2019-10-23T14:59:33-05:00 2019-06-30 521855942 TATE AND TRYON 2021 L STREET NW SUITE 400 WASHINGTON DC 20036 990 2018-07-01 526078441 COMMON CAUSE COMM 2028331200 805 15TH STREET NW NO 800 WASHINGTON DC 20005 KAREN HOBERT FLYNN PRESIDENT 2028331200 2019-10-23 1 ELIZABETH HELLER P00397829 2022932200 216.59.105.130 2019-10-23 14:59:29 ED P DA39A3EE5E6B4B0D3255BFEF95601890AFD80709 8B6C6DF7A8E3B84B5AE7D1943EC3750B5C691B8F 2018 2019-02-21 02:37:17Z KAREN HOBERT FLYNN 805 15TH STREET NW NO 800 WASHINGTON DC 20005 8765495 0 X WWW.COMMONCAUSE.ORG X 1968 DC COMMON CAUSE IS A NONPARTISAN, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO UPHOLDING THE CORE VALUES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. WE WORK TO ENSURE OPEN, HONEST, AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT; TO PROMOTE EQUAL RIGHTS, OPPORTUNITY, AND REPRESENTATION FOR ALL; AND TO EMPOWER ALL PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AS EQUALS IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. COMMON CAUSE WORKS ACROSS FOUR MAJOR ISSUE AREAS: VOTING AND ELECTIONS; MONEY AND POLITICS; ETHICS, TRANSPARENCY AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY; AND MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY. 23 22 0 1043 0 0 7816043 8630034 1500 0 21566 59496 113200 -36961 7952309 8652569 0 0 0 0 2496293 2590315 263311 11057 2474175 4862110 5011542 7621714 7612914 330595 1039655 3746506 4343140 2066721 1663191 1679785 2679949 X WITH OFFICES IN WASHINGTON, DC AND 35 STATES AND 1.1 MILLION SUPPORTERS AND ACTIVISTS, COMMON CAUSE WORKS TO ADVANCE DEMOCRACY REFORMS AT FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS, THROUGH CRAFTING MODEL LEGISLATION, LOBBYING, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND JOINT EFFORTS WITH DIVERSE PARTNERS ACROSS THE REFORM COMMUNITY. 0 0 1465698 VOTING AND ELECTIONSCOMMON CAUSE MARYLAND HELPED PASS A STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH ELECTION DAY VOTER REGISTRATION.COMMON CAUSE MASSACHUSETTS LED A COALITION TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION IN THE BAY STATE.COMMON CAUSE NEW YORK HELPED LED THE LET NY VOTE COALITION TO SUCCESSFULLY PUSH FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS A PACKAGE OF VOTING RIGHTS REFORMS, INCLUDING ESTABLISHING EARLY VOTING OPPORTUNITIES, CONSOLIDATING NEW YORK'S FEDERAL AND STATE PRIMARY DATES, PRE-REGISTRATION FOR 16- AND 17-YEAR-OLDS, PORTABLE VOTER REGISTRATION, AND PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ESTABLISHING SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION AND NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING. COMMON CAUSE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING PASS THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE (NPV) INTERSTATE COMPACT IN COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, DELAWARE, AND OREGON. 1092140 CAMPAIGN FINANCE & ETHICSCOMMON CAUSE NEW MEXICO HELPED PASS A BALLOT INITIATIVE TO CREATE A STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION AND WORKED IN THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS A MONEY IN POLITICS DISCLOSURE BILL. COMMON CAUSE MARYLAND HELPED PASS A BALLOT INITIATIVE IN BALTIMORE TO ESTABLISH A FAIR ELECTIONS FUND IN ORDER TO CREATE A CITYWIDE PUBLIC ELECTION FINANCING PROGRAM. COMMON CAUSE OREGON WORKED TO PASS A CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM BILL THAT WILL SEND AN INITIATIVE TO THE 2020 BALLOT TO APPROVE STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO ENACT LAWS ON MONEY IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. 793223 REDISTRICTING AND REPRESENTATIONCOLORADO COMMON CAUSE HELPED PASS TWO STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVES TO CREATE INDEPENDENT CITIZENS REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS FOR CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING. WE LED SUCCESSFUL BALLOT INITIATIVES TO PASS INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS IN SEVERAL CALIFORNIA LOCALITIES COMMON CAUSE PRESIDENT KAREN HOBERT FLYNN TESTIFIED BEFORE THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT & REFORM COMMITTEE ON H.R. 1, THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT, WHICH WENT VIRAL AND WAS PART OF THE MOST WATCHED ONLINE VIDEO EVER OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WE HELPED LEAD THE GRASSROOTS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND LOBBYING EFFORT TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS H.R. 1 IN THE HOUSE WITH UNANIMOUS DEMOCRATIC SUPPORTOUR DEMOCRACY 2018 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE--MORE THAN 350 CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES COMPLETED OUR QUESTIONNAIRE TO SHOW WHERE THEY STAND ON 18 KEY DEMOCRACY REFORM ISSUES 2018 DEMOCRACY SCORECARD: THIS SCORECARD GRADES ALL 535 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON THEIR SUPPORT FOR KEY DEMOCRACY REFORMS. VIEWERS CAN ENTER THEIR ADDRESS AND FIND THEIR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND HOW THEY VOTED, OR LOOK AT SPECIFIC DISTRICTS OR STATES. THE SCORECARD DIRECTLY ADDED MORE THAN 250 COSPONSORS TO THE BILLS WE INCLUDED. 