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Values United

EIN 26-4716045 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak23 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • 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

VALUES UNITED IS A NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT ASSISTS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND PRIVATE-SECTOR WORKERS TO REPORT AND PUBLICIZE VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW SAFELY, LAWFULLY, AND RESPONSIBLY. WE ARRANGE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL ADVICE FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS ALONG WITH AN ARRAY OF OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. EVERYTHING WE DO FOR CLIENTS IS PRO BONO, UNLESS WE RECOVER A MONETARY AWARD. WHEN APPROPRIATE, WE WORK TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OF DISCLOSURES THROUGH PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS. BY AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF WHISTLEBLOWERS AND SHOWING THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN SAFELY COME FORWARD IN A WAY THAT MAKES A REAL IMPACT, WE ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO FOLLOW THEIR CONSCIENCE AND UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
-3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
8
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$279,409, 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: 23 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 130% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 57% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. LEGAL PROGRAM: PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND OTHER SUPPORT TO WHISTLEBLOWERS. WITH RESPECT TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT EMPLOYERS, WE REPRESENT EMPLOYEES WITH DISCLOSURES OF EGREGIOUS WRONGDOING, OFTEN ADVISING HOW TO HANDLE SENSITIVE, CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. IN THE PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT SECTORS WE CANVASS A WIDE VARIETY OF MATTERS AND GIVE CONSIDERATION TO HIGH IMPACT DISCLOSURES WHERE A WHISTLEBLOWER CAN HELP BOTH RIGHT A WRONG AND CREATE BROADER REFORM. OUR LEGAL PROGRAM BRINGS TOGETHER PROMINENT WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEYS IN SUPPORT OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL WHISTLEBLOWERS OF OUR TIME.
  2. $123,759 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: HELPS EDUCATE THE PUBLIC REGARDING BOTH THE WHISTLEBLOWER PROCESS IN GENERAL AND SPECIFIC CASES WE WORK ON. PUBLICIZING THE DETAILS OF WHISTLEBLOWER'S CASES SHOWS OTHERS WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN EMPLOYEES COME FORWARD WITH INFORMATION ABOUT LAWBREAKING OR OTHER WRONGDOING. OUR TEAM TEACHES CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION CLASSES, PROVIDES THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, WORKS WITH MEDIA, PRESENTS AT CONFERENCES, AND CONVENES GATHERINGS TO EDUCATE ON THE VALUE AND COMPLEXITY OF WHISTLEBLOWING.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on August 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on March 15, 2017.

    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 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 March 2017.

    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.