Common Cause

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Acccording to the organization's web site, Common Cause was "founded in 1970 by John Gardner, former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. Gardner envisioned a movement propelled by the focused and concerted grassroots lobbying activities of Common Cause members and reinforced with professional lobbying on Capitol Hill. His nonpartisan, citizens' lobbying group made an immediate impact. Within a year, more than 100,000 citizens had joined Common Cause and its agenda quickly grew to include ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam, reforming the campaign finance system, and pressing for civil rights, ethics, financial and lobby disclosure, and open meeting laws. Recognizing the need for fundamental reform at the state level, Common Cause soon began organizing parallel lobbying efforts in the states and establishing Common Cause state organizations."

"Common Cause regularly publishes investigative studies on the effects of money in politics and reports on a variety of ethics and integrity-in-government issues. These studies and background materials on a wide range of reform issues on the national and state levels can be found on Common Cause's web site - www.commoncause.org - along with special "Take Action" components that allow citizens to act on issues of open, honest and accountable government."

Organization

"The Interim Chair of Common Cause is Martha Tierney; the President and CEO is Bob Edgar. Edgar previously served as head of the National Council of Churches"

"Common Cause's 30-member National Governing Board serves as its policy-making body. The members of the Board are elected by the membership to three-year terms. Board members meet in Washington three times a year to discuss, determine and oversee Common Cause's issue, organizational and financial activities."

Governing Board Members

National Governing Board Members

Funding

"Common Cause is financed, in large part, by the dues and contributions of its individual members. Because it is a 501(c)(4) lobbying organization, such contributions to Common Cause are not tax deductible." The Common Cause Education Fund, the 501(c)(3) "affiliate, conducts research, education, and outreach activities and is supported by foundation grants and tax-deductible contributions from individuals and institutions. The combined annual operating budget of Common Cause and the Common Cause Education Fund is approximately $10 million. Common Cause does not solicit contributions from labor unions or corporations."

Contact

1133 19th Street NW, 9th Floor
Washington D.C. 20036
Phone: (202) 833-1200
Email: grassroots AT commoncause.org
Web: http://www.commoncause.org

Related SourceWatch Resources

External links

  • About CJA, CJA, accessed July 19, 2007.