2017-10-26T09:01:21-05:00 2017-06-30 521855942 Tate and Tryon 2021 L Street NW Suite 400 Washington DC 20036 990 2016-07-01 526078441 COMMON CAUSE COMM 2028331200 805 15th Street NW No 800 Washington DC 20005 KAREN HOBERT FLYNN PRESIDENT 2028331200 2017-10-26 1 Elizabeth Heller P00397829 2022932200 216.59.105.130 2017-10-26 09:01:19 ED P DA39A3EE5E6B4B0D3255BFEF95601890AFD80709 8B6C6DF7A8E3B84B5AE7D1943EC3750B5C691B8F 2016 2021-01-29 14:40:06Z Karen Hobert Flynn 805 15th Street NW No 800 Washington DC 20005 7619386 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. 20 19 108 1689 0 0 5029100 7381044 78769 142323 5302 3944 -28850 44420 5084321 7571731 0 0 0 0 2994694 2315686 261706 250411 1791129 2978997 3795209 6235397 6361306 -1151076 1210425 3139150 3782708 3047114 2445266 92036 1337442 X With offices in Washington, DC and 35 states and 998,000 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 1282120 142323 Voting and elections After Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed automatic voter registration legislation that Common Cause Illinois shepherded through the state legislature, Common Cause worked to revise the bill to address the governor's objections. The bill passed again with overwhelming bipartisan support in the spring of 2017. Responding to proposed legislation that would eliminate the Election Assistance Commission, Common Cause organized sign-on letters and encouraged state and local elections officials, military leaders and others to publish their own statements about the continuing need for the EAC. Supporters elected not to take the bill to the floor, so for now the agency is safe. Opposition from Common Cause Hawaii helped defeat a charter amendment on the November ballot in Honolulu County that would have removed the requirement of partisan balance on the county's citizen redistricting commission. We announced our opposition in a press release and an op-ed in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The measure was defeated by 30 percentage points. Common Cause Rhode Island successfully lobbied for passage of automatic voter registration legislation, which the governor supported. The state will be the ninth in the country to add qualified residents to the voter rolls automatically when they do business with state motor vehicle offices. Rhode Island will extend automatic registration to additional state agencies once those agencies meet state standards. 942584 Money and politics Prior to the election, Common Cause led a national "Who will fight big money?" campaign combining direct mail, online and press outreach to put candidates for Congress on record on a series of bills aimed at reducing the influence of big money in politics. More than 238 candidates Democrats, Republicans and independents answered our Who Will Fight Big Money? Questionnaire; more than 53,000 people visited our Who Will Fight Big Money? website. Common Cause members and supporters also sent more than 14,000 emails to candidates to demand they answer the questionnaire. Partners in the campaign included People for the American Way, Every Voice, the Center for Popular Democracy, Franciscan Action Network, and Friends of the Earth. Common Cause published a Democracy Scorecard (www.commoncause.org/issues/more-democracy-reforms/democracy-scorecard/report.pdf) charting the sponsorship or votes of House members on 17 bills and of senators on 12 bills introduced in the 114th Congress promoting democratic policies and practices. Inquiries to members of Congress about their sponsorship or co-sponsorship of the bills involved resulted in 250 additional co-sponsorships. California Common Cause secured passage of the Political Reform Act, removing a 28-year-old ban on public financing for statewide and most local campaigns. Signed in September by Gov. Jerry Brown, the bill clears the way for passage of public financing legislation for future California campaigns. Voters in Howard County, MD, a populous county between Washington DC and Baltimore, overwhelmingly approved a public financing ballot initiative led by Common Cause Maryland and partner organizations. Common Cause Maryland led several successful legislative campaigns on money in politics reform, securing passage of a bill defining and then banning coordination between independent expenditure entities and candidates, a bill mandating that participating organizations reveal their big money donors, and legislation banning donations of foreign money to ballot issue