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Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote reported $11.3 million in revenue and $8.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $96.91 went to program services, $2.21 to management and general costs and $0.88 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $152,312 (PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 747% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $8.4MFor context, the median across 132 covered civil rights, social action & advocacy charities: $84.11 programs, $11.40 management, $4.49 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $11MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 96.9% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.2% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.9% | 4.4% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.0% | 94.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 2.0% | 0.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $152,312 | $321,771 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.82% | 1.81% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 5.2 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 9 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseCulture of Voting - Rock the Vote drives civic engagement by meeting young people where they are online, offline, and in spaces that shape their identities. Through trusted messengers, compelling storytelling, and research-based content, we harness social media to mobilize young voters. We integrate civic participation into concerts, festivals, and cultural moments, making it a natural part of young peoples lives.Partnerships with brands, entertainment companies,ssociations,sports leagues,and cultural influencers amplify democratic participation. In 2024,Rock the Votes multi-media campaign…
Voter Education - Rock the Vote delivers nonpartisan civic education across digital platforms, civic technology tools, classrooms, and community events, giving young people the knowledge to participate in democracy. Our Election Reminder Program provides step-by-step guidance via text, email, and our online Election Center. Through our innovative ballot education tool, Democracy Explainers and Democracy Class curriculum, we equip young people with the knowledge and skills to be informed voters. In 2024, 5.5 million people visited Rock the Votes Election Center for vetted information on…
Voter Registration Mobilization - Rock the Vote engages and mobilizes young voters through digital tools, on-the-ground organizing, and partnerships. Recognizing that voting is habit-forming, we reach young people early to build lifelong civic participation.Rock the Vote develops and maintains civic technology that guides users through voter registration, status checks, and absentee ballot requests. These secure, compliant tools are provided free to nonprofits, schools, companies, and influencers nationwide, and are integrated into our own programs.In 2024, Rock the Vote provided technology…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 040.00 hrs/week | $152,312 | $0 | $0 | $152,312 |
| DIRECTOR OF CIVIC TECH AND DATA Highest compensated employee, 040.00 hrs/week | $101,494 | $0 | $0 | $101,494 |
2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Rock the Vote (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $152K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b9 · 9 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14No
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 517
- Volunteers Part I, line 63,440
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Redrock Entertainment Services Event Production, Security, Artist Fees | $5,209,685 |
| TaskForce PR Event Production, Marketing | $350,000 |
| Lil Baby Global Holdings Artist Performance Fee | $300,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
13 private foundations reported grants to Rock the Vote totaling $891K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Rock the Vote's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Rock the Vote, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Rock the Vote spent in 2024, $96.91 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All civil rights, social action & advocacy charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Rock the Vote's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Rock the Vote reported that 96.9% of its $8.4 million in expenses went to program services, 2.2% to management and general and 0.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Rock the Vote pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Rock the Vote reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $152,312, for the role of PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Rock the Vote get its money?
Of $11.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 98.0% came from contributions and grants and 2.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Rock the Vote a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 02-0767157 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523179349312602 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423189349312017 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313209349301101 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213199349307746 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123199349318887 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202033219349318468 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 02-0767157: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.