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Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Inc

EIN 13-2912529 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MANHATTAN INSTITUTE IS A COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS, JOURNALISTS, ACTIVISTS, AND CIVIC LEADERS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING OPPORTUNITY, INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, AND THE RULE OF LAW IN AMERICA AND ITS GREAT CITIES.

Income
$25.9 million
Spending
$27.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
12.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
136
Volunteers
71
Highest pay
$778,981, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 337% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 26 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 December 31, 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. $14.0 million spent. RESEARCH, OTHER, AND PUBLICATIONS - THIS PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVE IS TO SUPPORT AND PUBLISH THE WORK OF MI SCHOLARS WHO ARE NOT PART OF ANOTHER POLICY CENTER. IT ALSO COORDINATES THE WORK OF STAFF AND SCHOLARS IN THE OTHER SUBSTANTIVE POLICY CENTERS.
  2. $4.7 million spent. CITY JOURNAL - QUARTERLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO IDENTIFYING PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN THE INNER CITIES; APPROXIMATELY 7,500 DISTRIBUTED COPIES PER QUARTER.
  3. $2.0 million spent. CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS - THE SEMINARS & CONFERENCES PROGRAM HOSTS PUBLIC, EDUCATIONAL FORUMS AND LECTURES ON TOPICS RELATED TO THE INSTITUTE'S POLICY RESEARCH AREAS.
  4. $815,812 spent. THE ADAM SMITH SOCIETY - WE HOST EVENTS WITH THOUGHT LEADERS FROM INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, AND THE POLICY WORLD FOR TALKS AND DEBATES THAT UNPACK KEY POLICY CHALLENGES FACING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY AT LARGE. OUR EVENTS EXAMINE QUESTIONS LIKE: - HOW DO WE TRAIN THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE FOR JOBS OF THE FUTURE? - DOES THE FREE MARKET PROMOTE INEQUALITY OR OPPORTUNITY, OR BOTH? - OUGHT FIRMS PRIORITIZE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS? - HOW DOES CAPITALISM AFFECT THE LEAST PRIVILEGED? - IS BIG TECH A PROBLEM FOR OUR DEMOCRACY, AND IF SO, SHOULD IT BE REGULATED?

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 May 1977.

    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.

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