Center For Political Accountability
Center For Political Accountability faces significant liabilities after 2023 deficit.
EIN: 200385691 · Washington, DC · NTEE: W01 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Center For Political Accountability Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Center For Political Accountability directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Center For Political Accountability
Center For Political Accountability (EIN: 200385691) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, classified under NTEE code W01. The organization reported total revenue of $1.1M and total assets of $202K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Center For Political Accountability's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Center For Political Accountability is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 1.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $863K |
| Total Expenses | $1.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-367,765 |
| Total Assets | $380K |
| Total Liabilities | $894K |
| Net Assets | $-514,074 |
| Operating Margin | -42.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 235.2% |
| Months of Reserves | 3.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Center For Political Accountability reported a deficit of $368K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 3.7 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 235.2% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 12 years of filings (2011–2023), Center For Political Accountability's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -23.8% | +8.4% | -28.1% |
| 2022 | +5.5% | +15.9% | +151.4% |
| 2021 | +13.9% | +4.7% | +383.9% |
| 2020 | +20.8% | +20.3% | -4.9% |
| 2019 | -17.0% | -7.2% | -9.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Center For Political Accountability with a Mission Score of 65 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Center For Political Accountability allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $368K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 235.2%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation from the organization, which is highly unusual for an organization with over $1 million in annual revenue and suggests a strong commitment to directing funds elsewhere or that key leadership roles are filled by volunteers or compensated through other means not reflected as officer compensation.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Center For Political Accountability's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant deficit in 2023 ($367,765) where expenses ($1,230,875) exceeded revenue ($863,110).
- High liabilities in 2023 ($894,180) significantly outweighing assets ($380,106), indicating potential solvency concerns.
- Inconsistent asset levels over time, suggesting fluctuating financial reserves and stability.
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary data makes it difficult to fully assess spending efficiency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Center For Political Accountability:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating a commitment to minimizing executive overhead.
- Generally stable revenue generation around $1 million annually over the past several years (e.g., $1.13M in 2022, $1.07M in 2021).
- Long filing history (12 filings) suggests established operations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Center For Political Accountability
Is Center For Political Accountability a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Center For Political Accountability (EIN: 200385691) some concerns. Mission Score: 65/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Center For Political Accountability spend its money?
Center For Political Accountability directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Center For Political Accountability tax-deductible?
Center For Political Accountability is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 200385691). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What caused the significant increase in liabilities to $894,180 in 2023?
The provided data shows a sharp rise in liabilities in 2023, coinciding with expenses exceeding revenue by over $367,000. Further investigation into the organization's detailed financial statements would be necessary to identify the specific nature of these liabilities (e.g., loans, deferred revenue, accounts payable) and the strategic decisions that led to this financial position.
How does the organization sustain operations without paying officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that key leadership roles may be filled by volunteers, or compensation is structured in a way that is not categorized as 'officer compensation' on the 990 form (e.g., through a related entity, or as contractor payments). This practice, while potentially efficient, warrants clarification for full transparency.
What is the organization's plan to address the 2023 deficit and high liabilities?
With expenses significantly outpacing revenue in 2023 and liabilities nearly tripling from the previous year, understanding the organization's strategy for financial recovery and long-term sustainability is crucial. This would involve reviewing their budget, fundraising plans, and expense management strategies.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Center For Political Accountability showing financial trends over 12 years of public records:
Over 12 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Center For Political Accountability's revenue has grown by 14.6%, moving from $753K to $863K. Total assets increased by 87.5% over the same period, from $203K to $380K. Total functional expenses rose by 74.6%, from $705K to $1.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Center For Political Accountability reported a deficit of $368K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $894K in liabilities against $380K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 235.2%), resulting in net assets of $-514,074.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $863K | $1.2M | $380K | $894K | — | — |
| 2022 | $1.1M | $1.1M | $529K | $675K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.1M | $980K | $210K | $22K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $942K | $935K | $43K | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $779K | $777K | $46K | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $940K | $838K | $50K | $20K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.3M | $741K | $18K | $97K | — | — |
| 2016 | $630K | $656K | $90K | $679K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $788K | $662K | $23K | $585K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $383K | $472K | $14K | $702K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $555K | $618K | $280K | $476K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $753K | $705K | $203K | $298K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $863K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $380K (revenue -23.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $529K (revenue +5.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $980K, and assets of $210K (revenue +13.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $942K, expenses of $935K, and assets of $43K (revenue +20.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $779K, expenses of $777K, and assets of $46K (revenue -17.0% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $940K, expenses of $838K, and assets of $50K (revenue -24.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $741K, and assets of $18K (revenue +98.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $630K, expenses of $656K, and assets of $90K (revenue -20.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $788K, expenses of $662K, and assets of $23K (revenue +105.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $383K, expenses of $472K, and assets of $14K (revenue -31.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $555K, expenses of $618K, and assets of $280K (revenue -26.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $753K, expenses of $705K, and assets of $203K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Center For Political Accountability:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Center For Political Accountability is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.