2019-10-15T11:54:33-05:00 2018-12-31 582676261 Rogers & Company PLLC 8300 Boone Boulevard Suite 600 Vienna VA 22182 990 2018-01-01 770099744 Advocates for Self-Government Inc ADVO 9162734443 500 Capitol Mall No 2050 Sacramento CA 958144754 Chris Rufer Chairman 9162734443 2019-10-14 1 Lori A Collingsworth P00639819 7038930300 2019-10-14 174.70.27.74 2019-10-15 12:42:04 ED P E59C419D3DEC05809FE27F249B789CFBBAB4F7E1 5757F712A8161F6F3964D64EA127352BD3BB441C 2018 2019-02-21 02:37:17Z Michael Sertic 500 Capitol Mall No 2050 Sacramento CA 958144754 248342 0 X https://www.theadvocates.org/ X 1985 CA To bring about a free society by empowering those who love liberty- See Part II and Sch O 3 3 0 3 0 0 256251 237426 9498 10916 0 0 0 0 265749 248342 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6928 126341 267292 126341 267292 139408 -18950 186882 167932 0 0 186882 167932 To educate the general public about the political map and libertarian philosophy; to teach communications skills to libertarians, free market advocates and civil libertarians. 0 0 201320 10916 Digital outreach: Attracted more than 456,000 new visitors to our online websites theadvocates.org and libertarianism.com. Our world's smallest political quiz was taken more than 400,000 times across all online platforms, educating students, teachers, journalists and the general public about five distinct positions: conservatism, liberalism, centrism, statism and libertarianism. Across social media platforms, reached an audience of over 5 million individuals with our digital content. 24255 Other Educational Programs: Distributed more than 50 Operation Politically Homeless (OPH) kits to various nonpartisan individuals and student activist groups for use in educating the public aboutlibertarian ideas and important civic issues. Each kit reaches an average of several hundreds of individuals. Distributed more than 25 quiz chart posters and other supplementary educational material to teachers through our quiz in the classroom outreach program. 16979 Other Content and Programming: Issued 50 weekly publication of the Liberator Online to more than 18,300 email subscribers; completed World's Smallest Political Quiz, theadvocates.org website redesign, and Quiz Engagement Program Version 1.0. 242554 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 CA X Michael Sertic 9162734443 500 Capitol Mall No 2050 Sacramento CA 958144754 X Chris Rufer Chairman 2.00 X X 0 0 0 John Guido Treasurer 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Karrie Rufer Secretary 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Michael Sertic President 40.00 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 237426 237426 Publication Sales 900099 10916 10916 10916 248342 10916 0 0 X 185214 175705 9509 68290 63421 4773 96 6856 3428 3428 5153 5153 1679 1679 Taxes and licenses 100 100 267292 242554 17810 6928 186882 167932 186882 167932 0 0 X 186882 167932 186882 167932 186882 167932 -18950 0 X 0 0 0 X 268610 452966 219538 256251 237426 1434791 268610 452966 219538 256251 237426 1434791 1221304 213487 1434791 45301 0.14880 0.16660 X Advocates for Self Government, Inc. was incorporated in 1985 with the purpose of educating the general public about the political map and libertarian philosophy. The Advocates activities are a special field which can be expected to appeal to a broad cross-section of persons interested in libertarianism.The Advocates is organized and operated to attract new and additional public support on a continuous basis. While the majority of resources are utilized for educational programmatic activities, the Advocates maintains a continuous and bona fide program for solicitation of funds from the general public, community, and membership groups involved. The fundraising program includes online and email solicitations. The ongoing fundraising efforts are expected to raise the public support percentage in future years. The Organization normally receives support from contributions made directly by the general public in excess of the minimum 10% threshold. The percentage of support received from the general public for the five year period ending on December 31, 2018 was 14.88 %. While certain large individual grants may continue in the near term, this support is crucial to the support of the program service activities that accomplish the Advocate's overall exempt purpose. The Advocates will continue to solicit qualifying public support to assist in carrying out the program activities.As illustrated in in the program activities in Part III of the Form 990, our program service activities directly benefit the general public on a continuing basis. Our programs educate the general public about the political map and libertarian philosophy and teach communications skills to libertarians, free market advocates and civil libertarians.Since 1985, the Advocates for Self-Government has worked to bring about a free society by empowering those who love liberty to become highly successful at taking the ideas of individual freedom and responsibility, free markets and peace to the world.The Advocates for Self-Government's focus is unique. Libertarians in many