How much of my donation goes to "overhead" and fees?

What is MVP’s “overhead ratio”?

Over the past six years, 89.7% of funding has gone to program, 10.3% to core operations.

Why is this ratio different from public financials?

Form 990s and other public financial statements paint an incomplete picture because:

• MVP features a multi-entity structure, while public financials are single-entity.
• Public financials do not include direct-to-organization (DTO) gifts, which we advise donors to make directly to grantees.

How does MVP define “program” and “core operations”?

• Program: Grantmaking, direct-to-organization (DTO) gifts we advise donors to make directly to grantees, and staffing and expenses tied to program delivery.
• Core operations: Staffing and infrastructure to run the organization (e.g., compliance, finance, IT, operations) and raise funds (this includes processing fees).

Is “core operations” the same as “overhead”?

Yes, but without the negative connotation. "Overhead" implies bloat; “core operations” plainly refers to “infrastructure needed to run the organization.”

Why is program staffing a “program” expense?

Staffing tied to program delivery is a program cost. (Programs don't run themselves!) In keeping with industry-wide practice, we account for this in our “program” budget.

That said: If program staffing were counted in "core operations," MVP's six-year core operating ratio would be 14.9%.

When you raise more, do you spend more on core operations?

Our financial model is built for stability and scale. We maintain staffing year over year, which helps us keep operating costs fairly level while scaling up program funding when donations surge. The more we raise, the greater portion goes to the program.

What are your payment processing fees?

We process online gifts through ActBlue, our trusted not-for-profit payment processing partner, which charges 3.95% for credit card fees and its own operations.

• For gifts up to $10,000, we suggest giving online. Even with the processing fee, it's the most cost-efficient option for gifts at this size. Processing a check costs more in staff time, so online giving keeps more of every dollar going to our grantees.
• For gifts over $10,000, we recommend giving by check, ACH, or wire, to avoid online processing fees. See all donation methods here, or contact us at advisor@movement.vote. 

Wasn’t MVP’s policy that “100% of donations support the work on the ground”? Did that change?

Yes. Until early 2026, a small group of generous donors covered core operations. 

Those donors didn’t go anywhere; we decided to spread operating costs across our full base of unrestricted revenue, rather than having a small group carry that load. This shift supports our resilience and, by extension, that of the organizations we serve.

We proudly run a lean operation — but it would be a disservice to obscure the fact that it takes funding to keep doing what we do.

What does MVP do beyond moving money to grantees?

MVP plays several key functions beyond grantmaking, including:

1. Devising national, regional, and state strategies with the aid of in-house advisors who bring years of expertise in organizing, movement building, and politics.
2. Continuously optimizing our grantmaking for the greatest impact, through sophisticated targeting, vetting, funding allocation, and evaluation.
3. Providing capacity-building support to our grantees, giving them the tools, skills, and support to strengthen, sustain, and scale their work.
4. Maximizing collaboration among our partners at the national and state levels, so that our movements can operate as greater than the sum of their parts.
5. Advising and educating donors on how to put their money to use in the most strategic and effective ways possible.
6. Organizing donors and funders as our partners in the project of shifting philanthropy from short-term transactional politics to long-term power building.

The “Overhead Myth”

A common belief in philanthropy states that groups should operate with as little “overhead” as possible and rely on as few donors as possible to cover those costs. 

The truth is, operating costs let us, well, operate. It makes the work possible. 

Over-reliance on any one funding stream risks organizational health and durability. By explicitly expanding our base of operational support to our full community of tens of thousands of donors (rather than putting our operational eggs in one basket), we are mitigating that risk and increasing our long-term stability. 

When we keep our own lights on, our partners benefit. The more donors of all levels we bring into our community, the more we can keep those lights on for the long haul.

*Note: Figures above are approximate and vary over time. Contact us to learn more.