221 MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY 221 3351282 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 94 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 X 23 22 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 AL AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI IL IN KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC TN TX UT VT VA WA DC WV WI AK ID IA NV SD X X ELIZABETH MARCHANT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 2028331200 805 15TH STREET NW SUITE 800 WASHINGTON DC 20005 MARTHA TIERNEY CHAIR 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 NANCY RATZAN VICE CHAIR 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 OLENA BERG LACY SECRETARY/TREASURER 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 ALAN WIERSBA BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 ARCHON FUNG BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 BILAL DABIR SEKOU BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 CHANG K PARK BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 DAN CONLEY BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 DAVID BEAUMONT SMITH BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 EMMET BONDURANT BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 GREGORY DISKANT BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 JESSIE ULIBARRI BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARILYN MELKONIAN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 NICOLE M AUSTIN-HILLERY BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 OLGA KAUFFMAN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 REBECCA COKLEY BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 RIC BAINTER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 SHAREEN PUNIAN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 SUSAN RUBINSTEIN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 TRACY WESTEN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 WES TOMER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 WILLIAM N HUBBARD III BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 KAREN HOBERT FLYNN PRESIDENT/CEO 20.63 16.87 X X 182211 149082 36309 ELIZABETH MARCHANT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 20.63 16.87 X 105440 86269 24809 PAUL RYAN VP, LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS 18.75 18.75 X 87076 87076 27138 STEVE SPAULDING CHIEF OF EXTERNAL STRATEGIES 16.88 20.63 X 73247 89524 16947 SCOTT SWENSON VP, COMMUNICATIONS 18.75 18.75 X 74412 74412 5872 REY LOPEZ-CALDERON EXEC. DIRECTOR, CALIFORNIA 18.75 18.75 X 67087 67087 13972 JENNY FLANAGAN VP, STATE OPERATIONS 16.87 20.63 X 52926 64722 42028 642399 618172 167075 0 0 1 0 RWT PRODUCTION 8932 ORANGE HUNT LANE ANNANDALE VA 22003 DIRECT MAIL PRODUCTION 979118 ROI SOLUTIONS 1 ALEWIFE CENTER 220 CAMBRIDGE MA 02140 DATABASE 258744 WIDE EYE CREATIVE 641 S ST NW 4TH FLOOR WASHINGTON DC 20001 WEBSITE SERVICES 134373 3 75150 8554884 31017 8630034 12932 12932 150 150 44825 50834 -6009 -6009 -6009 77581 31017 46564 46564 46564 0 75150 31075 -31075 -31075 LIST RENTAL 900099 -27 -27 -27 8652569 0 0 22535 589475 325841 114551 149083 1556956 1175278 174021 207657 70358 54485 1737 14136 231595 179346 5717 46532 141931 109912 3503 28516 224513 224513 89736 79500 10236 21307 21307 11057 11057 175334 121908 2058 51368 1857194 83494 13560 1760140 348544 69219 184824 94501 698947 168406 419700 110841 764941 116960 647831 150 48969 48765 10 194 82283 81218 1065 505793 505793 100097 100097 62613 62613 TAXES, LICENSES, FEES 15912 957 14955 FINANCIAL SERVICES & BA 11155 1189 9966 REGISTRATION FEES 4498 4498 MISCELLANEOUS -294 -294 7612914 3351282 1787457 2474175 1163 1163 1157796 734810 238203 782668 244835 310283 1678032 649956 1214138 1028076 395198 1159649 495173 326491 3746506 4343140 686582 369020 1380139 1294171 2066721 1663191 X 1016894 1440543 662891 1239406 1679785 2679949 3746506 4343140 1039655 -39490 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 1 0 0 2195315 250000 209088 223974 2430429 1948669 200000 248959 202313 2195315 1438444 300000 265684 55459 1948669 1294331 200000 9124 65011 