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The Charlemagne Institute

EIN 26-4057885 · Frankfort, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

The Charlemagne Institute is defending and advancing Western civilization through print, digital and in-person communications.

Income
$372,067
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
10
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$47,298, ceo

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

Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 287% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 182% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $88,824 spent. GENERAL PROMOTION AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH TO DEFEND AND ADVANCE WESTERN CIVILIZATION. EFFORTS INCLUDE TV INTERVIEWS, PODCASTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, MAILINGS, EMAILS, AND OTHER AVAILABLE TOOLS. IN ALL, CHARLEMAGNE INSTITUTE REACHES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF READERS ANNUALLY, WHILE SEEING MILLIONS OF CONTENT VIEWS VIA OUTREACH TO THE PUBLIC.
  2. $185,755 spent. INTELLECTUAL TAKEOUT IS CHARLEMAGNE INSTITUTES WEBZINE GEARED TOWARDS A YOUNGER AMERICAN AUDIENCE. ESTABLISHED IN 2009, INTELLECTUAL TAKEOUT (ITO) HAS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF UNIQUE READERS ANNUALLY AND MILLIONS OF VIEWS OF CONTENT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAIL OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS. OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, ITO WILL PUBLISH OVER 1,000 ARTICLES PROMOTED TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAIL. OUR WEBZINE HELPS EDUCATE OUR READERS ON THE FOUNDATIONS, TRADITIONS, PRINCIPLES, AND HISTORY OF AMERICA AND WESTERN CIVILIZATION. AT THE SAME TIME, ITO DECONSTRUCTS MODERN AND PAST IDEOLOGIES, SHOWING THE FAULTY LOGIC AND THE DISASTROUS RESULTS. THROUGHOUT ALL OUR PUBLICATIONS, CHARLEMAGNE INSTITUTE DRAWS A CLEAR LINE BETWEEN OUR EDITORIAL DECISIONS AND OUR DONORS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WHILE DONORS MAY DIRECT FUNDING TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE ALCUIN INTERNSHIP, THEY ARE NOT DIRECTING THE WRITING OF PUBLISHING OF OUR CONTENT. WE PUBLISH A WIDE RANGE OF CONTENT THAT IS MEANT TO FOSTER DISCUSSION AND FURTHER INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY.
  3. $624,361 spent. CHRONICLES: A MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN CULTURE HAS BEEN A STRONGHOLD OF INTELLIGENT, CONSERVATIVE DISCOURSE ON WESTERN AND AMERICAN CULTURE SINCE 1977. EACH YEAR, WE PUBLISH 12 ISSUES OF THE MAGAZINE. ALL CHARLEMAGNE INSTITUTE MEMBERS RECEIVE A SUBSCRIPTION TO CHRONICLES. IN 2022, WE CELEBRATED OUR 45TH ANNIVERSARY. THROUGH THE PRINT MAGAZINE AS WELL AS SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS, OUR WEBSITE, TV AND RADIO INTERVIEWS, AND PODCASTS, CHRONICLES EXAMINES AND ANALYZES CURRENT EVENTS FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF HISTORY, THEOLOGY, LITERATURE, AND PHILOSOPHY. INFLUENCING THE INFLUENTIAL, OVER A THIRD OF ITS SUBSCRIBERS HOLD ADVANCED DEGREES. ITS READERSHIP INCLUDES NOVELISTS, FILMMAKERS, UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, TEACHERS, HOMESCHOOLING MOTHERS, PRIESTS AND PASTORS, CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT RESEARCHERS, JOURNALISTS, THINK TANK LEADERS, LAWYERS, BISHOPS, JUDGES, BUREAUCRATS, AND POLITICIANS. IN 2020, WE RELEASED OUR FIRST VOLUME OF REMEMBERING THE RIGHT, A SPECIAL COMPILATION ISSUE OF ARTICLES DEDICATED TO SHARING THE WISDOM OF PAST CONSERVATIVE AND WESTERN INTELLECTUALS. THROUGHOUT ALL OUR PUBLICATIONS, CHARLEMAGNE INSTITUTE DRAWS A CLEAR LINE BETWEEN OUR EDITORIAL DECISIONS AND OUR DONORS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WHILE DONORS MAY DIRECT FUNDING TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE ALCUIN INTERNSHIP, THEY ARE NOT DIRECTING THE WRITING OR PUBLISHING OF OUR CONTENT. WE PUBLISH A WIDE RANGE OF CONTENT THAT IS MEANT TO FOSTER DISCUSSION AND FURTHER INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY.

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

  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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 2009.

    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 November 4, 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.