Jonah Patel
OpenSecrets is a nonpartisan, independent, nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. It has been operating since 1983, funded by a combination of grants from private foundations, contributions from individuals, and revenue from research fees and data contracts. The organization tracks and publishes data on campaign finance and lobbying, including a revolving door database that documents individuals who have worked in both the public sector and lobbying firms. Since 2020, its largest donors have included the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Democracy Fund, the Hewlett Foundation, Google, and Open Society Foundations. OpenSecrets offers free access to state and federal datasets on political contributions, expenditures, and lobbying activities, with the aim of strengthening democracy by providing comprehensive and reliable data to policymakers, storytellers, and citizens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Organization | Nonprofit |
| Type of Funding | Donations |
| Donor Types | Individuals, Private Foundations, Community Foundations, Donor Advised Funds |
| Largest Donors | Carnegie Corporation of New York, Democracy Fund, the Gaia Fund, Google, the Hewlett Foundation, the Kaphan Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, the Omidyar Network, Open Society Foundations, the Popplestone Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund |
| Revenue | $2.5 million (2023) |
| Expenses | $4.3 million (2023) |
| Year Founded | 1983 |
| Website | OpenSecrets.org |
| Mission | To serve as the trusted authority on money in American politics |
| Data Sources | Federal and State Governments |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- OpenSecrets is 100% funded by donors
- Donors include the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Democracy Fund, and Google
- Donations are accepted through AmazonSmiles, Facebook, and Paypal
- OpenSecrets also receives grants from private foundations
- OpenSecrets encourages donors to contact employers about matching gifts
OpenSecrets is 100% funded by donors
OpenSecrets is a non-profit, non-partisan independent research group that tracks money in U.S. politics and its effect on public policy and elections. It is funded by donations and grants from various organisations and individuals. Since 2020, the largest donors have been the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Democracy Fund, the Gaia Fund, Google, the Hewlett Foundation, the Kaphan Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, the Omidyar Network, Open Society Foundations, the Popplestone Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. OpenSecrets also receives donations through platforms such as AmazonSmiles, Benevity, Facebook, Paypal, and other community foundations and donor-advised funds.
OpenSecrets does not receive any government funding and relies solely on philanthropic contributions and grants. The organisation has stated that it is 100% funded through the generosity of donors, with no anonymous donations accepted. This funding structure ensures its independence and non-partisanship in investigating and reporting on the flow of money in American politics.
The organisation has operated since 1983, and its longevity is due to the ongoing support of donors. OpenSecrets encourages transparency in political funding and provides accessible data and analysis to strengthen democracy. It offers a searchable database of officials' financial reports, allowing the public to see which industries and special interest groups are supporting their elected representatives.
OpenSecrets also encourages donors to contact their employers about matching gift opportunities and explores estate or planned giving options. The organisation suggests that if each of its 7.5 million annual visitors donated just $1 a year, funding concerns would be a thing of the past. OpenSecrets is grateful for the support it receives and recognises the importance of accurate and non-partisan research in maintaining its reputation as a trusted source of information.
Blocking Political Text Messages: Regaining Your Peace
You may want to see also
Donors include the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Democracy Fund, and Google
OpenSecrets is a non-profit organisation that relies entirely on donations from individuals and institutions to operate. The organisation does not receive any government funding. Since 2020, some of its largest donors have included the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Democracy Fund, and Google. The Carnegie Corporation of New York is a long-standing philanthropic foundation that has been a major supporter of OpenSecrets' mission to track money in American politics. Democracy Fund is another philanthropic organisation that has provided significant financial support to OpenSecrets. This funding has helped OpenSecrets continue its work in providing comprehensive and reliable data, analysis, and tools to policymakers, storytellers, and citizens. Google, a well-known technology company, has also contributed financially to OpenSecrets, demonstrating its commitment to transparency and accountability in politics. These donors have been instrumental in enabling OpenSecrets to carry out its mission and maintain its non-partisan, independent status.
In addition to these prominent donors, OpenSecrets also receives funding from a variety of other sources. This includes grants from private foundations, individual contributions, and revenue from research fees and data contracts. OpenSecrets encourages donors to contact their employers about matching gift opportunities and offers options for estate or planned giving. The organisation also receives donations through platforms like AmazonSmiles, Facebook, and PayPal, as well as charitable funds and community foundations.
OpenSecrets is committed to transparency and provides a list of its major funders on its website. The organisation invites anyone interested in supporting its mission to contact them and learn more about the impact of their non-partisan work. OpenSecrets has gained a reputation as a reliable source for money-in-politics data and analysis, with its work being cited thousands of times each year.
While OpenSecrets faces financial challenges, with a reported $2.5 million in revenue and $4.3 million in expenses in 2023, it continues to play a crucial role in tracking money in U.S. politics and strengthening democracy. The organisation's financial difficulties led to staff layoffs in 2024, highlighting the ongoing need for financial support to sustain its operations.
