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Close Up Foundation

EIN 23-7122882 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN CLOSE UP FOUNDATION IS TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE FOR A LIFETIME OF ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP THROUGH CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS, AND CLASSROOM RESOURCES.

Income
$41.1 million
Spending
$42.8 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
277
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$345,108, chief fin. & op. off.(until 12/2024)

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: 37 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 77% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 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. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 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 (4)
  1. $18.9 million spent. WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM: THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE STUDENTS TO LEARN AND PRACTICE KEY CITIZENSHIP SKILLS, PARTICIPATE IN LEGISLATIVE SIMULATIONS, AND INTERACT WITH POLICY EXPERTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND CONGRESSIONAL STAFF. EACH PROGRAM FEATURES COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES, THEMATIC SITE VISITS, ISSUE-BASED WORKSHOPS, POLICY DEBATES AND DELIBERATIONS THAT EXPOSE STUDENTS TO A RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES, CULTURAL EXPLORATIONS, AND SEMINARS AND ONSITE VISITS TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NGOS, AND EMBASSIES.
  2. $14.6 million spent. WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM: THESE PROGRAMS USE THE NATIONS CAPITAL AS A LIVING CLASSROOM WHERE STUDENTS EXPLORE ITS ICONIC SITES AND DISCOVER HOW THE ISSUES AND IDEALS REPRESENTED IMPACT US TODAY. THROUGH VARIOUS INTERACTIVE SITE VISITS, WORKSHOPS, AND DISCUSSIONS, STUDENTS LEARN THE HISTORICAL EVENTS AND IDEAS THAT HAVE SHAPED AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR UNIQUE ROLE IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM.
  3. $992,531 spent. PROGRAM FOR NEW AMERICANS (PNA): THESE PROGRAMS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ARE FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAVE IMMIGRATED TO THE U.S. IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. STUDENTS STUDY THE ROLES OF THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT IN MAINTAINING UNITY AND ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF A DIVERSE NATION, IMPORTANT THEMES IN U.S. DEMOCRACY, AND THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN CIVIC INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, PROVIDING THEM WITH INSIGHT AND FOSTERING THEIR CONFIDENCE FOR ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP.
  4. $704,020 spent. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES: EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INCLUDES A BREADTH OF TRAINING AND RESOURCES THAT CLOSE UP DESIGNS AND DELIVERS TO EDUCATORS NATIONWIDE TO HELP THEM BRING DELIBERATIVE DIALOGUE, CURRENT POLICY ISSUES, CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND NONPARTISAN FACILITATION TO THEIR SCHOOLS. THIS INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR TEACHERS, CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM UNITS, CLASSROOM RESOURCES SUCH AS ISSUE DISCUSSIONS AND LESSON PLANS, EDUCATOR WEBINARS AND CONFERENCES, AND MEMBERSHIP IN OUR NATIONAL NETWORK OF SCHOOLS IN PARTNERSHIP DIVISION.

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 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 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 August 1971.

    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.