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Anti-Defamation League

EIN 13-1818723 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE (THE "LEAGUE") IS A LEADING ANTI-HATE ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FOUNDED IN 1913 IN RESPONSE TO AN ESCALATING CLIMATE OF ANTISEMITISM AND BIGOTRY. (CONTINUED IN SCH. O)ITS TIMELESS MISSION IS TO STOP THE DEFAMATION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND TO SECURE JUSTICE AND FAIR TREATMENT TO ALL. TODAY, THE LEAGUE CONTINUES TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM AND OTHER FORMS OF HATE WITH THE SAME VIGOR AND PASSION. IN ADDITION TO BEING THE FIRST CALL WHEN ACTS OF ANTISEMITISM OCCUR, THE LEAGUE IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN DELIVERING ANTISEMITISM EDUCATION AND COMBATTING EXTREMISM AND HATE ONLINE. THE LEAGUE'S ULTIMATE GOAL IS A WORLD IN WHICH NO GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL SUFFERS FROM UNJUST AND UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION.

Income
$135.3 million
Spending
$128.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
623
Volunteers
3,500
Highest pay
$1.4 million, ceo & national director

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

Weak: 40 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 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 (5)
  1. $32.5 million spent. FIELD OPERATIONS - SUPERVISES AND COORDINATES THE LEAGUE'S COAST-TO-COAST NETWORK OF REGIONAL OFFICES. ESTABLISHES AND MONITORS OPERATING PLANS FOR EACH REGION, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON PRIORITY PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING TRAINING FOR EDUCATORS, STUDENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS; GOVERNMENTAL ADVOCACY; COLLECTING AND REPORTING ON ANTISEMITIC ACTIVITY; VICTIM ASSISTANCE; AND RESPONSE TO ANTISEMITISM (CRIMES AND BIAS INCIDENTS).
  2. $28.3 million spent. POLICY AND PROGRAMS - SEE SCHEDULE OPOLICY AND PROGRAMS ENCOMPASSES WORK INCLUDING NATIONAL AFFAIRS, THE CENTER ON EXTREMISM; LAW ENFORCEMENT; NATIONAL LITIGATION (INCLUDING THE LEGAL ACTION NETWORK); THE CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY; AND THE CENTER FOR ANTISEMITISM RESEARCH.THE NATIONAL AFFAIRS TEAM PROMOTES THE LEAGUE'S MISSION IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH A FOCUS ON LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY, OUTREACH TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND COALITION BUILDING. THE CENTER ON EXTREMISM STUDIES AND EXPOSES EXTREMIST MOVEMENTS AND THREATS ACROSS THE IDEOLOGICAL SPECTRUM AND PROVIDES ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE AND DATA-BASED ANALYSIS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OTHERS. THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAM CONDUCTS PROGRAMS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ON ANTISEMITISM, VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND COMMUNITY SECURITY.ADL'S NATIONAL LITIGATION TEAM WORKS TO PROVIDE VICTIMS OF ANTISEMITISM AND HATE WITH ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES. IN OCTOBER 2025, ADL LAUNCHED THE LEGAL ACTION NETWORK WHICH HELPS BROADEN ITS REACH TO DO JUST THAT. THE CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY WORKS TO DEVELOP NEW STRATEGIES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ANTISEMITISM AND HATE ONLINE, ANALYZING AND PREPARING REPORTS, PROVIDING INSIGHTS TO GOVERNMENT AND POLICYMAKERS, AND EXPOSING AND COUNTERING CASES OF ABUSE AND OFFENSIVE CONTENT ON THE INTERNET. THE CENTER FOR ANTISEMITISM RESEARCH STUDIES AND PILOTS WHAT IS EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING ANTISEMITISM.
  3. $18.1 million spent. PUBLIC AWARENESS - MANAGES AWARENESS THROUGH PUBLISHED MATERIALS, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEBSITES, SOCIAL MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING, EMAIL MARKETING, DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGNS, ONLINE VIDEO AND PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS. WORKS TO ENSURE CONSISTENT BRANDING ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION. KEEPS CONSTITUENTS INFORMED OF BREAKING NEWS AND ISSUES INVOLVED WITH ADL'S WORK. PREPARES VISUAL AND PRINT MATERIALS ON ADL ISSUES, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES; WRITES, EDITS AND PRODUCES MATERIALS (REPORTS, BROCHURES, INVITATIONS NEWSLETTERS, PUBLICATIONS); AND HANDLES SPECIAL PROJECTS SUCH AS EXHIBITS AND EVENTS.
  4. $9.8 million spent. EDUCATION - FURTHERS ADL'S MISSION THROUGH THE DESIGN AND DELIVERY OF INTERGROUP, HOLOCAUST, ANTI-BIAS, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS FOR USE IN P-12 CLASSROOMS, ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AND WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, CORPORATIONS, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, YOUTH MOVEMENTS, AND OTHER NONTRADITIONAL LEARNING CONTEXTS.
  5. $7.9 million spent. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - MAINTAINS CONTACTS THROUGHOUT EUROPE, LATIN AMERICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND THE U.S. TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ANTISEMITISM AND BIGOTRY WORLDWIDE AND TO COORDINATE ON BEST PRACTICES TO FIGHT THIS HATRED. MEASURES AND ANALYZES TRENDS AROUND THE WORLD RELATED TO ANTISEMITISM AND RELATED ISSUES. INITIATES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES ON UNDERSTANDING AND COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM.

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 June 1948.

    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.