SMART GROWTH AMERICA Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

SMART GROWTH AMERICA

EIN 27-0038938 · Research Institutes & Public Policy Analysis (C05)

What they do

SMART GROWTH AMERICA ENVISIONS A COUNTRY WHERE NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, or WHO YOU ARE, YOU CAN ENJOY LIVING IN A PLACE THAT is HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS, and RESILIENT. OUR MISSION is to EMPOWER COMMUNITIES THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ADVOCACY, and THOUGHT LEADERSHIP to REALIZE OUR VISION of LIVABLE PLACES, HEALTHY PEOPLE, and SHARED PROSPERITY.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $78.10 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders23 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

91.95%of revenue went to mission work78.1% of expenses · Program services

0.02%of revenue went to fundraising0.0% of expenses

$117.78spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

25.81%of revenue went to management and office costs21.9% of expenses

$1.03in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

74.9%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $1,281,053 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $302,483 for CALVIN GLADNEY (PRESIDENT & CEO (THROUGH 4/2025)). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$7,203,795

Mission workProgram services$6,624,17391.95% of revenue78.1% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$1,859,59225.81% of revenue21.9% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$1,0830.02% of revenue0.0% of expenses

Total expenses$8,484,848117.78% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 78.1% mission · 21.9% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 117.78% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 71.4% mission · 28.5% management · 0.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 164.19% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 62.6% mission · 37.4% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 60.90% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 68.2% mission · 31.7% management · 0.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 98.45% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 70.4% mission · 29.3% management · 0.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 84.96% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 74.2% mission · 25.3% management · 0.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 108.38% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 78.8% mission · 20.5% management · 0.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 119.95% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 83.0% mission · 16.6% management · 0.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 111.43% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$7,203,795

Expenses$8,484,848

Annual shortfall $1,281,053 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$6,624,173 · 78.1% of expenses

Management and office costs$1,859,592 · 21.9% of expenses

Fundraising$1,083 · 0.0% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$7,203,795

Expenses$8,484,848

Assets$8,748,440

Income$7,203,795

Contributions$5,395,169

Mission work (program services)$6,624,173

Fundraising$1,083

Grants given$3,915,509

Average grant$61,180

Management and general$1,859,592

Accounting fees$27,797

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

CALVIN GLADNEYPRESIDENT & CEO (THROUGH 4/2025) · 40 hrs/week $302,483Base $288,500 · Other $13,983

ELIZABETH OSBORNEPRESIDENT & CEO (AS OF 4/2025) · 40 hrs/week $236,779Base $194,663 · Other $42,116

KATHARINE BURGESSVP, LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT · 40 hrs/week $219,472Base $179,399 · Other $40,073

JOHN ROBERT SMITHSENIOR POLICY ADVISOR · 40 hrs/week $202,720Base $178,045 · Other $24,675

ERICA COVADIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS · 40 hrs/week $173,727Base $163,590 · Other $10,137

ISAAC MINTZ HIRED 05302024VP, FINANCE AND ADMINSTRATION · 40 hrs/week $148,476Base $133,514 · Other $14,962

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (23)

CALVIN GLADNEYPRESIDENT & CEO (THROUGH 4/2025)

ELIZABETH OSBORNEPRESIDENT & CEO (AS OF 4/2025)

KATHARINE BURGESSVP, LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT

JOHN ROBERT SMITHSENIOR POLICY ADVISOR

ERICA COVADIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

ISAAC MINTZ HIRED 05302024VP, FINANCE AND ADMINSTRATION

JACK MACHEK - TERM ENDEDBOARD MEMBER

SUSAN D DAGGETTBOARD MEMBER

STEWART SCHAWARTZBOARD MEMBER

SHALINI VAJHALABOARD MEMBER

PETER PARKBOARD MEMBER

PETER KASABACHBOARD MEMBER

PATRICE FREYBOARD MEMBER

MAELA BILONIK - TERM ENDEDBOARD MEMBER

MADELINE F COOKBOARD MEMBER

JEREMY MADSENBOARD MEMBER

AMY COTTER - TERM ENDEDBOARD MEMBER

EMEKA MONEMEBOARD MEMBER

DANIELLE ARIGONI - TERM ENDEDBOARD MEMBER

CAMILLE BROOMEBOARD MEMBER

ASHOK GUPTA - TERM ENDEDBOARD MEMBER

ANITA COZART - TERM ENDEDBOARD MEMBER

ANDRE LEROUXBOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2003
Location: 1350 EYE STREET 425, WASHINGTON, DC 20005
County: District of Columbia
In care of: ELIZABETH OSBORNE
Primary officer: ELIZABETH OSBORNE, PRESIDENT & CEO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(202) 207-3355

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: MITCHELL & TITUS LLP
NTEE classification: Research Institutes & Public Policy Analysis (C05)
IRS tax category: Research Institutes & Public Policy Analysis
Grant-giving organization: Yes