campaigns. California Common Cause led a successful campaign in Berkeley, CA on behalf of a ballot proposal creating a public financing program for local elections. The program will provide $6 in matching funds for every $1 participating candidates collect in donations of $50 or less. After lobbying by Common Cause Oregon, the City Council in Portland, OR voted to create a public financing program for local elections. The victory was particularly significant because local voters shut down a similar program in 2010. The new system has been adjusted to address problems in its predecessor. Common Cause New Mexico won passage of landmark bills increasing disclosure requirements for "independent" political donors and requiring more accountability from candidates who use the state's public financing system for Public Regulation Commission, state Supreme Court and appeals court elections. The New Mexico legislature passed a Common Cause-backed bill fixing the state's public financing system for election campaigns. Despite overwhelming support, the bill was vetoed by Gov. Susana Martinez. 803027 Ethics, Transparency and Accountability in Government Common Cause Maryland secured passage of a resolution rescinding the state's call for a federal constitutional convention under Article V of the Constitution. Common Cause is leading similar efforts across the country to persuade states to defeat Article V convention proposals. The convention process is undefined and could result in a runaway convention that would fundamentally change our system of government. Common Cause New Mexico led a successful drive to persuade the state legislature to rescind its call for a constitutional convention under Article V. Common Cause New Mexico helped win passage of legislation that will amend the state Constitution to create an Independent State Ethics Commission. The commission will oversee the conduct of state officers, employees, contractors and lobbyists; it also will serve as a resource for officials to get guidance on issues and provide ethics training. The amendment will be on the ballot for voter approval in November 2018. Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Katherine Wade agreed to requests from Common Cause Connecticut that she recuse herself from state reviews of a proposed merger of health insurers Anthem and Cigna. Wade was a former Cigna lobbyist and the firm also employed her husband. Major legislation supported by Common Cause Massachusetts to add teeth to the state Freedom of Information Act took effect this year. The new law is the product of a four-year lobbying campaign by a Common Cause/ACLU-led coalition. Rhode Island voters overwhelmingly approved a Common Cause-backed amendment to the state constitution restoring the jurisdiction of the state Ethics Commission over members of the General Assembly. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo signed a Common Cause-backed bill rewriting the state's lobbying laws. 3027731 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 44 0 1 108 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 X 20 19 0 0 1 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 Robert Reich Chair 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Martha Tierney Vice Chair 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Olena Berg Lacy Treasurer/Secretary 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Ric Bainter BoARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Emmet J Bondurant BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Cornell W Brooks Esq boARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Dan Conley bOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Greg Diskant bOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Archon Fung bOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Olga Kauffman boARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 William Hubbard BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Marilyn Melkonian BOARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Lenny Mendonca boARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Chang K Park boARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Nancy Ratzan boARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Susan Rubinstein boARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Wes Tomer boARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Tracy Westen boARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Alan Wiersba boARD MEMBER 