1438444 1159794 250000 64690 180153 1294331 0.00000 0.00000 1.00000 0 0 1179613 374067 805546 498419 275889 222530 1028076 DUE FROM RELATED 326491 326491 DEFERRED RENT 1294171 1294171 12465274 -39490 3773936 81909 3816355 8648919 3649 3649 8652568 11465110 3773936 81909 3855845 7609265 3649 3649 7612914 PART V, LINE 4: THE ORGANIZATION'S ENDOWMENT FUNDS CURRENTLY INCLUDE 1) AN UNRESTRICTED FUND DESIGNATED BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNING BOARD TO FUNCTION AS A QUASI-ENDOWED FUND, AND 2) A TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED FUND ESTABLISHED BY A DONOR FOR THE GEORGE S. MCGOVERN GREAT GOVERNMENT ENDOWMENT (MGGE). UNDER THE TERMS OF THE MGGE GIFT AGREEMENT, THE ORGANIZATION MAY SPEND BOTH THE PRINCIPAL AND THE INVESTMENT EARNINGS ON THE FUND TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE GREAT GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. PART XI, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: SPECIAL EVENTS EXPENSE TO PART VIII 31,075. RENTAL EXPENSE TO PART VIII 50,834. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: SPECIAL EVENTS EXPENSE TO PART VIII 31,075. RENTAL EXPENSE TO PART VIII 50,834. LUNCHEON 26821 26821 1000 3450 MEET & GREET 13365 13365 594 487 369 11 34964 34964 3728 9230 12217 75150 75150 4322 487 10230 16036 31075 -31075 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 KAREN HOBERT FLYNN PRESIDENT/CEO 182211 149082 0 0 0 0 9075 7425 14517 11878 205803 168385 0 0 ELIZABETH MARCHANT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 105440 86269 0 0 0 0 6699 5481 12540 10260 124679 102010 0 0 PAUL RYAN VP, LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS 87076 87076 0 0 0 0 5400 5400 10782 10782 103258 103258 0 0 STEVE SPAULDING CHIEF OF EXTERNAL STRATEGIES 73247 89524 0 0 0 0 4455 5445 3614 4417 81316 99386 0 0 SCOTT SWENSON VP, COMMUNICATIONS 74412 74412 0 0 0 0 0 0 3713 3713 78125 78125 0 0 JENNY FLANAGAN VP, STATE OPERATIONS 52926 64722 0 0 0 0 3562 4355 15516 18974 72004 88051 0 0 PART I, LINE 3 COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND USES THE FOLLOWING TO ESTABLISH COMPENSATION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PRESIDENT/CEO: COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, WRITTEN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, COMPENSATION STUDY OR SURVEY, AND APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OR COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. X 6 31017 FMV 0 0 0 PART I, COLUMN (B): THERE WERE 6 SEPARATE CONTRIBUTIONS OF STOCK DURING FY2019, SOME OF WHICH WERE CONTRIBUTED BY THE SAME CONTRIBUTORS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 1 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE AND EXERCISE THE AUTHORITY OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNING BOARD IN THE MANAGEMENT OF COMMON CAUSE BETWEEN MEETINGS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNING BOARD, EXCEPT THAT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ELECT OFFICERS, TO FILL VACANT BOARD OR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE POSITIONS, TO CAUSE THE TERMINATION OF A SITTING BOARD MEMBER, TO CAUSE THE TERMINATION OF THE PRESIDENT, TO AMEND THE CORPORATION'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS, TO ADOPT AN AGREEMENT OF MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION, TO DISPOSE OF ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF COMMON CAUSE'S ASSETS OR TO DISSOLVE THE CORPORATION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 COMMON CAUSE HAS ONLY ONE CLASS OF MEMBERSHIP, CONSISTING OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO CHOOSE TO JOIN COMMON CAUSE AND MAKE A MONETARY CONTRIBUTION. SUCH MEMBERS HAVE NO VOTING RIGHTS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PROVIDES THE FORM 990 TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW. ONCE THAT COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED THE DOCUMENT, IT IS SENT TO THE FULL BOARD FOR REVIEW. THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TWO (2) DAYS TO RESPOND WITH ANY COMMENTS THEY MIGHT HAVE BEFORE THE DOCUMENT IS FILED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C PROCEDURE FOR MONITORING AND ENFORCING COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY: BOARD -- WHENEVER A DIRECTOR, OFFICER, OR COMMITTEE MEMBER BECOMES AWARE OF A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST, WHETHER FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE, HE OR SHE SHALL MAKE THE SITUATION KNOWN TO THE BOARD OR GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE (AS THE CASE MIGHT BE) AND PROVIDE ALL FACTS