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Public Rights Project
Public Rights Project reported $15.4 million in revenue and $10.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $70.82 went to program services, $17.13 to management and general costs and $12.05 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $264,414 (CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER). 24 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. 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 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 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $15MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 70.8% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 17.1% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 12.0% | 4.4% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.6% | 94.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $264,414 | $321,771 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.44% | 1.81% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 24 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 10.7 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 10 | 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 expenseHighest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,393 | $0 | $33,021 | $264,414 |
| DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $233,572 | $0 | $15,677 | $249,249 |
| DIRECTOR AND CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $236,676 | $0 | $12,545 | $249,221 |
| CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $215,638 | $0 | $19,541 | $235,179 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $216,363 | $0 | $11,072 | $227,435 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $184,270 | $0 | $23,914 | $208,184 |
| ELECTIONS & GOV PARTNERSHIP DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $167,894 | $0 | $30,989 | $198,883 |
| SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $178,247 | $0 | $9,048 | $187,295 |
24 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Public Rights Project (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (Part IX, line 5).
3 filings since FY2023 (9 mo.)
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–1b10 · 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 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 4No
- 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 556
- Volunteers Part I, line 69
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| JENNER AND BLOCK LLP Legal services | $850,000 |
| CHATHAM STRATEGIES INC Public relations | $303,488 |
| POSITIVELY PARTNERS LLC Hiring and recruitment | $229,050 |
| ON-RAMPS Hiring and recruitment | $177,990 |
| CAPLAN COBB LLC Legal services | $172,370 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Public Rights Project totaling $3.1M 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 Public Rights Project's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Public Rights Project, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Public Rights Project spent in 2025, $70.82 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Alliance for Youth OrganizingWashington, DC · revenue $15M · programs 91.3% · 2024
- Jewish Community Relations Council of New YorkNew York, NY · revenue $16M · programs 80.1% · FY2025
- ACLU Foundation of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA · revenue $15M · programs 66.3% · FY2025
- American Civil Liberties Union of Washington FoundSeattle, WA · revenue $16M · programs 78.2% · FY2025
- Heartland Alliance InternationalChicago, IL · revenue $15M · programs 80.9% · FY2025
All civil rights, social action & advocacy charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Public Rights Project's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Public Rights Project reported that 70.8% of its $10.8 million in expenses went to program services, 17.1% to management and general and 12.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Public Rights Project pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Public Rights Project reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $264,414, for the role of CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Public Rights Project get its money?
Of $15.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 98.6% came from contributions and grants and 0.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Public Rights Project a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 88-4139028 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 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 202621289349303077 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202542459349301139 · read the filing
- FY2023 (9 mo.): Form 990 for the 9-month short period ending December 31, 2023, object 202421369349310727 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 88-4139028: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.