Fair Democracy
Fair Democracy works to ensure that the roots of American democracy are healthy with strong voting rights and access, an engaged and informed electorate, an open and accountable government and trusted messengers engaging americans in civil discourse.
Fair Democracy at a glance
In short: Fair Democracy gave $1.4M across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $360K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,440,000
- -80.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $360,000
- -60.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $182,500
- Total assets
- $1,434,554
- +8.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (77% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Fair Democracy funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Forward Majority Action ($1.1M). Together the top 4 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 9 grants of 32 (28%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Fair Democracy gives
- Giving grew 1209% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $110K (2022) to $11.7M (2023). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Majority Action Washington, DC | General Support | $1,065,000 |
| Barbed Wire Media Austin, TX | Social Welfare | $315,000 |
| America Votes Washington, DC | Social Welfare | $50,000 |
| Texas Future Cooperative Austin, TX | Social Welfare | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,434,554 | $3,834,019 | $4,495,299 | $1,440,000 | 4 | — |
| 2024 | $1,318,362 | $9,312,674 | $8,629,280 | $7,365,000 | 8 | — |
| 2023 | $607,830 | $12,982,325 | $12,777,556 | $11,676,722 | 14 | $1,075 |
| 2022 | $364,927 | $1,030,217 | $1,043,513 | $110,000 | 2 | $217 |
| 2021 | $378,223 | $2,075,374 | $1,775,412 | $1,008,091 | 4 | $374 |
| 2020 | $87,084 | $740,000 | $808,776 | $263,252 | 2 | — |
About Fair Democracy
Based on IRS filings
Fair Democracy is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $1.4M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Fair Democracy is led by David Cohen, Director, President & Co-Ceo since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 9 of 12 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Cohen
Director, President & Co-Ceo
Director & President → Director, President & Co-Ceo, 2022
On filings since 2020
19.2 hrs/week
$105K (2020) → $163K (2025)
Victoria Hausman
Director, Treasurer, Co-Ceo-Partial Year & Special Advisor
Director & Treasurer → Director, Treasurer & Co-Ceo, 2022
Director, Treasurer & Co-Ceo → Director, Treasurer, Co-Ceo-Partial Year & Special Advisor, 2025
On filings since 2020
11.4 hrs/week
$62K (2020) → $100K (2025)
Leslie Martes
Chief Strategy Officer & CEO
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Brian Herman
Creative Director
On filings since 2021
4.8 hrs/week
$10K (2021) → $16K (2025)
Trent Armitage
Campaigns Director
On filings since 2021
9.4 hrs/week
$30K (2021) → $43K (2025)
Jeff Rotkoff
State Director
On filings since 2023
31 hrs/week
$83K (2023) → $120K (2025)
Elizabeth Pedraja
Director & Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
6.4 hrs/week
$21K (2025)
Raul Alvillar
Director
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Madhuri Kommareddi
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ethan Roeder
Chief Innovation Officer
Hce → Chief Innovation Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
13.3 hrs/week
$66K (2020) → $65K (2025)
Caroline Cowley
Deputy Natl Director & Battlegond Voter Project
New on the 2025 filing
3.5 hrs/week
$13K (2025)
Maddie Coats
Chief of Staff
New on the 2025 filing
13.3 hrs/week
$43K (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: China Dickerson (2021–2024) — Political Director
- Former: Emily Berman (2021–2022) — Finance Director
- Former: Aaron Marquez (2020–2021) — Western States Director
- Former: Benjamin Wexler-Waite (2020–2021) — Communications Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $163K, to David Cohen (Director, President, Co-CEO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Fair Democracy
How much does Fair Democracy give each year?
Fair Democracy gave $1.4M across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7.4M across 8 grants.
What is Fair Democracy's typical grant size?
Fair Democracy's median grant in 2025 was $182,500, and its average grant was $360,000, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Fair Democracy give grants?
Fair Democracy gives mostly in District of Columbia: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants) and Austin, TX (2 grants).
Does Fair Democracy give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of Fair Democracy's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Social Welfare" (3 grants).
How large is Fair Democracy?
Fair Democracy reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.8M.
What is Fair Democracy?
Fair Democracy is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Washington, DC. It holds $1.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Fair Democracy's EIN?
Fair Democracy's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2747849. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 23, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fair Democracy's focus areas in our free grants database
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