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Center for Progressive Reform Inc

EIN 35-2182224 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER FOR PROGRESSIVE REFORM IS A NONPROFIT RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT HARNESSES THE POWER OF LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY TO CREATE A RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT, A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, AND A JUST SOCIETY.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
9

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $1.1 million spent. ACADEMIC PAPERS & STUDIES: GUIDED BY A NATIONAL NETWORK OF LEGAL SCHOLARS AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF WITH EXPERTISE IN GOVERNANCE AND REGULATION, WE CONDUCT INDEPENDENT SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND POLICY ANALYSIS CPR'S PUBLICATIONS ARE STRATEGICALLY CRAFTED TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE THE BROAD INTERESTS OF TODAY'S SOCIAL MOVEMENTS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, DEMOCRACY, AND RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY.
  2. WEBSITE & COMMUNICATIONS: CPR MAINTAINS A WEBSITE RICH IN RESOURCES FOR POLICYMAKERS, PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCATES, RESEARCHERS, THE MEDIA, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. A KEY PIECE OF THE WEBSITE IS THE ORGANIZATION'S WIDELY READ BLOG, CPRBLOG, WHICH IS UPDATED FREQUENTLY WITH ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY BY CPR'S MEMBER SCHOLARS, STAFF, AND OCCASIONAL GUEST BLOGGERS. BY CROSS PROMOTING NEW CONTENT FROM THE BLOG AND WEBSITE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS LIKE FACEBOOK,TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, AND LINKEDIN.CPR PROVIDES SERVICES DIRECTLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON A CONTINUAL BASIS.
  3. CPR MEMBER SCHOLAR ACTIVITIES: CPR MEMBER SCHOLARS ARE PROFESSORS OF LAW, ECONOMICS, AND PHILOSOPHY FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. IN ADDITION TO THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO CPR'S ACADEMIC PAPERS AND STUDIES, CPR SCHOLARS PUBLISH WORK IN TRADITIONAL AND NEW MEDIA OUTLETS, FILE PUBLIC COMMENTS WITH REGULATORY AGENCIES, BRIEF MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND THEIR STAFF, PLAN AND PARTICIPATE IN CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIA, MEET INDIVIDUALLY WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND WORK WITH PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC POLICY REFORM.

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 December 2002.

    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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