Stop Political Mailers: Your Privacy, Your Choice
You may want to see also
Donations are accepted through AmazonSmiles, Facebook, and Paypal
OpenSecrets is a non-profit organisation that relies on donations to operate. The organisation does not receive any government funding and is 100% funded by donors. Since 2020, the largest donors have been the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Democracy Fund, the Gaia Fund, Google, the Hewlett Foundation, the Kaphan Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, the Omidyar Network, Open Society Foundations, the Popplestone Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
OpenSecrets accepts donations through various platforms, including AmazonSmiles, Facebook, and Paypal. These platforms provide convenient and accessible ways for individuals to contribute financially to the organisation.
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that allows customers to shop and simultaneously donate 0.5% of their eligible purchases to the charitable organisation of their choice. By selecting OpenSecrets as their preferred organisation, individuals can support the group's mission while shopping on Amazon.
Similarly, Facebook provides tools for fundraising and donating to non-profit organisations. Individuals can create fundraisers for OpenSecrets or donate directly through the Facebook platform. Facebook may also match donations made by its users, amplifying the impact of each contribution.
PayPal, a well-known online payment system, also facilitates donations to OpenSecrets. Through PayPal, individuals can make secure and direct contributions to the organisation, utilising their PayPal balance, linked bank accounts, or credit/debit cards.
In addition to these platforms, OpenSecrets also accepts donations through other means, including mail-in contributions and donations made directly through their website. OpenSecrets encourages donors to consider contacting their employers about matching gift opportunities, further increasing the impact of their donations.
Block Republican Texts: Regain Peace, Here's How
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$20.67 $29.99
OpenSecrets also receives grants from private foundations
OpenSecrets is a non-profit organisation based in Washington, D.C., that has been tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on public policy and elections since 1983. It is a non-partisan, independent research group that provides comprehensive and reliable data, analysis, and tools for policymakers, journalists, storytellers, and citizens. OpenSecrets is funded by donations and grants from various sources, including private foundations, individual contributions, and institutional grants.
OpenSecrets receives grants from private foundations, which have contributed significantly to its operations and research initiatives. These grants provide essential support for the organisation's mission to track the flow of money in American politics and strengthen democracy. The private foundations that have supported OpenSecrets include the MacArthur Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and the Popplestone Foundation, among others.
The MacArthur Foundation, for example, funded the "Money in Western Politics" project, which laid the foundation for the National Institute on Money in Politics (NIMP). NIMP, which later merged with the Center for Responsive Politics to form OpenSecrets, was dedicated to tracking data on campaign finance and advocating for stricter regulation and disclosure of political donations. The support from the MacArthur Foundation was crucial in enabling NIMP to compile and publish political funding information, making it more accessible to the public.
The Open Society Foundations have also been significant supporters of OpenSecrets, providing funding of $2.3 million, according to the organisation's website. This funding has likely contributed to OpenSecrets' ability to conduct investigations and provide insights into the influence of money in politics. Additionally, the Popplestone Foundation has been listed as one of the major donors to OpenSecrets, demonstrating the continued support from private foundations.
These grants from private foundations have played a crucial role in sustaining OpenSecrets' operations, research, and mission to bring transparency to the flow of money in American politics. The support from these foundations has enabled OpenSecrets to continue its non-partisan work, providing valuable data and analysis to the public, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
Political Campaign Donations: Tax Write-Off or Not?
You may want to see also
OpenSecrets encourages donors to contact employers about matching gifts
OpenSecrets is a non-profit, non-partisan research group that tracks money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. It is funded by donations from individuals and institutional grants. The organization encourages donors to contact their employers about matching gifts.
Matching gifts are donations from companies that match the contributions made by their employees to non-profit organizations. This means that if an employee donates to a non-profit organization, their employer will donate the same amount, effectively doubling the impact of the employee's donation. This is a great way for donors to maximize their contributions and support the work of OpenSecrets in holding elected officials accountable and strengthening democracy.
OpenSecrets provides resources for donors to easily access information about employer donation matching. On their website, donors can search for their company in the search results to find the necessary forms or contact information to request a matching gift. If a donor's employer does not appear in the search results, they are encouraged to contact their Human Resources department to inquire about a matching program that may not be listed on the website.
Additionally, OpenSecrets accepts gifts from various sources, including retirement distributions and donor-advised funds. They also use Double the Donation, a service that helps compile employer match programs to support nonprofit fundraising efforts. By utilizing these tools and resources, OpenSecrets makes it convenient for donors to increase their impact and ensure the continued support of their mission.
In conclusion, OpenSecrets highly values the support of its donors and encourages them to explore opportunities for employer donation matching. Through these matching gifts, donors can amplify their contributions and help OpenSecrets continue its important work in tracking money in U.S. politics and promoting transparency and accountability.
Political Calls: The Do Not Call List Solution
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
OpenSecrets is 100% funded by donors, including individuals and private foundations. OpenSecrets also receives revenue from research fees and data contracts.
Some of the major donors for OpenSecrets include the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Democracy Fund, the Gaia Fund, Google, the Hewlett Foundation, the Kaphan Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, the Omidyar Network, Open Society Foundations, the Popplestone Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
You can make a tax-deductible contribution to OpenSecrets online or by mail.
OpenSecrets is a nonpartisan, independent nonprofit organisation. It relies on donations to continue its work in tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy.