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 Karen Hobert Flynn President/CEO (from 6/16) 18.75 18.75 X X 120696 120696 5870 Miles Rapoport President/CEO (until 6/16) 18.75 18.75 X X 168750 168750 0 Elizabeth Marchant Chief Financial Officer 20.50 17.00 X 105133 87183 3992 Marc Caplan Sr. Advisor 12.50 25.00 X 35868 71735 6415 Jenny Flanagan VP, State Operations 3.75 33.75 X 11623 104605 8370 Scott Swenson VP, Communications 9.50 28.00 X 37008 109076 2744 479078 662045 27391 6 0 1 0 RWT Production 5624 Bellington Ave Springfield VA 22151 Direct Mail 675748 Blackbaud Inc PO Box 930256 Atlanta GA 31193 web database 501781 AVALON CONSULTING GROUP INC 2030 M St NW Suite 700 Washington DC 20036 Direct Mail 305485 MERKLE RESPONSE SERVICES INC 100 Jamison Court Hagerstown MD 21740 CONSULTING 103969 4 41433 7339611 40438 7381044 Program Fees 900099 142323 142323 142323 5018 5018 45 45 50675 0 50675 50675 50675 40281 41355 -1074 -1074 -1074 0 41433 6300 -6300 -6300 7571731 142323 0 48364 390494 135541 87481 167472 1644280 1308113 288427 47740 44479 62170 -26232 8541 141007 197088 -83158 27077 95426 133378 -56277 18325 158549 158549 109197 94083 15114 49307 49307 13500 13500 250411 250411 15849 14348 1501 1138314 10856 11063 1116395 233063 78918 77208 76937 779859 262832 456310 60717 493692 168633 324064 995 58814 58224 590 58996 42562 -85 16519 9337 9337 278198 278198 207281 207281 46249 46249 STATE AFFILIATE COSTS 72000 72000 Financial Services & Ba 50762 7 50755 Taxes, licenses, fees 12180 669 11511 Registration Fees 6447 6447 3615 3615 6361306 3027731 1542446 1791129 1163 1163 476168 1561440 617295 260675 226888 292508 1734177 454998 1461099 1279179 356537 387743 3139150 3782708 1275819 850732 300000 50000 1471295 1544534 3047114 2445266 X -1211526 649023 1303562 688419 92036 1337442 3139150 3782708 1210425 34981 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1 0 0 1438444 300000 265684 55459 1948669 1294331 200000 9124 65011 1438444 1159794 250000 64690 180153 1294331 842650 250000 168079 100935 1159794 14953 750000 109803 32106 842650 0.01080 0.00000 0.98920 0 0 1179613 138146 1041467 554564 316852 237712 1279179 DeferreD Rent 1448439 Due to Related 96095 1544534 9915612 34981 2302600 6300 2343881 7571731 0 7571731 8598206 2302600 6300 2308900 6289306 72000 72000 6361306 Part V, Line 4: THE COMMON CAUSE QUASI-ENDOWMENT (BOARD DESIGNATED) FUND WAS USED TO FUND THE OPERATING CASH NEEDS OF THE ORGANIZATION. IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE BOARD TO BEGIN RE-FUNDING THE ENDOWMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE IF CASH FLOWS PERMIT. THERE WERE NO REPAYMENTS MADE DURING FISCAL YEAR 2017. Part XI, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Special Events Expense to Part VIII 6,300. Part XII, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Special Events Expense to Part VIII 6,300. Part XII, Line 4b - Other Adjustments: STATE AFFILIATE COSTS 72,000. X X X 1 Avalon Consulting Group Inc 2030 M Street NW Suite 700 Washington DC 20036 DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGN SERVICES 0 4078518 179431 3899087 PUBLIC INTEREST COMMUNICATIONS INC 7700 Leesburg Pike STE 301 Falls Church VA 22043 TELEMARKETING 0 96738 77316 19422 4175256 256747 3918509 AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC CO Event 22327 22327 500 450 704 IL Event 11396 11396 334 79 2 7710 7710 322 1327 2584 41433 41433 822 2111 3367 6300 -6300 X X X X 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Karen Hobert Flynn President/CEO (from 6/16) 120696 120696 0 0 0 0 0 0 3253 3253 123949 123949 0 0 Miles Rapoport President/CEO (until 6/16) 81250 81250 0 0 87500 87500 0 0 0 0 168750 168750 0 0 Elizabeth Marchant Chief Financial Officer 105133 87183 0 0 0 0 0 0 4200 3483 109333 90666 0 0 Part I, Line 4a DURING THE 2016 CALENDAR YEAR, MILES RAPOPORT RECEIVED $162,500 SEVERANCE PAY AND $12,500 CASHED-OUT VACATION AND SICK LEAVE. X 13 40438 FMV 0 0 0 Part I, Column (b): There were 13 separate contributions of stock during FY2017 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 4 The by-laws were changed to eliminate term limits for directors. Directors serve three-year terms and must be reelected after each three-year term. 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 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 0 1 0 0 Common Cause Education Fund N 776241 Actual cost Common Cause Education Fund O 4763911 Actual cost Common Cause Education Fund Q 1707233 Actual cost