Bell Policy Center is located in Denver, CO. The organization was established in 2001. According to its NTEE Classification (R40) the organization is classified as: Voter Education & Registration, under the broad grouping of Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy and related organizations. As of 12/2023, Bell Policy Center employed 10 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Bell Policy Center is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 12/2023, Bell Policy Center generated $2.7m in total revenue. This organization has experienced exceptional growth, as over the past 9 years, it has increased revenue by an average of 11.0% each year . All expenses for the organization totaled $1.4m during the year ending 12/2023. While expenses have increased by 3.6% per year over the past 9 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2023
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
THE BELL POLICY CENTER'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR EVERY COLORADAN. WE WORK TO IGNITE A CONVERSATION THAT INSPIRES COMMUNITIES AND THEIR LEADERS TO TRANSFORM COLORADO INTO A STATE WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
THE BELL POLICY CENTER USES POLICY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, ADVOCACY, AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION TO ADVANCE SYSTEMS CHANGE THAT SUPPORTS ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND EQUITY. WE APPROACH THIS WORK WITH A FOCUS ON FOUR MAIN AREAS: PUBLIC FUNDING FOR ECONOMIC MOBILITY: LEGISLATIVE, BALLOT, LEGAL, AND LONG-TERM STRATEGIES TO ENSURE PUBLIC FUNDING FOR THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS AND LEVERS OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AS WELL AS CORE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS ON PUBLIC FUNDING AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY FROM AN EQUITY LENS.STRENGTHENING THE CARING ECONOMY: RESEARCH, COMMUNICATION, AND ADVOCACY TO ELEVATE AND STRENGTHEN COLORADOS CARING WORKFORCE (EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS, DIRECT CARE WORKERS SUPPORTING OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, EDUCATORS AND STAFF IN THE K-12 SYSTEM) AND THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE.CLOSING EQUITY GAPS: IDENTIFYING AND TACKLING STRUCTURAL BARRIERS FOR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN KEY LEVERS OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY, WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON HOUSING, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, AND AGING, AND A SPECIFIC RACIAL AND GENDER EQUITY LENS.TELLING THE ECONOMIC STORY: TELLING THE STORY OF OUR ECONOMY TO POLICYMAKERS, MEDIA, AND ACTIVISTS WITH A FOCUS ON FAIRNESS, RACIAL EQUITY, AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY.THROUGHOUT THESE FOUR PRIORITIES, OUR SYSTEMS CHANGE WORK STRIVES TO CENTER COMMUNITY (RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY THAT ENGAGES WITH AND BUILDS FROM THE PRIORITIES OF AFFECTED COMMUNITIES), EQUITY (ADVANCING GREATER EQUITY IN ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR BIPOC COLORADANS, WOMEN, AND OTHER HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES), AND NARRATIVE (INFLUENCING THE CONVERSATION AROUND ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND BUILDING PUBLIC AND POLITICAL WILL FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY). OUR TEAM CONDUCTS RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS TO ILLUMINATE EFFECTS OF THE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS AND STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES THAT HAVE PREVENTED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, LOW-INCOME COLORADANS, AND OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS FROM ACHIEVING ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND SUPPORT COMMUNITIES IN DEVELOPING ACTIONABLE POLICY AND SYSTEMS CHANGE STRATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING THEM. THROUGH STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY, WE ENGAGE COLORADANS IN THESE ISSUES, ELEVATE THEM WITH POLICY LEADERS AND THE PUBLIC, AND BUILD MOMENTUM FOR ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS. 2023 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED:STRENGTHENED THE CASE FOR PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROMOTE GREATER ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND EQUITY THROUGH SEVERAL RESEARCH PRODUCTS, INCLUDING MEASURING ADEQUACY: FUNDING AND STATE SERVICES, A REPORT WITH COLORADO FISCAL INSTITUTE ANALYZING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO ADEQUATELY FUND A SPECTRUM OF BASIC GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS AND LOOKING AT WHERE COLORADO CURRENTLY STANDS IN TERMS OF FUNDING LEVELS FOR KEY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES;UPDATED OUR RESEARCH ON COLORADOS REVENUE BASE AND PROVIDED SEVERAL KEY RESOURCES FOR LEADERS AND THE PUBLIC AROUND TABOR AND ANALYSIS OF COLORADOS STATE BUDGET, LOOKING AT TRENDS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES TO INFORM THE PROPERTY TAX DEBATE AND LOOK AT OPTIONS FOR MORE TARGETED RELIEF FOR LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME