As excitement builds for America’s 250th anniversary, relatively little attention has been paid to the nonprofit organization helping support much of the national commemoration. CharityWatch analyzed America250.org’s IRS Forms 990, audited financial statements, and other publicly available records to better understand where the organization’s funding comes from, how it spends those funds, and who benefits from those expenditures. Our review found millions of dollars in payments to politically-connected public affairs and strategic communications firms.
America250 is the official national effort established to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. The initiative is overseen by the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, a bipartisan body created by Congress in 2016 to coordinate anniversary activities and encourage civic engagement, education, and public participation. While Congress established the Commission, America250 is not a federal agency. Rather, it is a congressionally authorized commemorative initiative supported through a combination of public and private participation.
The Commission is in part supported by the public charity America250.org. America250.org works alongside the Commission to develop programs, partnerships, fundraising initiatives, and other activities supporting the national commemoration. Although it plays a significant role in the anniversary celebration, America250.org is not a federal agency. Rather, it is an independent nonprofit organization that supports the Commission’s work through public and private funding.
Because it is a public charity, its fiscal 2024 tax filing and audited financial statements are a matter of public record.
Congress appropriated $15 million in taxpayer funds to the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission for federal fiscal year 2024, the same twelve-month period covered by America250.org’s audited financial statements. During that year, America250.org reported receiving $11.1 million in reimbursements from the Commission for approved expenditures.
CharityWatch’s review further found that the organization paid more than $7 million to public affairs and strategic communications firms whose leadership includes former White House officials, former members of Congress, senior administration officials, and national political campaign strategists affiliated with both Democratic and Republican administrations and political campaigns.
According to the fiscal 2024 audited financial statements of America250.org (Note 11, Related Parties):
“Certain board members of America250 are also members of the Commission. The
Commission was established by Congress to inspire all Americans and to participate in the
250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. America250 operates only to
promote, support, and further the purposes of the Commission by providing various
services to the Commission. The Commission reimburses America250 for approved
expenditures. For the year ended September 30, 2024, $11,118,748 were reimbursed by the
Commission. As of September 30, 2024, $1,559,663 was owed to the Organization from
the Commission for services performed.”
America250.org’s fiscal 2024 IRS Form 990 (Part VII, Section B) identifies five independent contractors that each received more than $100,000 during the organization’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. Four of the five are public affairs or strategic communications firms whose founders, principals, or senior leadership include former White House officials, members of Congress, senior administration officials, and national political campaign strategists affiliated with both Democratic and Republican administrations and campaigns. The table below summarizes the compensation paid to each contractor and provides additional context about its political or governmental connections.
| Independent Contractor | FY2024 Compensation | Notable Government & Political Connections |
|---|---|---|
| Precision Strategies LLC | $3,667,828 | Strategic communications and public affairs firm founded by Stephanie Cutter, Jen O’Malley Dillon, and Teddy Goff, all veterans of President Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. O’Malley Dillon later served as White House Deputy Chief of Staff in the Biden administration. |
| SKDK LLC | $2,644,095 | Strategic communications and political consulting firm whose leadership has included numerous former Democratic administration officials and political strategists. The firm is now part of Stagwell. |
| Changing Our World, Inc. | $342,005 | National fundraising and philanthropy consulting firm specializing in nonprofit fundraising and philanthropic strategy. CharityWatch identified no notable government or political connections among the firm’s leadership during our review. |
| FGS Global LLC | $320,271 | Global public affairs and strategic communications firm formed through mergers that included The Glover Park Group. Founded by Joe Lockhart, Carter Eskew, Michael Feldman, and Chip Smith, all of whom previously served in senior Democratic political and presidential campaign roles. |
| PLUS Communications LLC | $239,442 | Public affairs and strategic communications firm led by Terry Nelson and Danny Diaz, both of whom held senior roles in Republican presidential campaigns. |
In 2024 other fees for services (to non-employees), which included payments to public affairs and strategic communications firms, amounted to $8,331,481. Grantmaking, by contrast, represented only a small portion of America250.org’s overall financial activities. According to its IRS Form 990, the organization’s $175,000 in grants accounted for approximately 1.4% of its total expenses.
| Recipient | Location | Cash Grant | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska State Historical Society | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| South Dakota Historical Society Foundation | Pierre, SD | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| State of Wyoming SPCR | Cheyenne, WY | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| State of Montana Historical Society | Helena, MT | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| Washington State Historical Society | Tacoma, WA | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| The Oregon Historical Society | Portland, OR | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| Hawaii AMVETS Service Foundation | Ewa Beach, HI | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| State of Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| The Ohio Historical Society | Columbus, OH | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| Texas State History Museum | Austin, TX | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| Baton Rouge Area Foundation | Baton Rouge, LA | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| Philadelphia250 | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | Philadelphia250 projects |
| Illinois Humanities Council, Inc. | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| Foundation for Arkansas Heritage and History | Little Rock, AR | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| Connecticut Humanities Council, Inc. | Middletown, CT | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
| West Virginia Division of Culture and History | Charleston, WV | $10,000 | Seed funding for A250 Commission |
Consistent with its role in supporting the nation’s official 250th anniversary commemoration, America250.org’s governing board includes several individuals with significant government and public service experience. According to the organization’s fiscal 2024 IRS Form 990, uncompensated directors include former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios, former U.S. Representative Joe Crowley, and other current or former members of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. Such affiliations are not unusual for an organization working closely with a congressionally created commission, but they illustrate the close relationship between America250.org and the official national commemorative effort.
The organization’s compensated leadership is disclosed in Part VII and Schedule J of its 2024 IRS Form 990. During 2024, During fiscal 2024, President Emily Sexton received total compensation of $294,949, while Executive Vice President Jennifer Condon received $234,764, including reportable compensation and other benefits as reported on the Form 990.
| Person | Listed role | Political / government connection |
|---|---|---|
| Rosie Rios | Chairperson (unpaid) | Former Treasurer of the United States and current chair of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. |
| Joe Crowley | Board Member (unpaid) | Former U.S. Representative from New York and former Chair of the House Democratic Caucus; now works in government affairs. |
| Cathy Gillespie | Board Member (unpaid) | Has held government and political roles, including congressional chief of staff and member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellows. |
| Lynn F Young | Secretary (unpaid) | Appointed to the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission by then-House Speaker Paul Ryan; former President General of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). |
| Tom Walker | Vice Chairperson (unpaid) | Appointed to the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission by then-House Speaker Paul Ryan and later served as Vice Chair of the Commission. |
CharityWatch’s review identified no evidence that America250.org violated any laws or IRS regulations, nor does the organization’s use of politically connected consultants, former public officials, or individuals with campaign experience necessarily suggest that the services provided were inappropriate or ineffective. However, when taxpayer-funded appropriations, a congressionally established commission, a closely affiliated nonprofit organization, and firms led by former government officials and political operatives become intertwined in the same financial ecosystem, careful public scrutiny becomes especially important.
Taxpayer dollars are public funds, and a charity’s assets, whether derived from charitable contributions, government grants, investment income, or other sources, are held to advance the public interest. As financial and governance relationships become increasingly interconnected, donors and taxpayers have a legitimate interest in understanding not only where the money goes, but also how spending decisions are made and whether appropriate safeguards exist to preserve independent decision-making.
Governance and oversight structures should include sufficient protections to help prevent actual or perceived conflicts of interest and maintain public confidence that charitable and taxpayer resources are being managed solely in furtherance of the organization’s mission.
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