ANNUALREPORT

FY 2017

B U I L D I N G A V I S I O N A R Y O P P O S I T I O N

Bui ld ing A New Democracy

CONTENTS

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

DONORS

BOARD AND SENIOR STAFF

STATEMENT OF FINANCIALS

01

07

17

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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGEFought for democracy reform arm-in-arm with our grassroots partners. Through our Inclusive Democracy Project (IDP), Demos provided support and capacity-building help to 25 state-based grassroots partners working to champion racial justice and democracy reform. Among our partners’ victories this year: the successful Amendment 4 in Florida, which restored voting rights to 1.4 million people with felony convictions; and public financing for elections in Washington, DC.

Threw fresh light on the mechanics of racism with our innovative “social exclusion” series. Social exclusion is the interaction of social deprivation, economic disadvantage, and democratic disqualification, which occurs both on the structural and personal level. In a series of papers and blog posts, Demos examined how social exclusion drives racism, explains why black people have everything to lose under Trump, creates persistently high black unemployment, racial disparities in pay and benefits, and a broken labor market for everyone, including white workers. The series explored how labor unions can counter social exclusion in the workplace, and will soon look at how social exclusion affects the role of the Supreme Court and the status of higher education, among other topics.

As we face the coming year, with its promise of progressive change and its threat of regressive challenge, Demos’ expertise will be needed more than ever. Your continued support will allow us to expand the reach of our partnerships, create new legal strategies to combat voter suppression, and push forward bold policy ideas to fuel the democratic change that is needed. Thank you for the work you do to build an inclusive, progressive future, and for your invaluable partnership with Demos.

In solidarity,

Sabeel RahmanPresident

DEAR FRIENDS,

Across the country, demand is growing for the bold policy ideas, effective litigation and deep movement-building strategies that Demos offers. The recent elections proved it—not only in the diversity of the candidates elected, but in the fact that deeply conservative states endorsed progressive ideas such as raising the minimum wage, expanding Medicaid, and restoring the right to vote formerly incarcerated people. Even as conservative leaders embraced voter suppression tactics, six states approved measures to expand the electorate and protect the democratic process. I’m proud to say that Demos had a hand in many of these victories.

Your support has been essential to the success of our work this year, and we at Demos are tremendously grateful. Let me share with you some of Demos’ most exciting accomplishments in 2018.

Defended the right to vote against right-wing attacks. In addition to our ongoing legal work to expand access to the ballot, as Election Day approached our legal team led emergency litigation in 6 states (Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee). In every case, we succeeded in achieving relief and greater access to the vote. Our efforts this year prevented hundreds of thousands of eligible voters—many of them people of color—from being disenfranchised.

Equipped policymakers and changemakers with achievable, progressive policy ideas.We produced two policy briefing books—the federal-level Everyone’s America, and the state-level Everyone’s Economy—designed to equip grassroots organizations, policymakers and others with the policy tools they need to build an equitable democracy and economy for all of us. Demos trained dozens of policymakers and partner organizations on how to use these policies to guide their work. Progressives are often asked, “How are you going to pay for your policies?” To respond, we wrote laid out the case demonstrating that public investments produce more returns to taxpayers than they cost.

Introduced federal debt-free college legislation. After many years of building the case for debt-free college, Demos was proud to introduce signature legislation, The Debt-Free College Act.  As part of our continuing efforts to provide cutting-edge analysis and advocacy for solutions to the affordability crisis, we produced A Blueprint for College without Debt, which examines how states should think about designing debt-free college with a focus on racial and class equity, and provides guidance on policy and messaging. 

Equipped advocates with compelling new ways to talk about race and class. Demos’ Race-Class Narrative equips grassroots organizers and elected officials to change the way we talk about race in this country and challenge the racially divisive, dog-whistle tactics used to separate us from one another. We have presented our findings at over 50 events to over 2,000 people, providing them with powerful research, tools and messaging to call for an America that works for all.

7Building A New Democracy: Dēmos FY 2018 Annual Report

DONORS

AACLUAdewale Adeyemo ConsultingDavid R. AlexanderAmalgamated FoundationAmerican Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)Annie E. Casey FoundationAnonymous (7)Anonymous Foundation (3)Brian Arbogast & Valerie TaricoDiane Archer and Stephen PresserLucy & Peter Ascoli

BRupa BalasubramanianMedea BenjaminJules Bernstein & Linda LipsettNancy BernsteinBright Horizon FundBrooklyn Community Foundation Taifa Smith Butler

CVera R. CampbellThe California EndowmentCarnegie Corporation of New YorkDana Chasin, 20/20 VisionJun Choi

Dēmos would like to thank the following $1,000+ supporters from our 2018 fiscal year for helping us fight for an equal say and an equal chance for all.

