Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Center for Inquiry Inc

EIN 22-2306795 · Amherst, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SPONSOR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ADVANCE HUMANISM AND SKEPTICISM. TO ADVOCATE AND DEFEND A NONRELIGIOUS LIFE STANCE ROOTED IN SCIENCE, NATURALISTIC PHILOSOPHY, HUMANIST ETHICS, AND TO SERVE AND SUPPORT ADHERENTS OF THAT LIFE STANCE. TO PUBLISH SCHOLARLY MAGAZINES AND NEWSLETTERS AND TO HOLD EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES TO INCREASE PUBLIC APPRECIATION FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION. TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS REGARDING AND PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM PSEUDOSCIENCE. COSPONSERED THE SCOPES TRIAL CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE IN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE JULY 18-20, 2025.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
7.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
32
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$229,803, ceo & 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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, 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. $1.3 million spent. PUBLICATIONSFREE INQUIRY MAGAZINEFREE INQUIRY PUBLISHES ARTICLES EXPLAINING THE PRINCIPLES OF SECULAR HUMANISM AND SUPPORTING THOSE LIVING OUT ITS IDEALS. IT EXPLORES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SCIENCE AS THEY INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AND OUR ABILITY TO IMPROVE IT. IT ALSO EXAMINES THE DAMAGE DONE BY IGNORANCE, INTOLERANCE, AND SUPERSTITION. THE READERSHIP INCLUDES SCHOLARS, RESEARCHERS, AND LAY READERS WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. IN ADDITION TO ARTICLES, FREE INQUIRY PUBLISHES A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF POETRY.SKEPTICAL INQUIRER MAGAZINESKEPTICAL INQUIRER EXPLORES EXTRAORDINARY CLAIMS FROM A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE. THEY EXAMINE WHAT THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY KNOWS ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS WITHIN THE REALMS OF THE PARANORMAL AND ELSEWHERE. THE PUBLICATIONS EXPOSE PSEUDOSCIENCE AND PROVIDE EXPERT COMMENTARY ON HOT BUTTON ISSUES WITHIN SOCIETY. THEY AVOID THE SENSATIONALISM OFTEN PRESENTED BY THE PRESS, TELEVISION, AND MOVIES AND PROVIDE CRITICAL THINKING TOOLS TO EXAMINE THE INFORMATION PRESENTED WITHIN THE MEDIA AND ONLINE.
  2. $427,643 spent. OUTREACH PROGRAM REGIONAL OFFICESPROFESSIONALLY-STAFFED OFFICES (CENTERS FOR INQUIRY) IN SELECTED CITIES CARRY OUT ASPECTS OF OUR NATIONAL AGENDA GERMANE TO CERTAIN LOCATIONS, SUCH AS OUTREACH TO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN LOS ANGELES. IN ADDITION, EACH REGIONAL CENTER PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL PROGRAMMING FOR INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS RESIDING WITHIN SEVERAL HOURS' DRIVE OF THE FACILITY, INCLUDING LECTURES, SEMINARS, SOCIAL GATHERINGS, OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE LIFE MILESTONES, AND THE LIKE.OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS PROMOTES FORMATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ON-CAMPUS STUDENT GROUPS FOCUSED ON OUR ISSUES, NATIONWIDE. PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, SPEAKERS, AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR SUCH GROUPS. TRANSPORTS SELECTED CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO HEADQUARTERS FOR ANNUAL TRAINING SEMINARS.
  3. $196,059 spent. SECULAR RESCUE PROGRAMSECULAR RESCUE IS A PROGRAM OF THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO WRITERS, BLOGGERS, PUBLISHERS, AND ACTIVITISTS WHO FACE THREATS DUE TO THEIR BELIEFS OR EXPRESSIONS REGARDING RELIGION.
  4. $3.3 million spent. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM EXPENSES ARE FOR MEDIA/INVESTIGATION PRODUCTIONS PROGRAMS, LIBRARY PROGRAM, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM INCLUDING CONFERENCE EVENTS, THE ROBERT GREEN INGERSOLL BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM PROGRAM.

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 April 2001.

    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.