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The Century Foundation Inc

EIN 13-1624235 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTURY FOUNDATION IS A PROGRESSIVE, INDEPENDENT THINK TANK THAT CONDUCTS RESEARCH, DEVELOPS SOLUTIONS, AND DRIVES POLICY CHANGE TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER. WE PURSUE ECONOMIC, RACIAL, GENDER, AND DISABILITY EQUITY IN EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND WORKFORCE. THE CENTURY INTERNATIONAL TEAM CONDUCTS POLICY RESEARCH AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS THAT BUILD ON THE CENTURY FOUNDATION'S HISTORICAL COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY.

Income
$11.9 million
Spending
$13.7 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
43.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
71
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$368,523, president, thru march 2025

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 43.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (6)
  1. $2.5 million spent. HIGHER EDUCATION:HIGHER EDUCATION IS KEY TO UPWARD MOBILITY, YET OUR CURRENT SYSTEM IS RIDDLED WITH INEQUITIES, SKYROCKETING COSTS, AND ANTI-CONSUMER BEHAVIOR. TCF WORKS TO HOLD PREDATORY COLLEGES ACCOUNTABLE, LOWER TUITION COSTS AND EXPAND FINANCIAL AID, AND MAKE OUR CAMPUSES MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE.
  2. $2.0 million spent. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY:POWERFUL INTERESTS HAVE TURNED THE ECONOMY AGAINST ORDINARY PEOPLE. THE NATION'S ECONOMIC POLICIES - OR LACK THEREOF - DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO RECORD HIGH INEQUALITY AND MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES TO GET BY, LET ALONE GET AHEAD. TCF FIGHTS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF RACIAL, GENDER, AND DISABILITY JUSTICE ACROSS OUR ECONOMY, FROM EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET TO BUILDING AN ECONOMY THAT VALUES CARE WORK AND PROVIDES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
  3. $1.6 million spent. PK-12 EDUCATION:EDUCATION IS THE BEDROCK OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: IT'S ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS WE HAVE TO GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED. BUT TODAY, OUR SCHOOLS FROM PRE-K TO HIGH SCHOOL DON'T DELIVER ON THAT PROMISE. TCF WORKS TO CHANGE THAT, SO THAT EVERY CHILD, NO MATTER THEIR BACKGROUND, HAS ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION.
  4. $1.1 million spent. NEXT100:NEXT100 IS A POP-UP THINK TANK BUILT FOR A NEW BRAND OF POLICY LEADERS, WORKING ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO THE NEXT GENERATION.THE NEXT GENERATION LIVES AND BREATHES THE ISSUES DRIVING THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT FORWARD, AND BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY'RE IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO SHAPE THE FUTURE. NEXT100, AN INNOVATIVE POP-UP THINK TANK WHERE ASPIRING LEADERS CAN ENACT POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT WILL IMPACT NOT ONLY THIS GENERATION, BUT ALL GENERATIONS THAT FOLLOW.
  5. $1.1 million spent. HEALTH CARE:THE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS BESET WITH INEQUALITIES THAT HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES, AND OTHER OPPRESSED GROUPS. TCF'S HEALTH CARE TEAM WORKS TO ADVANCE A TRULY UNIVERSAL, AFFORDABLE, AND HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT ADDRESSES ECONOMIC, RACIAL, AND GENDER DISPARITIES.
  6. $2.8 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS (CROSS TEAMS, CENTURY INTERNATIONAL, COMMUNICATION AND EDITORIAL AND OTHERS)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1937.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.