9Building A New Democracy: Dēmos FY 2018 Annual Report

Marilyn Clements Charitable FundDayton and Sheri ColesColor ForceColorOfChange.orgCommunications Workers of America (CWA)Compton FoundationBruce CormicleOona CoyCREDO MobileCrossCurrents FoundationMargaret Crotty and Rory RiggsCWA Local 1037CWA Local 1101CWA Local 1105CWA Local 1118CWA Local 1298

DDechert LLPQuinn Delaney & Wayne JordanDemocracy FundJoseph DiNorciaTim DisneyElizabeth DoyleDeborah DrysdaleKalin Drzewiecki-Sezer

EPaul & Joanne EgermanThe Educational Foundation of AmericaShirley and Al Evenitsky Fund for Social Justice

FF.B. Heron FoundationTed & Deborah FirstBetty and Davis Fitzgerald FoundationFlora Family FoundationFord Foundation

Stephen A. FosterKenneth J. FloryanRev. Dr. Robert FranklinFriedman Family FoundationJoyce FrootJoshua and Mollye Fryday

GDede GardnerGina and Ron GlantzLisa & Douglas Goldman FundRichie GoldmanHorace W. Goldsmith FoundationWilliam and Jean GrausteinThe Green Street Foundation of San FranciscoStephen Gunther & Adam GuntherWade Guyton

HEvelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. FundLee Halprin & Abby RockefellerNancy Hechinger Family Charitable FundStephen Heintz & Lise StoneLoren W. HersheyAnne H. Hess & Craig Kaplan

IIrving Harris FoundationIUE-CWA Local 81359

JJohn D. and Catherine T. MacArthur FoundationJohnson Family FoundationSuzanne & David JohnsonJoyce FoundationRia Julien

11Building A New Democracy: Dēmos FY 2018 Annual Report

KKanter Family FoundationAbigail KerlinRebecca KerlinJames KlumpnerDavid KohnBarry and Laura Korobkin

LLuis & Lee Lainer FundRoy & Lydia LandesbergAri LangerLebowitz-Aberly Family FoundationLinda LeibovitchThe Philip and Janice Levin FoundationLibra FoundationLinked Fate Fund for JusticeCarol & Larry LiozLocal 32BJ SEIULoyola Law SchoolLumina Foundation for Education

MInternational Association of Machinists & Aerospace WorkersMarguerite Casey FoundationMarvel StudiosMusa and Tom MayerLucy Mayo Diane L. & Adam E. MaxStephen McConnellKatie McGrath & J.J. Abrams Family FoundationRodney McKenziePriscilla J. McMillanDennis & Karen MehielNeil MellenJoseph Mellicker & Judith ScheuerMenemsha Family Fund

Mertz Gilmore FoundationBrina MilikowskyWeston MillikenMiner, Barnhill & Galland P.C.Jeanne MirerMoriah FundJudy MosleyMary MountcastleKatharine MountcastleMark Munger & Katherine BourneMolly Munger & Steve English

NNathan Cummings FoundationThe NationNew York Administrative Employees, CWA Local 1180Craig Newmark PhilanthropiesNextGen AmericaNoVo Foundation

OTori O'Neal-McElrathOpen Society FoundationsOverbrook Foundation

PJennifer Pahlka & Timothy F. O'ReillyPanta Rhea FoundationPark FoundationChang K. ParkPatagoniaBarbara and Morris B. Pearl FundHilary PenningtonPiper FundPlanned Parenthood Federation of AmericaPlanned Parenthood of New York City

13Building A New Democracy: Dēmos FY 2018 Annual Report

RCathy RaphaelRockefeller Brothers FundFrancene & Charles RodgersRosenthal Family FoundationRoy A. Hunt FoundationKevin G. Ryan

SJulie & David SamberScherman FoundationMartin SchneiderCaroline and Sigmund Schott FoundationJanet ShenkBenjamin R. and Janet ShuteClaire SilbermanStephen SilbersteinSKDKnickerbockerTed SnowdonJonathan & Jennifer Allan Soros FoundationSheryl & David SpanierDr. Kitty & Lewis SteelBarbra StreisandPaul Summit & Leila Kinney

TInternational Brotherhood of TeamstersSuzanne ThompsonTivka Grassroots Empowerment Fund at Tides FoundationTransport Workers Union of America

UUAW International UnionUnited Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)United SteelworkersTom & Janet Unterman

VThe Brent and Julianna Velthoen Charitable FundPhilippe & Katherine VillersGail & Larry Vladimir

WDave Wachtel, Holly Schadler & Trister, Ross, Schadler & Gold, PLLCWade Greene, Rockefeller Family & AssociatesWallace Global FundWegner CPAsLauren White and Alex GansaThe WhyNot InitiativeMarianne WilliamsonJenny Wilson & Andy GassBarbara & Chris WilsonW.K. Kellogg FoundationRuth Wooden

