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Cato Institute

EIN 23-7432162 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE CATO INSTITUTE IS TO KEEP THE PRINCIPLES, IDEAS, AND MORAL CASE FOR LIBERTY ALIVE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, WHILE MOVING PUBLIC POLICY IN THE DIRECTION OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, FREE MARKETS, AND PEACE.

Income
$62.8 million
Spending
$47.4 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
37.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
317
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$765,878, president and ceo

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

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 37.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $24.2 million spent. PUBLIC POLICY & RESEARCH - OUR VISION IS A FREE AND OPEN SOCIETY IN WHICH LIBERTY ALLOWS EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO PURSUE A LIFE OF PROSPERITY AND MEANING IN PEACE. TO THAT END, OUR SCHOLARS AND ANALYSTS CONDUCT AND PUBLISH INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN RESEARCH ON A WIDE RANGE OF POLICY ISSUES ACROSS MORE THAN 14 RESEARCH AREAS, INCLUDING LAW AND CIVIL LIBERTIES, TAX AND BUDGET POLICY, REGULATORY STUDIES, HEALTH CARE AND WELFARE, EDUCATION, FINANCE, BANKING AND MONETARY POLICY, FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY, TRADE POLICY, AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
  2. $9.1 million spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM - CATO HOSTS PUBLIC EVENTS AND CONFERENCES IN ORDER TO ENGAGE DIVERSE AUDIENCES ON OUR RESEARCH AND POLICY PRESCRIPTIONS. CATO ALSO PROACTIVELY INVESTS IN THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH ITS STUDENT PROGRAMS. THESE INCLUDE OUR CATO INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND JOHN RUSSELL PASLAQUA INTERN SEMINAR SERIES, OUR STUDENT BRIEFING PROGRAM, AND CATO UNIVERSITY, WHICH TEACHES COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY ABOUT AMERICA'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, AND FREE ENTERPRISE. OUR SPHERE PROGRAM SUPPORTS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATORS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO OVERCOME POLARIZATION AND ADVANCE CIVIL DISCOURSE ON CONTENTIOUS ISSUES IN THE CLASSROOM.
  3. $4.3 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS & EXTERNAL AFFAIRS - CATO SCHOLARS ENGAGE AND EDUCATE BROAD AUDIENCES ON OUR POLICY PRESCRIPTIONS BY DISSEMINATING OUR RESEARCH THROUGH SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, BRIEFINGS, OP-EDS AND BLOGS, PODCASTS, TELEVISION AND RADIO APPEARANCES, AND OUR WEBSITES, WHICH RECEIVE OVER 11 MILLION VISITS ANNUALLY. WE HAVE INVESTED SIGNIFICANTLY IN BUILDING A CATO DIGITAL PROGRAM TO SHOWCASE THIS CONTENT IN A DYNAMIC, ENGAGING, AND ACCESSIBLE WAY THROUGH ALL THESE CHANNELS. CATO SCHOLARS AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PERSONNEL MEET WITH AND EDUCATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THEIR STAFF ON A VARIETY OF PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES, ADVANCING SOLUTIONS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, FREE MARKETS, AND PEACE. CATO HOSTS A QUARTERLY CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM GEARED TO SHARE OUR RESEARCH AND FOSTER GREATER ENGAGEMENT ON MAJOR PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES. Scholars regularly offer congressional testimony related to their fields of research.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 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 March 2025.

    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 March 1975.

    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.

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