Nonprofit · EIN 13-4174402
FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC
Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20036
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $32,538,609 | $30,922,870 | $1,615,739 | $41,304,210 | $13,600,276 | $27,703,934 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $23,924,041 | $25,394,541 | -$1,470,500 | $31,722,831 | $6,211,205 | $25,511,626 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $31,956,043
- Program service revenue
- $128,718
- Investment income
- $346,332
- Net rental income
- $104,676
- Net gain from sales of assets
- -$9,562
- Other revenue
- $107,516
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $900,000
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $4,033,585
- Other salaries and wages
- $9,913,501
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $16,359,974
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $900,065
- Accounting fees
- $29,125
- Occupancy
- $942,791
- Travel
- $1,262,897
- Depreciation
- $255,642
- Program services (functional)
- $23,031,887
- Management and general (functional)
- $4,998,479
- Fundraising (functional)
- $2,892,504
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $31,722,831
- Total assets, end of year
- $41,304,210
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $13,600,276
- Net assets, end of year
- $27,703,934
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $751,121
- Publicly traded securities
- $14,408,095
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $20,386,138
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $7,317,796
- Gross receipts
- $33,557,969
- Employees
- 102
- Volunteers
- 110
- Year formed
- 2001
- State of legal domicile
- NY
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.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Dubowitz | CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 60 | $848,899 | $0 | $56,391 |
| Clifford May | President Trustee or director, Officer | 60 | $793,905 | $704 | $49,711 |
| Jonathan J Schanzer | SVP Officer | 60 | $578,337 | $697 | $60,113 |
| William McCarthy | COO Officer | 48 | $548,961 | $4,627 | $14,246 |
| Lawrence Muscant | SVP (Sr. Advisor Mid Year) Key employee | 50 | $512,378 | $0 | $40,461 |
| Eyal Hulata | Senior International Fellow Highest-paid employee | 50 | $401,906 | $0 | $46,264 |
| Lesli Gillette | VP, Development Key employee | 60 | $337,857 | $0 | $58,519 |
| Bradley L Bowman | Senior Director Highest-paid employee | 50 | $302,275 | $0 | $47,067 |
| Elaine K Dezenski | Senior Director Highest-paid employee | 50 | $293,652 | $0 | $47,286 |
| Mark Montgomery | Senior Director / Senior Fellow Highest-paid employee | 50 | $308,711 | $0 | $27,542 |
| Elizabeth L Robbins | VP Highest-paid employee | 50 | $315,521 | $0 | $16,066 |
| Timothy Gordon | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Leonard Abramson | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Isaac Applbaum | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| David Arditi | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
19 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Barish | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Brian Bilzin | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Michael Cohen | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Eric Dezenhall | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Larry Hochberg | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| David Horowitz | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Robert Kargman | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Lennert Leader | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| James Litinsky | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Bernard Marcus deceased 1124 | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Alan Meltzer | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| David Naftaly | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Natty Nashman | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Mark Pelson | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Mark Pruzanksi | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kenneth Schwartz | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Tina Snider | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| David Sterling | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Gil Tenzer | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 33 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Dubowitz | CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 60 | $860,629 | $0 | $49,209 |
| Lawrence Muscant | Senior Vice President Key employee | 50 | $776,445 | $0 | $49,209 |
| Clifford May | President Trustee or director, Officer | 60 | $758,588 | $488 | $41,466 |
| Toby R Dershowitz | Senior Vice President Key employee | 50 | $508,420 | $154,276 | $30,592 |
| Jonathan J Schanzer | Senior Vice President Officer | 60 | $624,498 | $0 | $49,209 |
| William McCarthy | COO Officer | 48 | $588,311 | $6,660 | $9,956 |
| Elaine K Dezenski | Senior Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $284,553 | $0 | $40,287 |
| Elizabeth L Robbins | Vice President Highest-paid employee | 40 | $310,690 | $0 | $12,261 |
| Mark Montgomery | Senior Director / Senior Fellow Highest-paid employee | 40 | $275,713 | $0 | $28,607 |
| Bradley L Bowman | Senior Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $254,152 | $0 | $39,465 |
| Georgianna Shea | Chief Technologist Highest-paid employee | 40 | $256,149 | $0 | $21,612 |
