Public Interest Registry
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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
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- Income
- $106.4 million
- Spending
- $106.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- -4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 98%
- Employees
- 58
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $1.0 million, chief executive officer
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: 38 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 151% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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)
- $85.2 million spent. Our sixth annual .ORG Impact Awards (OIAs) were a testament to the incredible work being done by mission-driven organizations worldwide. We received over 1,700 applications from 87 countries, reflecting the truly global impact of the .ORG Community. These inspiring organizations are tackling some of the world's most pressing challenges, and through the OIAs, we had the opportunity to recognize, amplify, and connect them with new opportunities to grow their missions. PIR awarded a total of $180,000 in donations to organizations from the global .ORG Community across seven categories. Our Quality Education for All and .ORG of the Year was Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation. Beyond recognizing these inspiring organizations, the 2024 .ORG Impact Awards served as a powerful platform for connection, bringing together non-profit leaders, partners, and changemakers to exchange ideas, build relationships, and create new opportunities for ongoing collaboration. Through ORG In Action, we highlighted extraordinary .ORG users, giving them a platform to share their stories and expand their reach. This initiative not only reinforced the impact of .ORG but also provided valuable exposure to organizations making a difference in their communities. In 2024, we rolled out four features containing three videos-one two-minute cut, two one-minute cuts, and a written article. Featured organizations in 2024 are Next Step Fitness and Equal Justice. More can be found at www.orginaction.org. In collaboration with and in support of its sole member, the Internet Society ("ISOC"), Public Interest Registry's ("PIR") primary activity is to maintain the .ORG domain registry as the exemplary top-level domain registry service; to operate it primarily in the public interest; and to be responsive to the issues and needs of the ever expanding and unique worldwide .ORG community, which includes non-commercial/non-profit users and organizations, consistent with the fundamental objectives of its sole member, ISOC. As an integral part of its charitable mission, PIR maintains and operates the .ORG top-level domain registry in a fashion that is designed to set the quality, efficiency, and privacy standards for top-level domains. PIR works to create, develop, modernize, and keep current ethical, practical, and technical policies, procedures and protocols required to keep its operational model fresh, relevant, and appropriate as an example for the Internet industry as a whole. Managing and operating the .ORG registry consistent with and supportive of PIR's and ISOC's respective non-profit missions and in compliance with the rules and consensus policies developed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN") also requires collaborating with the worldwide non-commercial/non-profit oriented community. PIR maintains an advisory council composed of knowledgeable industry experts and leaders from global non-profit and non-governmental arenas to help PIR support its community. PIR relies on the insight and knowledge obtained from the members of its advisory council and a constant stream of information solicited and received from registrars, as well as from the members of its own diverse and knowledgeable board of directors, to effectively address the interests of the worldwide mission-based Internet community. PIR also conducts education and outreach (E&O) in the global non-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO) space. These efforts have two purposes: first, to support and assist PIR achieve its important and charitable mission; and second, to share its expertise as an exemplary domain name registry as well as to help other organizations share their expertise by conducting conferences, regional gatherings, and training sessions focused on improving use of the Internet, especially by mission-based users around the world. In 2019 PIR began reframing its E&O efforts in furtherance of its Mission Statement, i.e., to serve as "[a]n exemplary domain name registry and industry thought leader providing a trusted digital identity and serving as a valued resource to those working to improve our world." While supporting ISOC remains a core PIR mission and activity, PIR has expanded the scope of its E&O activities into what can be better described as "Exemplary Domain Name Registry" initiatives, including: PIR created the NetBeacon Institute (the "Institute, previously the "DNS Abuse Institute") in order to help the entire domain name industry improve practices to combat abuses of the domain name system ("DNS Abuse"). The Institute is a department within PIR and has three pillars: Education, Innovation and Collaboration. The Institute creates and publishes best practices to help educate registries and registrars on effective DNS Abuse mitigation and prevention practices. In May 2024, we completed a major rebranding of the DNS Abuse Institute, relaunching it as the NetBeacon Institute. This update included new product names-NetBeacon Reporter and NetBeacon MAP-as well as a refreshed website at www.netbeacon.org. Through its free tools and services, the Institute empowers domain name registrars, registries, abuse reporters, and general Internet users to report, measure, and take action on technical abuses of the Domain Name System. In 2024 alone, the Institute routed nearly 50,000 reports of DNS Abuse, reinforcing our commitment to a safer and more trusted Internet. This year, PIR expanded its commitment to protecting vulnerable users online by deepening our partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). On February 7, 2024, we announced a new agreement that enables all domain name registries to access critical IWF services that disrupt sites used for the commercial distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The partnership includes a trailblazing sponsorship program through which PIR now covers the cost for registries and registry service providers to access two of IWF's most important tools: Domain Alerts and t
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 July 2004.
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.
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.