Fairvote
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.
Fairvote at a glance
In short: Fairvote gave $35K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $35,000
- -86.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- -66.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,500
- -57.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $6,064,176
- +15.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Michigan (57% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Fairvote funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Rank Mi Vote ($20K). Together the top 2 received $35K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 14 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2024) to $305K (2022). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $35K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rank Mi Vote Lansing, MI | Outreach and Education on Ranked Choice Voting | $20,000 |
| Building Power for Communities of Color Portland, OR | Outreach and Education on Ranked Choice Voting | $15,000 |
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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 | $6,064,176 | $7,247,612 | $6,405,004 | $35,000 | 2 | $64,923 |
| 2023 | $5,274,672 | $7,666,359 | $6,871,703 | $249,150 | 6 | $59,273 |
| 2022 | $3,777,821 | $4,775,903 | $5,352,841 | $305,000 | 6 | $33,016 |
| 2021 | $4,251,157 | $4,696,219 | $3,445,506 | — | — | $348 |
| 2020 | $2,919,025 | $4,138,382 | $3,318,486 | — | — | $51 |
About Fairvote
Based on IRS filings
Fairvote is a nonprofit organization focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Silver Spring, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $6.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $35K. Net investment income was $65K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Fairvote is led by Lan Nguyen, Former COO & Interim CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2021); 14 of 24 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
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 2021
40 hrs/week
$77K (2021) → $76K (2024)
Meredith Sumpter
President & CEO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$214K (2024)
Danielle Allen
Chair
Board Member → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Cannon
Director of Advocacy
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$136K (2022) → $168K (2024)
Deborah Otis
Director of Research & Policy
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$135K (2023) → $147K (2024)
Suvarna Hulawale
Director of Strategy & Learning
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$141K (2023) → $154K (2024)
Marissa Miller
Director of Development
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$131K (2024)
Shilanda Becnel
Director of People Culture
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$151K (2024)
William Mantell
Director of Communications
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$134K (2024)
David Daley
Senior Fellow
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$126K (2020) → $153K (2024)
Robert Richie
Senior Advisor
President & CEO → Senior Advisor, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$170K (2020) → $147K (2024)
Ashley Houghton
Vice President of Policy & Program
Director Communications → Director of Communications, 2022
Director of Communications → Vice President of Policy & Program, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$116K (2021) → $185K (2024)
Margaret Lawlor
Former Director of Finance
Director of Finance → Former Director of Finance, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$147K (2022) → $65K (2024)
Binmiao Guo
Finance Manager
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$106K (2024)
Ryan Suto
Senior Policy Advisor
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$109K (2024)
David Wilner
Treasurer
Vice Chair → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald Marron
Vice Chair
Treasurer → Vice Chair & Treasurer, 2022
Vice Chair & Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark De La Iglesia
Board Secretary
Secretary → Chair, 2021
Chair → Board Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Hayes
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chi Kim
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jake Sandler
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Purnima Chawla
Board Member
Chair → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rhett Dornbach-Bender
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stan Lockhart
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Angela Kouters (2022) — Government Affairs Director
- Former: Yasmin Khan (2022) — Vice President of Development
- Former: Alice Underwood (2020–2021) — Chair
- Former: Brenda Choresi Carter (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Cynthia Okechukwu (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Nassour (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Khalid Pitts (2020–2021) — Executive Vice President
- Former: Aida Cavalic (2020) — Director of Finance
- Former: Charlotte Hill (2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Sangita Dhungana (2020) — Executive Vice President
- Former: Timothy Hayes (2020) — Board Member
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 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $214K, to Meredith Sumpter (President & CEO). 14 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Fairvote
How much does Fairvote give each year?
Fairvote gave $35K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $249K across 6 grants.
How large is Fairvote?
Fairvote reported $6.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $7.2M.
What is Fairvote?
Fairvote is a nonprofit organization focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Silver Spring, MD. It holds $6.1M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Fairvote operate?
Fairvote has awarded grants in California, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington.
What is Fairvote's EIN?
Fairvote's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1635649. 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fairvote's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Fairvote'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.
Fairvote down — hundreds of funders to go?