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National Bureau of Economic Research Inc

EIN 13-1641075 · Cambridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NBER CONDUCTS UNBIASED, NON-PARTISAN ECONOMIC RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATES THE FINDINGS OF THAT RESEARCH TO ACADEMIC RESEARCHERS, POLICY-MAKERS, AND BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Income
$47.0 million
Spending
$38.9 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
55.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 52%
Employees
458
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$968,625, president & ceo

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (social science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 55.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 44% of charities in its peer group (social science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    49 of 50 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 (4)
  1. $18.4 million spent. SPONSORED RESEARCH: THE NBER AND ITS AFFILIATED RESEARCHERS CONDUCT ACADEMIC RESEARCH PROJECTS ON A WIDE ARRAY OF TOPICS WITHIN ECONOMICS. THESE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED BY GRANTS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS. SPONSORS INCLUDE THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, AND THE ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION, AMONG OTHER ENTITIES. THE NBER HAS OVER 1,800 AFFILIATED RESEARCHERS, AND MORE THAN 350 CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS.
  2. $6.9 million spent. RESEARCH MEETINGS: THE NBER ORGANIZED OVER 150 RESEARCH MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES DURING THE YEAR, INCLUDING MORE THAN 50 MEETINGS THAT TAKEN TOGETHER CONSTITUTE THE NBER'S SUMMER INSTITUTE. THESE MEETINGS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESEARCHERS, BOTH NBER AFFILIATES AND OTHER INVITEES, TO PRESENT THEIR LATEST RESEARCH FINDINGS AND TO EXCHANGE IDEAS ABOUT ONGOING RESEARCH. THE MEETINGS INCLUDE BOTH RESEARCH CONDUCTED THROUGH THE NBER AND OTHER RELEVANT ACADEMIC RESEARCH. THESE MEETINGS ARE ORGANIZED BY THE NBER'S PROGRAM DIRECTORS AND WORKING GROUP DIRECTORS, OR OTHER RESEARCHERS SELECTED BY THEM. MOST ARE HELD IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ALTHOUGH SOME ARE HELD IN OTHER LOCATIONS. SOME MEETINGS ARE HELD VIRTUALLY, AND VIDEOS OF MOST MEETINGS ARE POSTED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE EVENT.
  3. $1.0 million spent. PUBLICATIONS: THE NBER DISSEMINATES THE SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS OF ITS AFFILIATED RESEARCHERS IN SEVERAL WAYS: BY INCLUSION IN THE NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES, BY PUBLISHING BOOKS, USUALLY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS, AND BY HIGHLIGHTING RESEARCH IN THE MORE BROADLY-DISTRIBUTED NBER DIGEST, NBER REPORTER, NBER BULLETIN ON HEALTH, NBER BULLETIN ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND THE NBER BULLETIN ON THE ECONOMICS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS. THE NBER POSTS OVER TWELVE HUNDRED WORKING PAPERS ANNUALLY, AND MORE THAN A NINE HUNDRED INSTITUTIONS SUBSCRIBE TO THE NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES. THE CIRCULATION OF THE DIGEST AND REPORTER PUBLICATIONS IS SEVERAL TIMES LARGER.
  4. $1.0 million spent. NON-SPONSORED RESEARCH

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 March 1921.

    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.