MATERIAL TO UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE CONFLICT, INCLUDING WHETHER THE INTERESTED PERSON BELIEVES HIS OR HER ABILITY TO MAKE AN INDEPENDENT DECISION BASED SOLELY ON THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CORPORATION HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. IF THE INTERESTED PERSON INVOLVED DOES NOT MAKE THIS DISCLOSURE, ANOTHER DIRECTOR OR COMMITTEE MEMBER WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT SHOULD DRAW IT TO THE BODY'S ATTENTION. THE INTERESTED PERSON WITH THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT MUST RETIRE FROM THE MEETING AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN FINAL DISCUSSION AND VOTING ON THE EXISTENCE OF THE CONFLICT. IF A CONFLICT IS FOUND TO EXIST, THE INTERESTED PERSON MAY BE INVITED TO PROVIDE ANY RELEVANT INFORMATION THAT COULD BE OF USE TO THE BOARD IN MAKING ITS DECISION, BUT SHALL AGAIN RETIRE AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE FINAL DISCUSSION AND VOTING REGARDING THE TRANSACTION. THE BOARD OR COMMITTEE'S DECISION SHALL BE BASED ON CONSIDERATION OF WHETHER THE TRANSACTION: A) IS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S BEST INTEREST AND FOR ITS OWN BENEFIT; B) IS FAIR AND REASONABLE TO THE ORGANIZATION; AND C) IS THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT THE ORGANIZATION CAN OBTAIN WITH REASONABLE EFFORT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. STAFF -- WHENEVER A STAFF MEMBER BECOMES AWARE OF A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN AN AREA WHERE HE OR SHE EXERCISES ANY DISCRETION IN CARRYING OUT HIS OR HER DUTIES FOR COMMON CAUSE, HE OR SHE SHALL PROMPTLY DISCLOSE THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT TO AN IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR OR TO THE PRESIDENT. IF THE PRESIDENT HAS A POTENTIAL CONFLICT, HE OR SHE SHALL DISCLOSE IT TO THE BOARD OR AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THE PERSON OR BODY TO WHOM DISCLOSURE IS MADE (HEREINAFTER "SUPERVISOR") SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS A CONFLICT THAT REQUIRES RECUSAL OF THE INTERESTED PERSON. WHEN A CONFLICT IS FOUND TO EXIST, THE INTERESTED PERSON SHALL PROVIDE THE SUPERVISOR WITH ALL INFORMATION HE OR SHE HAS RELEVANT TO ANY DECISION TO BE MADE IN WHICH HE OR SHE HAS AN INTEREST, AND THE FINAL DECISION SHALL BE MADE BY THE SUPERVISOR. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A PERSONS PROVIDING SERVICES TO COMMON CAUSE ARE EMPLOYED BY COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND ("CCEF"), A SISTER ORGANIZATION. THE NARRATIVE BELOW DESCRIBES CCEF'S COMPENSATION REVIEW PROCESS. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNING BOARD CONDUCTS A 360 DEGREE REVIEW OF THE CEO PRIOR TO DETERMINING THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION. THE COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS THE SENIOR STAFF, REVIEWS A COMPARABILITY STUDY, AND THEN CONFERS AS A COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE BRINGS ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL BOARD AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING OF THE YEAR. MINUTES ARE TAKEN OF THE SALARY DELIBERATIONS. OTHER OFFICERS OR KEY EMPLOYEES: THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONDUCTS A REVIEW OF THE CFO, REVIEWS A COMPARABILITY STUDY, AND THEN CONFERS AS A COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE BRINGS ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL BOARD AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING OF THE YEAR. MINUTES ARE TAKEN OF THE SALARY DELIBERATIONS. THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT REVIEW COMPENSATION OF KEY EMPLOYEES; THAT IS PERFORMED BY MANAGEMENT. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 COMMON CAUSE SEEKS TO BE FAITHFUL TO ITS MISSION BY BEING OPEN AND ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS. WE WILL MAKE OUR GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION UPON REQUEST. OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE ALSO PART OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT WHICH IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS DURING THE YEAR. COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND 805 15TH STREET SUITE 800 WASHINGTON DC 20005 311705370 CHARITABLE ARM OF COMMON CAUSE DC 501(C)(3) LINE 7 COMMON CAUSE 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND N 1005832 ACTUAL COST COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND O 2146430 ACTUAL COST COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND P 2101138 ACTUAL COST