| Timothy Gordon | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Leonard Abramson | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Isaac Applbaum started 52323 | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| David Arditi | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| David Barish | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Brian Bilzin | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Michael Cohen | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Eric Dezenhall | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Larry Hochberg | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| David Horowitz | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Robert Kargman | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Lennert Leader | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| James Litinsky | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Bernard Marcus | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| David Naftaly | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Natty Nashman | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Mark Pelson | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Mark Pruzanksi | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Kenneth Schwartz | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Tina Snider | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| David Sterling | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Gil Tenzer | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1800 M ST NW STE 800S, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-5876
- In care of
- % CLIFFORD D MAY
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Clifford D May, 1800 M Street NW 800S, Washington, DC 200365876
- Signed the 990
- Clifford D May, President
- Phone
- (202) 207-0190
- Website
- https://www.fdd.org/
- 990-N for 2021 filed under this EIN
- Most likely by a chapter, club or affiliate (it says receipts are normally $50,000 or less). Officer: Ethridge Darlene, 659 lake road, Atkins AR 72823. Mailing address: 33249, Washington DC 20033. Website: www.foundationforthedefenseofdemocraciesinc.com
- Return prepared by
- Rogers & Company PLLC
Mission
To conduct research and provide education on national security and on international terrorism. See Schedule O for full mission
Program accomplishments
- Research: Provides research on national security, international relations, terrorism, and related issues on a timely basis and in response to the political and societal environment.Expenses $8,764,990
- Communications and Government Relations: Educates the general public and policy audiences on issues related to national security, international relations, terrorism, and other issues related to the defense of democratic societies and institutions.Expenses $3,990,999 · grants $900,000
- Iran Threat: Provides policy research, analysis, and education addressing Iran's support for terrorism and the pursuit of nuclear weapons.Expenses $2,384,604
- Center on Economic and Financial Power: Examines how democracies can use sanctions as economic coercion, deter illicit finance, and defend themselves against economic warfare.Expenses $2,063,357
- Center on Military and Political Power: Promotes understanding of the defense strategies, policies, and capabilities necessary to deter and defeat threats to the freedom, security, and prosperity of Americans and our allies by providing rigorous, timely, and relevant research and analysis.Expenses $1,503,485
- Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation: Aims to promote a greater understanding of the threats and opportunities to national security posed by the rapidly expanding technological environment.Expenses $1,908,935 · revenue $128,718
- Extremism Projects: Conduct research and analysis of certain groups and nations that may cause harm to the US or other democratic allies.Expenses $1,482,896
- Education and Training Programs: Provide mentoring, skill-building workshops, roundtables, and travel opportunities to mid-career professionals working in various aspects of national security and public policy.Expenses $932,621
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 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 13-4174402
- 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
- 2002
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- International, foreign affairs and national security (Q01)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $41,304,210
- Income (IRS master file)
- $33,557,969
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $32,538,609 | $30,922,870 | $41,304,210 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $23,924,041 | $25,394,541 | $31,722,831 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $18,424,072 | $19,996,565 | $33,154,261 | IRS |
| 990-N for 2021 Officer: Ethridge Darlene Filed under this EIN, most likely by a chapter or affiliate | December 31, 2021 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2017 | – | – | – | 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 13-4174402).
Questions about FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC
- What is the EIN of FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC is 13-4174402.
- Is FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2002.
- Are donations to FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC 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 FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC 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 FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC 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 FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Clifford D May.
- Who are the officers and directors of FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 34 people; 11 received compensation from the organization, the highest $848,899 (Mark Dubowitz, CEO).
- How much revenue does FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $32,538,609, expenses of $30,922,870 and total assets of $41,304,210 at year end.
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