Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 219,538 | 256,251 | 237,426 | 366,047 | 356,490 | 1,435,752 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 219,538 | 256,251 | 237,426 | 366,047 | 356,490 | 1,435,752 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f).. | 969,285 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 466,467 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 219,538 | 256,251 | 237,426 | 366,047 | 356,490 | 1,435,752 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | ||||||
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | ||||||
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 1,435,752 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
||||
| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
|||||
| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2020 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2020 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2020 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2020 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2019 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2020: | ||||
| a From 2015....... | ||||
| b From 2016....... | ||||
| c From 2017....... | ||||
| d From 2018....... | ||||
| e From 2019....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2020 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2015 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2020 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2020 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2020, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2020. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
7 Excess distributions carryover to 2021. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2016..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
|---|
| Advocates for Self Government, Inc. was incorporated in 1985 with the purpose of educating the general public about the political map and libertarian philosophy. The Advocates activities are a special field which can be expected to appeal to a broad cross-section of persons interested in libertarianism.The Advocates is organized and operated to attract new and additional public support on a continuous basis. While the majority of resources are utilized for educational programmatic activities, the Advocates maintains a continuous and bona fide program for solicitation of funds from the general public, community, and membership groups involved. The fundraising program includes online and email solicitations. The ongoing fundraising efforts are expected to raise the public support percentage in future years. The Organization normally receives support from contributions made directly by the general public in excess of the minimum 10% threshold. The percentage of support received from the general public for the five-year period ending on December 31, 2020 was 32.49%, less than 1% away from being 33.33%. While certain large individual grants may continue in the near term, this support is crucial to the support of the program service activities that accomplish the Advocate's overall exempt purpose. The Advocates will continue to solicit qualifying public support to assist in carrying out the program activities.As illustrated in in the program activities in Part III of the Form 990, our program service activities directly benefit the general public on a continuing basis. Our programs educate the general public about the political map and libertarian philosophy and teach communications skills to libertarians, free market advocates and civil libertarians.Since 1985, the Advocates for Self-Government has worked to bring about a free society by empowering those who love liberty to become highly successful at taking the ideas of individual freedom and responsibility, free markets and peace to the world.The Advocates for Self-Government's focus is unique. Libertarians in many different organizations use our products, programs and services to make their own outreach and educational efforts more effective.The Advocates programs advance the entire Liberty Movement by:Exposing millions to libertarianism by replacing the old "Left-Right" political map with a more inclusive and accurate model such as the one used by our World's Smallest Political Quiz.Creating new libertarians by presenting the freedom philosophy in an honest and persuasive way.Equipping libertarian activists with the tools and skills they need to successfully impact their communities through tools and training.The Advocates combines years of activism experience with the newest advances in technology, psychology, and communications to expose millions to the ideas of liberty and equip the Liberty Movement with the tools to change the world.Finally, the governing body represents the broad interest of the public, with no one individual or group of individuals having undue control or influence over the organization's funding or affairs. Each board member brings important skill sets, specialized knowledge, qualifications and expertise that help the organization plan and achieve its strategic objectives. Advocates for Self Government, Inc. qualifies as a publicly supported organization under the facts and circumstances test set forth in Treas. Reg. 1.170A-9(f)(3). The public support exceeded the 10 percent threshold for public charities. Furthermore, the ongoing fundraising efforts, sources of support, governing body and educational programs it conducts all demonstrate sufficient public support to meet the facts and circumstances test. Based upon all of the above, the "facts and circumstances" substantiate that Advocates for Self Government, Inc. continues to operate as a public charity. |
| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Form 990, Part I, Line 1, Description of Organization Mission: | Our Mission: To attract and persuade people to embrace libertarian principles and to empower libertarians to be highly successful at presenting the ideas of liberty to the world. We accomplish our mission by: Changing the dominant "Left-Right" political model -- which excludes libertarians -- to a more accurate and inclusive map like the one used by the World's Smallest Political Quiz, thus literally putting libertarians on the map. Identifying large numbers of new libertarian-leaning people through our online World's Smallest Political Quiz, our Operation Politically Homeless (OPH) kits, and quiz engagement initiatives, and introducing them to the ideas of liberty and effective ways to communicate those ideas to others. Training libertarian activists in proven, persuasive communications techniques that let them engage their fellow citizens and move the political debate toward freedom, opportunity and respect for others. Offering products to help libertarians rapidly grow their organizations by identifying and activating large numbers of potential libertarian activists. Educating new and prospective libertarians on the philosophy of freedom. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 2 | Karrie Rufer is the daughter of Chris Rufer. Michael Sertic is an employee of Chris Rufer. John Guido is a consultant to Chris Rufer. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 8b | The Organization has no committees with the authority to act on behalf of the board. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b | Form 990 and all applicable schedules and statements, hereafter referred to collectively as "Form 990", were provided to the Board. The Board reviewed form 990 for accuracy and completeness. Any questions that arose from the Board's reviews were addressed and/or resolved, as applicable, prior to filing Form 990. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c | The Board Chair understands the policy and watches for activities relative to compliance. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 | Financials are available upon written request to Advocates for Self-Government, Inc. |
| Form 990 Part VII, Compensation of Officers, Directors, Trustees, | Key Employees, Highest Compensated Employees, and Independent Contractors: Leased Employee: The Advocates does not have any employees. Michael Sertic, President, is an employee of and was compensated by The Morning Star Institute (TMSI), owned by Board Chair Chris Rufer. The Advocates reimburses TMSI for payroll costs based upon time allocations and payroll costs each pay period. The total amount reimbursed during 2020 was $120,638. |
| Form 990, Part IX, line 11g | Other Professional Fees: Program service expenses 194,167. Management and general expenses 4,088. Fundraising expenses 6,132. Total expenses 204,387. Leased employee costs: Program service expenses 107,368. Management and general expenses 8,445. Fundraising expenses 4,826. Total expenses 120,639. |
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