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Powerswitch Action
Powerswitch Action reported $9.9 million in revenue and $11.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $85.94 went to program services, $9.69 to management and general costs and $4.37 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $181,882 (FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIR). 17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 54% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $11MFor context, the median across 479 covered community improvement & capacity building charities: $90.45 programs, $9.31 management, $0.24 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $9.9MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.9% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.7% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.4% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.8% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.6% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $181,882 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.64% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 17 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 23.9 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 30 of 30 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expensePowerswitch Action: provide assistance to organizations building local power for good jobs, thriving communities, a healthy environment, and vibrant democracy
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $144,248 | $0 | $37,634 | $181,882 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $143,938 | $0 | $30,149 | $174,087 |
| LEGAL DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $131,449 | $0 | $35,757 | $167,206 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,964 | $0 | $8,978 | $164,942 |
| NETWORK STRENGTH DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $133,373 | $0 | $23,181 | $156,554 |
| ATHENA COALITION DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $130,207 | $0 | $25,899 | $156,106 |
| RESEARCH AND POLICY DIRECT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $123,739 | $0 | $30,038 | $153,777 |
17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Powerswitch Action (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $347K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b30 · 30 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 543
- Volunteers Part I, line 631
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| JUSTICE SPEAKS LLC Strategic communications | $164,400 |
| EAB CONSULTING LLC Communications consulting services | $144,060 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
16 private foundations reported grants to Powerswitch Action totaling $12M 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 Powerswitch Action's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Powerswitch Action, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Powerswitch Action spent in 2025, $85.94 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development DistrictNatchez, MS · revenue $9.9M · programs 83.6% · FY2025
- Trenton Business Assistance CorpPrinceton, NJ · revenue $10M · programs 93.8% · FY2025
- West Ohio Community Action PartnershipLima, OH · revenue $9.6M · programs 89.1% · 2025
- Valency FundMadison, WI · revenue $10M · FY2024 (2 mo.)
- DreamspringAlbuquerque, NM · revenue $8.8M · programs 86.3% · 2025
All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Powerswitch Action's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Powerswitch Action reported that 85.9% of its $11.1 million in expenses went to program services, 9.7% to management and general and 4.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Powerswitch Action pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Powerswitch Action reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $181,882, for the role of FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Powerswitch Action get its money?
Of $9.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 97.8% came from contributions and grants and 0.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Powerswitch Action a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 71-0914032 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202612599349301111 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202522909349301602 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423189349309422 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303189349306270 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243139349305234 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202112849349300916 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202032539349301048 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 71-0914032: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.