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Cardus Inc

EIN 20-2324150 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak31 out of 100GovernanceWeak44 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CARDUS, INC. IS A THINK TANK. WE BUILD INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY, SOCIAL NETWORKS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES TO SUSTAIN A WIDE RANGE OF CULTURAL ENTREPRENEURS FOR THE RENEWAL OF NORTH AMERICAN SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE. CARDUS, INC. IS INSPIRED BY A LONG TRADITION OF CHRISTIAN SOCIAL THOUGHT.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$183,013, 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

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 99% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $4,842 spent. THE CARDUS EDUCATION SURVEY RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE CULTURE SHAPING IMPACT OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IN THE US AND CANADA ORIGINALLY BEGAN AS A TWO YEAR PILOT PROJECT IN 2009. EXTENDED INTO 2012, THIS HAS NOW BECOME A LONG TERM PROJECT, CONDUCTED JOINTLY WITH THE CARDUS INSTITUTE, TO PROVIDE RELIABLE, CREDIBLE DATA FOR NON-GOVERNMENT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS.
  2. $1.2 million spent. COMMENT IS ONE OF THE CORE PUBLICATIONS OF CARDUS, A THINK TANK DEVOTED TO RENEWING NORTH AMERICAN SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE, ROOTED IN 2000 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN SOCIAL THOUGHT. IN OUR PRINT AND ONLINE ESSAYS AND REVIEWS WE ZOOM IN ON THE MULTIPLE COMPONENTS THAT MAKE UP THIS "SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE": THE INSTITUTIONS THAT SERVE AS THE SCAFFOLDING AND SKELETON OF SOCIAL LIFE. IT'S OUR FAMILIES AND FINANCIAL SYSTEMS, POLITICS AND EDUCATION, MUSEUMS AND LABOUR UNIONS, AND MUCH MORE.

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 October 13, 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 February 2007.

    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 October 21, 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.