Brightline Defense Project

Analysis

Brightline Defense Project is a registered charity in United States, based in San Francisco, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in November 2006, 20 years ago. Its declared purposes cover civil rights, social action and advocacy, which this site groups under human rights and equality. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Brightline Defense Project reported income of $2.0m and spending of $1.7m, spending 83% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $401k to $2.0m (+397%), an average of +49% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 79%. Over the whole period it spent 77% of the income it received.

Among 9,611 United States charities whose main cause is human rights and equality and that reported income, Brightline Defense Project sits at the 85th percentile: it is larger than about 85% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 86th percentile, and in the 87th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Thrive for Life Prison Project Inc ($2.0m), Alabama Law Foundation Inc ($2.0m) and Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation ($2.0m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 73% and program service revenue 27% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $153k (9.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $330k. At year end it held assets of $1.6m against liabilities of $280k, net assets of $1.4m. It reported 14 employees.