15Building A New Democracy: Dēmos FY 2018 Annual Report

DĒMOS ACTION DONORS

American Federation of Teachers (AFT)Anonymous HouseholdCivic Participation Action FundCommunications Workers of America (CWA)Paul & Joanne EgermanBarbarina HeyerdahlSuzanne and David JohnsonMarilyn Clements Charitable FundHeather McGheeMinnesota Nurses Association Political FundNational Education AssociationOpen Society Policy CenterSandor & Faye StrausSEIU MN State CouncilService Employees International Union (SEIU)Ted Snowdon

Dēmos Action is a fiscally-sponsored project of The Advocacy Fund, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. Support for Dēmos Action provides the flexibility to engage in public debate and advance policy recommendations, with the freedom to comment on candidates, policies, and campaigns. For more information on contributing to Dēmos Action, please email dalexander@demosaction.org.

CONSIDER JOINING THEDĒMOS LEGACY SOCIETY

One of the most meaningful ways you can make an impact on our work and leave a lasting legacy for future generations is by including Dēmos in your will or trust.

It’s clearer now more than ever that threats to our democracy can occur at any time, which is why such forward-thinking contributions are important not just for today, but for the future challenges ahead of us.

For more information on how you can include Dēmos in your estate plans, please contact David Alexander, Director of Development at dalexander@demos.org or (212) 419-8771. 

BOARD AND SENIOR STAFF

BO ARD OF TRUSTEES

Amelia Warren TyagiBoard ChairCo-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Business Talent Group

Amy HanauerBoard Vice-ChairExecutive Director, Policy Matters Ohio

Ruth WoodenBoard TreasurerFormer President, Public Agenda

Paul EgermanBoard SecretarySoftware Entrepreneur

Wally AdeyemoSenior Advisor,Center for Strategic and International Studies

Rupa BalasubramanianVice President, Fundamental

Janet Dewart BellCommunications Strategist and Management Consultant

Taifa Butler Executive DirectorGeorgia Budget and Policy Institute

Jun Choi CEO, Menlo Reality Ventures

Rev. Janet McCune Edwards Co-Moderator and Board Member, More Light Presbyterians

Hector Figueroa President32BJ Service Employees International Union

Rev. Dr. Yvette FlunderBishop, The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries

Rev. Dr. Robert M. Franklin Jr.Director of Religion, Chautauqua Institution

Joshua FrydayPresident, Golden State Opportunity Foundation

Gina GlantzFounder, GenderAvenger.com

Richard E. GoldmanCo-Founder of Men's Wearhouse (Retired)

David JohnsonFounder, Act 4 Entertainment

Stephen McConnellPresident, Civic Participation Action Fund

Mary MountcastleTrustee, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation

Sabeel RahmanEx-officio

Rashad RobinsonExecutive Director, Color of Change

Janet Shenk Consultant

Charles R. HalpernTrustee EmeritusFounding Board Chair, Demos

Stephen HeintzTrustee EmeritusPresident, Rockefeller Brothers Fund Miles RapoportTrustee EmeritusSenior Fellow, Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Sabeel RahmanPresident Elizabeth DoyleSenior Vice President, Strategy & Programs

Lucy MayoSenior Vice President, Operations Connie M. RazzaVice President, Policy & Research

Joseph DiNorciaVice President, Administration, CFO

Rodney MckenzieVice President, Campains & Partnerships

Tori O'Neal-McElrathVice President, External Affairs

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19Building A New Democracy: Dēmos FY 2018 Annual Report

REVENUE

Grants

Individual Contributions

Earned Income

Total Revenue

$9,155,853

$2,531,745

$816,049

$12,503,647

73.2%

20.2%

6.5%

STATEMENT OF FINANCIALS*Fiscal Year 2017 (July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018)

EXPENSES

Visionary Opposition Program

Money in Politics Program

Movement Building Program

Race Forward Program

Narrative Program

Progressive Hub Program

Fellows Program

Management & General

Fundraising

Total Expenses

$2,079,360

$842,006

$846,541

$2,341,040

$1,317,762

$232,324

$194,403

$2,435,898

$1,473,127

$10,346,856

17.7%

7.2%

7.2%

19.9%

11.2%

2.0%

1.7%

20.7%

12.5%

NET ASSETS

Beginning of Year

End of Year

Change in Net Assets

$1,138,755

$1,879,939

$741,184

*Unaudited

HISTORIC REVENUE

$12,000,000

$16,000,000

$10,000,000

$14,000,000

$8,000,000

$6,000,000

$4,000,000

$2,000,000

$0FY

2001FY

2005FY

2010FY

2015FY

2018FY

2019FY

2021

recorded revenue projected revenue

$7,173,932$8,428,636

$14,643,790

$1,820,067

$4,021,086

$12,503,647$13,160,070

If you would like any copies of the Dēmos research reports cited, please indicate title and email Development@demos.org.

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