Third Way Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THIRD WAY INSTITUTE SUPPORTS CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT ADVANCE CENTRIST SOLUTIONS TO MAJOR ECONOMIC, NATIONAL SECURITY, ENERGY AND SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES.
- Income
- $19.3 million
- Spending
- $22.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $454,588, president
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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 53% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 36% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $22.1 million spent. THIRD WAY INSTITUTE SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND EVENTS ON THE POLICY CHALLENGES FACED BY AMERICA, FOCUSING ON A WIDE VARIETY OF POLICY ISSUES.CLIMATE AND ENERGYIN 2024, THIRD WAY'S CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM HELPED SOLIDIFY THE UNITED STATES' POSITION AS A GLOBAL LEADER IN CLEAN ENERGY INNOVATION AND DEPLOYMENT. THIRD WAY FOCUSED THEIR EFFORTS ON ADDRESSING DEPLOYMENT CHALLENGES, CLARIFYING THE ECONOMIC AND NATIONAL SECURITY BENEFITS OF CLEAN ENERGY, AND SUPPORTING STRATEGIES THAT ACCELERATE PROGRESS. THIRD WAY'S WORK CENTERED ON THREE PRIORITIES: 1) EQUIPPING DECISION-MAKERS WITH DATA AND INSIGHT TO GUIDE THE ENERGY TRANSITION; 2) IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING NON-COST BARRIERS TO CLEAN ENERGY DEPLOYMENT; AND 3) INCREASING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE BENEFITS OF CLEAN ENERGY.THIRD WAY BRIDGED GAPS IN THE CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY BY PROVIDING STRATEGIC ANALYSIS AND SOLUTIONS.SOCIAL POLICY AND POLITICSIN 2024, THIRD WAY'S SOCIAL POLICY, EDUCATION AND POLITICS TEAM FOCUSED ON THREE CORE AREAS: 1) DEFINING WHAT AMERICAN WANT FROM WASHINGTON; 2) CENTERING VALUE IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEBATE; AND 3) ADDRESSING THREATS ON SOCIAL ISSUES:DEFINING WHAT AMERICANS WANT FROM WASHINGTON: THIRD WAY'S POLITICS TEAM ANSWERED THIS QUESTION BY: --UTILIZING ELECTORAL DATA SOURCES INCLUDING THE CATALIST VOTER FILE, COOPERATIVE ELECTION STUDY, AND AP VOTECAST, TO DRAFT REPORTS ANALYZING AND EXPLAINING THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE AND DIFFERENCES IN OPINION, WORLDVIEW, AND VOTING BEHAVIOR ACROSS STATES AND DISTRICTS WITH A FOCUS ON KEY PRESIDENTIAL AND SENATE STATES AND BATTLEGROUND HOUSE DISTRICTS; --CONDUCTING QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT VOTERS PRIORITIZE, HOW THEY THINK ABOUT CURRENT ISSUES UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS, AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM CANDIDATES AND POLICYMAKERS; --BUILDING A CASE AGAINST RUNNING A WELL-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE IN THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BY EMPLOYING HISTORICAL AND EMPIRICAL DATA TO SHOW THIS CANDIDATE WOULD HAVE NO PATH TO VICTORY AND COULD ONLY PLAY A ROLE AS A SPOILER FOR VOTERS; AND, --TRACKING HOW IDEOLOGICAL DIVERGENT CANDIDATES FARE IN PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTIONS IN 2024 TO CONTINUE YEARS OF WORK SHOWING AMERICANS CONTINUE TO GRAVITATE TO MAINSTREAM CANDIDATES OVER EXTREMISM.CENTERING VALUE IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEBATE: THIRD WAY'S EDUCATION TEAM CONTINUES TO LEAD A COORDINATED MOVEMENT TO CHANGE THE FEDERAL POLICY NARRATIVE ON HIGHER EDUCATION FROM COST TO RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND SOCIALIZE A SLATE OF ACTIONABLE, DEFENSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE POSTSECONDARY VALUE, QUALITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR STUDENTS AND TAXPAYERS. THIRD WAY ADVANCED THESE EFFORTS BY:--HOSTING THE PROGRAM'S LARGEST EVENT TO DATE, THE HIGHER ED VALUE SUMMIT, A CONFERENCE THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, INCLUDING FORMER DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UNDER SECRETARY JAMES KVAAL AND OTHER NOTABLE INFLUENCERS, FOR A DAY OF LEARNING AND CONNECTION ON THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO CENTERING VALUE IN THE INDUSTRY.