Nonprofit · EIN 86-1543050
COMMON SENSE SOCIETY
Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20004
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $6,672,204 | $6,841,253 | -$169,049 | $3,189,911 | $3,058,703 | $131,208 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2023
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $6,230,291
- Membership dues
- $90,164
- Program service revenue
- $12,263
- Investment income
- $415,695
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $414,120
- Other revenue
- $13,955
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $445,184
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $704,512
- Other salaries and wages
- $2,246,420
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $3,445,876
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $55,502
- Accounting fees
- $62,627
- Occupancy
- $524,420
- Travel
- $254,158
- Depreciation
- $38,835
- Program services (functional)
- $4,764,075
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,580,433
- Fundraising (functional)
- $496,745
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $3,290,154
- Total assets, end of year
- $3,189,911
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $3,058,703
- Net assets, end of year
- $131,208
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $432,199
- Publicly traded securities
- $218
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $91,375
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $39,833
- Gross receipts
- $6,765,099
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 52
- Year formed
- 2021
- State of legal domicile
- VA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2023, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARION SMITH | PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $254,160 | $34,021 |
| CHRISTINE EMERY | VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $220,000 | $28,833 |
| ELIZABETH STIFF | CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $211,505 | $37,175 |
| CHRISTOPHER BEDFORD | SENIOR FELLOW & EDITOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $221,000 | $18,700 |
| AUSTIN STONE | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $216,667 | $14,954 |
| DAVID TALBOT | SECRETARY & TREASURER, EXECUTIVE VP Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $198,563 | $27,866 |
| JOEL BOWERS | VICE PRESIDENT, SOUTHERN US Highest-paid employee | 40 | $183,000 | $36,162 |
| PAIGE HANSON | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 40 | $182,000 | $7,902 |
| THOMAS PETERFFY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SOPHIE SCRUTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEXANDRE PESEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1455 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW STE 400, WASHINGTON, DC 20004-1017
- Principal officer (990 for 2023)
- MARION SMITH, 1455 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW 400, WASHINGTON, DC 20004
- Signed the 990
- MARION SMITH, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.
- Phone
- (202) 948-9890
- Website
- COMMONSENSESOCIETY.ORG
- Return prepared by
- WEGNER CPAS LLP
Mission
COMMON SENSE SOCIETY'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY, PROSPERITY, AND BEAUTY.
Program accomplishments
- CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - ACTIVITIES WHICH USE PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL PUBLIC PLATFORMS TO PROMOTE COMMON SENSE SOCIETY'S WORK IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL CITIZENS AND COMMUNITIES.Expenses $2,276,479 · grants $367,928
- RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS - ACTIVITIES WHICH PROVIDE RESEARCH AND THE RELATED PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING MAGAZINE ARTICLES, BOOKS, REPORTS, OP-EDS, AND OTHER MEDIA.Expenses $1,872,105 · grants $55,226
- EDUCATION - ACTIVITIES WHICH EDUCATE VARIOUS BENEFICIARIES, INCLUDING STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS ON THE PRINCIPLES THAT FOSTER LIBERTY, PROSPERITY AND BEAUTY.Expenses $615,491 · grants $22,029 · revenue $12,263
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | Not on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | Not on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 86-1543050
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2021
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $3,189,911
- Income (IRS master file)
- $6,765,099
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2023 | $6,672,204 | $6,841,253 | $3,189,911 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $7,424,976 | $6,899,702 | $3,290,154 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 86-1543050).
Questions about COMMON SENSE SOCIETY
- What is the EIN of COMMON SENSE SOCIETY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of COMMON SENSE SOCIETY is 86-1543050.
- Is COMMON SENSE SOCIETY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2021.
- Are donations to COMMON SENSE SOCIETY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does COMMON SENSE SOCIETY file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of COMMON SENSE SOCIETY due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did COMMON SENSE SOCIETY last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2023.
- Who is the principal officer of COMMON SENSE SOCIETY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2023 names MARION SMITH.
- Who are the officers and directors of COMMON SENSE SOCIETY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2023 lists 11 people; 8 received compensation from the organization, the highest $254,160 (MARION SMITH, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.).
- How much revenue does COMMON SENSE SOCIETY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2023 it reported revenue of $6,672,204, expenses of $6,841,253 and total assets of $3,189,911 at year end.
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