COLORADANS;PUBLISHED OUR 2023 BALLOT GUIDE IN OCTOBER IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, PROVIDING RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF EACH OF THE STATEWIDE MEASURES, AND RATING OF EACH MEASURES IMPACT ON TAX FAIRNESS, RACIAL EQUITY, AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY; DEVELOPED THREE RESEARCH BRIEFS EXPLORING THE CURRENT STATE OF THE CARE ECONOMY IN COLORADO: ACCESSIBILITY OF CARE, AFFORDABILITY OF CARE, AND QUALITY OF CARE; UPDATED OUR COST OF QUALITY CHILD CARE MODEL AND ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTED TO GROWING OUR FUTURE AND ITS EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM CHILD CARE IN COLORADO; LAUNCHED A SERIES OF RESOURCES ON HOUSING ISSUES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN COOPERATION WITH COLORADO GIVES FOUNDATION, INCLUDING RESEARCH, COMMUNICATIONS, AND A WEBINAR SERIES;DEVELOPED COLORADO'S LENDING LANDSCAPE, A STUDY EXAMINING THE LENDING AND CREDIT LANDSCAPE FOR COLORADANS IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC; WITH PARTNERS IN THE OLDER WORKER POLICY COLLABORATIVE, SUCCESSFULLY ADVANCED A POLICY TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GRADUATION DATES IN JOB APPLICATIONS;DEVELOPED NEW ANALYSIS ON REAL WAGES IN COLORADO AND THE EFFECTS OF INFLATION ON THOSE WAGES AND CONTINUED OUR IN THE KNOW SERIES, PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, AND FACTS ON THE ISSUES LEADING DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATE IN THE POLICY CONVERSATION., INCLUDING SCHOOL FINANCE, ENERGY COSTS, THE CARING WORKFORCE, CONSUMER PROTECTION, RENT CONTROL, AND ZONING AND LAND USE REFORM;CONTINUED MESSAGING AND NARRATIVE WORK TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES IN DISCUSSIONS OF TAX AND FISCAL ISSUES. WORKED WITH MULTIPLE COALITIONS TO ADVANCE TAX FAIRNESS AND TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ON FISCAL AND TAX ISSUES;PRODUCED A SERIES OF MATERIALSINCLUDING VIDEOS, BLOGS, AND VISUAL CONTENTTO HELP COLORADANS UNDERSTAND ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND FISCAL ISSUES.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Scott Wasserman President | Officer | 40 | $141,075 |
Julie Pecaut Secretary | Officer | 40 | $96,033 |
Kathleen Beatty Board Member | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Lauren Arnold Board Member | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Ray Rivera Board Member | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Ledy Garcia-Eckstein Board Member | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $0 |
Fundraising events | $0 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $0 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $2,675,683 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $0 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $2,675,683 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $2,000 |
Investment income | $26,363 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Net Rental Income | $0 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $0 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | $0 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $2,704,046 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $281,685 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $30,985 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $493,467 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $0 |
Other employee benefits | $81,690 |
Payroll taxes | $59,997 |
Fees for services: Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Legal | $0 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $0 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $0 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $0 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Other | $248,617 |
Advertising and promotion | $2,796 |
Office expenses | $16,813 |
Information technology | $11,288 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $99,722 |
Travel | $0 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $0 |
Interest | $0 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $3,655 |
Insurance | $10,187 |
All other expenses | $2,091 |
Total functional expenses | $1,359,097 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $459,829 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $1,634,915 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $883,065 |
Accounts receivable, net | $0 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $0 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $3,194 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $4,306 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $0 |
Investments—other securities | $0 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $666,889 |
Total assets | $3,652,198 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $50,350 |
Grants payable | $0 |
Deferred revenue | $0 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Other liabilities | $655,249 |
Total liabilities | $705,599 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $1,752,997 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $1,193,602 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $3,652,198 |