Fairvote Action
Fairvote Action campaigns for better elections for all. We win voting reforms that make democracy more functional and representative for every American.
Fairvote Action at a glance
In short: Fairvote Action gave $440K across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $63K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $440,000
- +353.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 7
- +75.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $62,857
- +159.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $583,420
- +42.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (65% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Fairvote Action funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Make All Votes Count DC ($285K). Together the top 7 received $440K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 31 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Fairvote Action gives
- Giving grew 1367% from 2021 to 2024. 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2021) to $643K (2022). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $440K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Make All Votes Count DC Washington, DC | Education on Ranked Choice Voting | $285,000 |
| California RCV Institute Inc Laguna Nigual, CA | Education on Ranked Choice Voting | $50,000 |
| Preferential Primaries Action Richmond, VA | Education on Ranked Choice Voting | $35,000 |
| Fairvote Minnesota Saint Paul, MN | Education on Ranked Choice Voting | $25,000 |
| Iowa Democratic Party Des Moines, IA | Education on Ranked Choice Voting | $25,000 |
| Missouri Democratic State Committee Kansas City, MO | Education on Ranked Choice Voting | $10,000 |
| Yes on 117 Portland, OR | Education on Ranked Choice Voting | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $583,420 | $1,795,956 | $1,595,690 | $440,000 | 7 | $1,157 |
| 2023 | $409,896 | $1,130,903 | $1,498,367 | $97,000 | 4 | $3,108 |
| 2022 | $840,971 | $1,729,659 | $1,852,519 | $643,000 | 11 | — |
| 2021 | $787,542 | $1,211,000 | $492,252 | $30,000 | 1 | — |
| 2020 | $10,085 | $279,800 | $312,941 | $114,500 | 8 | — |
About Fairvote Action
Based on IRS filings
Fairvote Action is a public charity, based in Silver Spring, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $583K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $440K. Net investment income was $1K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Fairvote Action is led by Lan Nguyen, Former COO & Interim CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2022); none of the 19 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lan Nguyen
Former COO & Interim CEO
Executive Vice President & COO → Acting CEO & COO, 2023
Acting CEO & COO → Former COO & Interim CEO, 2024
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Sumpter
President & CEO
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Wathen
Chair & Treasurer
Chair → Chair & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Cannon
Director of Advocacy
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Otis
Director of Research & Policy
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suvarna Hulawale
Director of Strategy & Learning
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marissa Miller
Director of Development
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shilanda Becnel
Director of People Culture
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Mantell
Director of Communications
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Richie
Senior Advisor
President → Senior Advisor, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Andrew Yang
Vice Chair
On filings since 2021
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Houghton
Vice President of Policy & Program
Director of Communications → Vice President of Policy & Program, 2023
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Daley
Senior Fellow
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Lawlor
Former Director of Finance
Director of Finance → Former Director of Finance, 2024
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark De La Iglesia
Secretary
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Allen
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Binmiao Guo
Finance Manager
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Suto
Senior Policy Advisor
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stan Lockhart
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Angela Kouters (2022) — Government Affairs Director
- Former: Yasmin Khan (2022) — Vice President of Development
- Former: Alice Underwood (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Lindsay Donnelly (2021) — Secretary
- Former: Cynthia Terrell (2020) — Director
- Former: Eric Olson (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $500, to Robert Richie (President).
Frequently asked questions about Fairvote Action
How much does Fairvote Action give each year?
Fairvote Action gave $440K across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $97K across 4 grants.
What is Fairvote Action's typical grant size?
Fairvote Action's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $62,857, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Fairvote Action give grants?
Fairvote Action gives mostly in District of Columbia: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (11%) and Virginia (8%).
Does Fairvote Action give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Fairvote Action's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education on Ranked Choice Voting" (7 grants).
Who are Fairvote Action's largest grantees?
Fairvote Action's largest 2024 grantees include Make All Votes Count DC ($285,000), California RCV Institute Inc ($50,000) and Preferential Primaries Action ($35,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Fairvote Action?
Fairvote Action reported $583K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.8M.
What is Fairvote Action's EIN?
Fairvote Action's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3650370. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fairvote Action's focus areas in our free grants database
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Fairvote
Silver Spring, MD
Fairvote is a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. It researches and advances voting reforms that make democracy more functional and representative for every American. Since 1992, it has a proven record as a nonpartisan innovator in elections at the local, state, and national level through strategic research, communications, and collaboration.
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Total Given
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Figures come from Fairvote Action's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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