different organizations use our products, programs and services to make their own outreach and educational efforts more effective.The Advocates programs advance the entire Liberty Movement by:Exposing millions to libertarianism by replacing the old "Left-Right" political map with a more inclusive and accurate model such as the one used by our World's Smallest Political Quiz.Creating new libertarians by presenting the freedom philosophy in an honest and persuasive way.Equipping libertarian activists with the tools and skills they need to successfully impact their communities through tools and training.The Advocates combines years of activism experience with the newest advances in technology, psychology, and communications to expose millions to the ideas of liberty and equip the Liberty Movement with the tools to change the world.Finally, the governing body represents the broad interest of the public, with no one individual or group of individuals having undue control or influence over the organization's funding or affairs. Each board member brings important skill sets, specialized knowledge, qualifications and expertise that help the organization plan and achieve its strategic objectives. Advocates for Self Government, Inc. qualifies as a publicly supported organization under the facts and circumstances test set forth in Treas. Reg. 1.170A-9(f)(3). The public support exceeded the 10 percent threshold for public charities. Furthermore, the ongoing fundraising efforts, sources of support, governing body and educational programs it conducts all demonstrate sufficient public support to meet the facts and circumstances test. Based upon all of the above, the "facts and circumstances" substantiate that Advocates for Self Government, Inc. continues to operate as a public charity. Form 990, Part I, Line 1, Description of Organization Mission: Our Mission: To attract and persuade people to embrace libertarian principles and to empower libertarians to be highly successful at presenting the ideas of liberty to the world. We accomplish our mission by: Changing the dominant "Left-Right" political model -- which excludes libertarians -- to a more accurate and inclusive map like the one used by the World's Smallest Political Quiz, thus literally putting libertarians on the map. Identifying large numbers of new libertarian-leaning people through our online World's Smallest Political Quiz, our Operation Politically Homeless (OPH) kits, and quiz engagement initiatives, and introducing them to the ideas of liberty and effective ways to communicate those ideas to others. Training libertarian activists in proven, persuasive communications techniques that let them engage their fellow citizens and move the political debate toward freedom, opportunity and respect for others. Offering products to help libertarians rapidly grow their organizations by identifying and activating large numbers of potential libertarian activists. Educating new and prospective libertarians on the philosophy of freedom. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 2 Karrie Rufer is the daughter of Chris Rufer. Michael Sertic is an employee of Chris Rufer. John Guido is a consultant to Chris Rufer. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 8b The Organization has no committees with the authority to act on behalf of the board. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b Form 990 and all applicable schedules and statements, hereafter referred to collectively as "Form 990", were provided to the Board. The Board reviewed form 990 for accuracy and completeness. Any questions that arose from the Board's reviews were addressed and/or resolved, as applicable, prior to filing Form 990. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c The Board Chair understands the policy and watches for activities relative to compliance. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 Financials are available upon written request to Advocates for Self-Government, Inc. Form 990 Part VII, Compensation of Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, Highest Compensated Employees, and Independent Contractors: Leased Employee: The Advocates does not have any employees. Michael Sertic, President, is an employee of and was compensated by The Morning Star Institute (TMSI), owned by Board Chair Chris Rufer. The Advocates reimburses TMSI for payroll costs based upon time allocations and payroll costs each pay period. The total amount reimbursed during 2018 was $95,098. The payments in 2018 did not exceed the reporting threshold for Form 990, Schedule L. Form 990, Part IX, line 11g Other Professional Fees: Program service expenses 90,116. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 90,116. Leased employee costs: Program service expenses 85,589. Management and general expenses 9,509. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 95,098. The Foundation for Harmony & Prosperity 724 Main Street Woodland CA 95695 943326027 Advocacy of Human Respect CA 501(c)(3) PF 0 The Morning Star Foundation 724 Main Street Woodland CA 95695 800873706 Education CA 501(c)(3) PF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0