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National Coalition Against Censorship Inc

EIN 13-3197949 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NCAC PROMOTES FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, INQUIRY AND EXPRESSION AND OPPOSES CENSORSHIP IN ALL ITS FORMS.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
14.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
8
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$199,792, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $479,857 spent. NCAC'S ACTIVITIES ARE DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION BY:" ASSISTING STUDENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, PARENTS AND OTHERS OPPOSING CENSORSHIP IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES" HELPING ARTISTS, CURATORS AND MUSEUM DIRECTORS RESIST ART CENSORSHIP" INFORMING PUBLIC OFFICIALS, THE MEDIA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS" ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC POLICIES AND LAWS THAT RESPECT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND PRINCIPLES" EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE WIDER PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE EXPRESSION, CLAIMING THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS" ENGAGING WITH A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF ACTIVISTS AND SUPPORTING LOCAL ACTIVISM" ANALYZING CENSORSHIP TRENDS, PUBLISHING ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPING NEW STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE FREE SPEECH RIGHTSAS PART OF CORE PROGRAM, NCAC IS AN ALLIANCE OF 59 NATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING LITERARY, ARTISTIC, RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL, LABOR, AND CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUPS. FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, WE HAVE ENGAGED IN DIRECT ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION TO SUPPORT FIRST AMENDMENT PRINCIPLES. NCAC IS UNIQUE IN THAT WE ARE NATIONAL IN SCOPE BUT OFTEN LOCAL IN OUR APPROACH. WE WORK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS TO RESOLVE CENSORSHIP CONTROVERSIES WITHOUT LITIGATION.NCAC SPONSORS THE FREE EXPRESSION NETWORK (FEN), A GROUP OF MORE THAN 50 ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK ON FREE EXPRESSION ISSUES. DURING ZOOM MEETINGS THAT OCCUR EVERY OTHER MONTH, FEN MEMBERS SHARE INFORMATION AND STRATEGY ABOUT NEW ISSUES. THE FEN LISTSERV FACILITATES EFFORTS TO COLLABORATE ON ADVOCACY LETTERS, JOINT STATEMENTS AND AMICUS BRIEFS.EVERY YEAR NCAC RECEIVES HUNDREDS OF REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, ARTISTS, THE MEDIA, RESEARCHERS, STUDENTS, AND OTHERS. IT PROVIDES A WEALTH OF RESOURCES THROUGH ITS WEBSITE AS WELL AS PRIVATE COUNSELING. NCAC IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ALL CONCERNED CITIZENS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS.
  2. $421,243 spent. THE YOUTH FREE EXPRESSION PROGRAM (YFEP) IS DEDICATED TO THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE, HELPING THEM ASSERT AND DEFEND THEIR RIGHT TO FREE EXPRESSION. ANY ATTEMPT TO RESTRICT THE CREATIVE AND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM OF YOUNG PEOPLE IS HARMFUL. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO OPPOSE REMOVAL OF BOOKS FROM SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND CLASSROOMS, CENSORSHIP OF STUDENT-CREATED VISUAL ART, EFFORTS TO SILENCE STUDENT JOURNALISTS, CANCELLATION OF STUDENT-LED PLAYS AND MUSICALS, RESTRICTIONS ON STUDENT SPEECH ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND EFFORTS TO CENSOR HEALTH, HISTORY, AND SCIENCE CURRICULA.
  3. $178,190 spent. THE ARTS AND CULTURE ADVOCACY PROGRAM (ACAP) HELPS ARTISTS AND CURATORS INVOLVED IN CENSORSHIP DISPUTES. OUR GOAL IS TO RESOLVE CONTROVERSIES AND DEVELOP STRATEGIC EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES THAT EQUIP ARTISTS AND INSTITUTIONS WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO PROMOTE ARTISTIC FREEDOM. NCAC IS THE ONLY FREE SPEECH ORGANIZATION WITH A PROGRAM DEDICATED TO THE RIGHTS OF ARTISTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.