_change
    By challenging dominant narratives that normalize racial and economic inequity, the organization shifts public understanding of democracy and the economy because changing cultural stories enables broader acceptance of structural reforms.
  • Power-Building Through Interdependent Economic and Political Reform
    methodology: power-agenda
    By linking economic security, mobility, and political participation in a unified Power Agenda, the organization shifts power to marginalized communities because these goals are mutually reinforcing and amplify collective agency when advanced together.
  • Research-to-Action for Systemic Change
    methodology: research-to-action
    By developing progressive policy ideas and backing them with research, then aligning those with grassroots organizing efforts, the organization advances systemic change because evidence-informed advocacy strengthens movement impact and policy adoption.
  • Structural Barrier Removal Through Equitable Policy
    methodology: structural_barrier_removal_through_policy
    By advocating for policy reforms and public investments—such as in care infrastructure—the organization expands labor force access and economic mobility because removing systemic barriers enables marginalized populations to fully participate in the economy and democracy.
  • Third Reconstruction Framework for Racial Justice and Democracy
    methodology: Third Reconstruction framework
    By advocating for a Third Reconstruction—the organization frames current democratic reform as the completion of unfinished racial justice work because this historical narrative grounds present-day policy demands in moral and structural continuity.