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Center for American Progress

EIN 30-0126510 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS (CAP) IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPARTISAN POLICY INSTITUTE THAT IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ALL AMERICANS THROUGH BOLD, PROGRESSIVE IDEAS, AS WELL AS STRONG LEADERSHIP AND CONCERTED ACTION. OUR AIM IS NOT JUST TO CHANGE THE CONVERSATION, BUT TO CHANGE THE COUNTRY.

Income
$37.4 million
Spending
$48.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
360
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$452,066, president, ceo & director

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: 35 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 60% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    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 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 (5)
  1. $23.4 million spent. POLICY PROGRAMS: PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED ACROSS POLICY AREAS INCLUDING: ECONOMIC AND DOMESTIC POLICY, NATIONAL SECURITY, HEALTH CARE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS INCLUDED GENERATING AND PUBLISHING IDEAS AND POLICIES THAT INFORMED KEY LEGISLATION.
  2. $8.4 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS: THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ON PROGRESSIVE POLICY SOLUTIONS, ADDRESSED TIMELY POLICY ISSUES THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIA CHANNELS AND EVENTS, AND SHAPED MESSAGING ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIORITIES.
  3. $4.6 million spent. OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY: OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS DISSEMINATED POLICY SOLUTIONS ACROSS CAP'S POLICY AREAS TO EDUCATE POLICY MAKERS, ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THIS WORK INCLUDED CONDUCTING MESSAGE RESEARCH, LIFTING UP THE PERSONAL STORIES OF INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS, AND PRODUCING DIGITAL CONTENT TO HELP BOLSTER THE CASE FOR THESE POLICY SOLUTIONS. EFFORTS ALSO INCLUDED WORK WITH A WIDE RANGE OF PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO UNDERTAKE JOINT CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY, INCLUDING EVENTS, EARNED MEDIA, AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS.
  4. $1.8 million spent. EXECUTIVE OFFICE
  5. (Expenses $ 1,804,799 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) EXECUTIVE OFFICE

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 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 February 2003.

    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.

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