--CONDUCTING LANDMARK PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, DEMONSTRATING THAT YOUNG AMERICANS STILL SEE VALUE IN PURSUING A COLLEGE DEGREE AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR BARRIERS TO THAT PURSUIT. --PUBLISHING THE FOURTH ANNUAL ECONOMIC MOBILITY INDEX, ALONG WITH A DEDICATED WEBSITE FOR OUR VALUE METRICS, TO CELEBRATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT OPEN THEIR DOORS TO STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS AND PRIORITIZE THEIR SUCCESS.--CHAMPIONING THE POSTSECONDARY STUDENT SUCCESS GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT EVIDENCE-BASED COLLEGE RETENTION AND COMPLETION PROGRAMS AND MAKING THE CASE FOR MAKING THIS FUND PERMANENT.--WEIGHING IN ON THE FORMATION OF A NEW COLLEGE ACCREDITOR AND HOW THEY'RE DEVELOPING THEIR ACCREDITING STANDARDS TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR ROLE IN THE PROCESS OF IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS. --DEVELOPING POLICY IDEAS FOR IMPROVING THE GRADUATE STUDENT LENDING SYSTEM, WHICH CURRENTLY DRIVES OUR HIGH OUTSTANDING FEDERAL STUDENT DEBT AND TAKES ADVANTAGE OF UNRESTRICTED TAXPAYER DOLLARS.ADDRESSING THREATS ON SOCIAL ISSUES: THIRD WAY REMAINS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THREATS TO AMERICAN VALUES AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ON KEY SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES. THIRD WAY EMPLOYED VARIOUS TACTICS TO MAKE PROGRESS ON CRIME, IMMIGRATION, AND LGBT RIGHTS IN THE PAST YEAR.ECONOMICS PROGRAM IN 2024, THIRD WAY'S ECONOMIC PROGRAM FOCUSED ON THREE CORE AREAS: 1) MAKING THE MIDDLE CLASS MORE AFFORDABLE AND ATTAINABLE FOR NON-COLLEGE EDUCATED WORKERS; 2) STRENGTHENING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND LOWERING HEALTH CARE COSTS; AND 3) EXPANDING ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA.NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMIN 2024, THE NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM FOCUSED MOST EXCLUSIVELY ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND AS IT RELATES TO CHINA. IT IS CLEAR NOW THAT AI IS THE NEW ARMS RACE AND THAT BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA ARE WELL AHEAD OF THE REST OF THE WORLD. EACH COUNTRY HAS A DIFFERENT MODEL ON HOW IT WILL DEVELOP AI AND EACH HAS GOALS ON HOW IT IS REGULATED IN DEPLOYED. US-CHINA ON AI AND THE POWER COMPETITION: MORE THAN EVER, THE US-CHINA COMPETITION WILL BE DECIDED BY DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND AI. THE NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE AND CHALLENGES THE US FACES WITH CHINA. --THE AI RACE WILL BE SHAPED BY THE VALUES EACH COUNTRY HOLDS. THIRD WAY DISSECTED THE MAJOR VALUES AMERICA AND CHINA BRING TO AI INNOVATION AND INFORMED POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC HOW IT MAY DETERMINE WHO WINS THE AI RACE. --IN THIRD WAY'S PAPER TITLED CLASH OF THE TECH TITANS, WE ARGUED TO THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS THAT THE FRONTLINES IN THE US-CHINA DIGITAL COMPETITION ARE THE COMPANIES. THIRD WAY EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ON WHAT EACH COMPANY DOES, HOW THEY COMPETE, AND THE THREAT THE CHINESE COMPANIES POSE TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND PRIVACY. --THIRD WAY'S PAPER CHINA'S NERVOUS NEIGHBORS EDUCATED POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC ON HOW AMERICA'S ALLIANCES ARE DEEP, BUT CHINA'S ARE TRANSACTIONAL. WHILE AMERICA'
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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