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Nonprofit · EIN 86-3675838

CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS

Tax-exempt · MCLEAN, VA 22101

Financials

$2.4M$1.7M2023$5.4M$6.4M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$5,382,385$6,373,340-$990,955$133,482$9,133$124,349
December 31, 2023990$2,416,143$1,733,357$682,786$1,125,514$10,210$1,115,304
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$5,382,000
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$0
Other revenue
$385

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$6,051,000
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$10,500
Other salaries and wages
$7,303
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$19,656
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$2,964
Program services (functional)
$6,058,469
Management and general (functional)
$312,709
Fundraising (functional)
$2,162

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$1,125,514
Total assets, end of year
$133,482
Total liabilities, end of year
$9,133
Net assets, end of year
$124,349
Gross receipts
$5,382,385
Employees
3
Volunteers
3
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, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
DAVID AVELLACHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
10$7,606
MELODIE JOHNSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
BRIAN CONKLINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
PEGGY GRANDEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MOLLY VINESETTCHIEF OF STAFF
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 14 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
DAVID AVELLACHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
40$326,515
JESSICA CURTISEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$50,119
BRIAN CONKLINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
WAYNE COVERTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
GERARD DEHRMANNDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ELIZABETH GIANINIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
PEGGY GRANDEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
AJ GRIFFINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
LISA HERSHMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MARCIA KELLYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MARTY MAKARYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
KIRSTJEN NIELSENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
DAVID SPROSSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MELODIE JOHNSONTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1390 CHAIN BRIDGE RD 515, MCLEAN, VA 22101-3904
In care of
% JESSICA CURTIS
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
DAVID AVELLA, 1390 CHAIN BRIDGE RD 515, MCLEAN, VA 22101
Signed the 990
MOLLY VINESETT, CHIEF OF STAFF
Phone
(202) 464-5170
Return prepared by
ATCHLEY & ASSOCIATES LLP

Mission

THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS (CFAI) IS DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT ADVANCE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS. OUR PURPOSE IS TO IDENTIFY AND EDUCATE BOTH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS ABOUT IDEAS THAT ADVANCE AND ENHANCE PROSPERITY THROUGH PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT AND LIMITED GOVERNMENT.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • IN 2024, THE CFAI SPENT THE MAJORITY OF ITS EXPENDITURES ON POLICY EVENTS, SURVEY RESEARCH AND OUTGOING CONTRIBUTIONS IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS MISSION.
    Expenses $6,058,469 · grants $6,051,000 · revenue $385

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
86-3675838
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(4): Social welfare organization
Donations deductible
No
Exempt since
2022
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$133,482
Income (IRS master file)
$5,382,385

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$5,382,385$6,373,340$133,482XML
990December 2023$2,416,143$1,733,357$1,125,514XML
990December 2022$7,332,043$7,353,185$431,471IRS
990December 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 86-3675838).

Questions about CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS

What is the EIN of CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS?
The employer identification number (EIN) of CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS is 86-3675838.
Is CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4) since 2022.
Are donations to CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS tax-deductible?
No. The IRS master file says contributions to it are not deductible.
Which annual return does CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS 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 CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS 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 CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names DAVID AVELLA.
Who are the officers and directors of CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 5 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $7,606 (DAVID AVELLA, CHAIRMAN).
How much revenue does CENTER FOR AMERICAN IDEAS have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $5,382,385, expenses of $6,373,340 and total assets of $133,482 at year end.

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