Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Tlon

EIN 35-2798272 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Tlon translates content related to effective altruism, existential risk, and global priorities research into multiple languages.

Income
$333,206
Spending
$252,311
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$65,000, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    6 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, 2025, 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)
  1. $235,442 spent. Translation and Dissemination of Effective Altruism Texts. Services Provided: Our organization embarked on a critical mission to bridge the language barrier and widen the accessibility of influential texts on effective altruism. Recognizing the importance of making these pivotal resources available to a broader audience, we dedicated our efforts to meticulously translating key texts from English to Spanish, French and Italian. This initiative was aimed at empowering non-English-speaking individuals by providing them with access to valuable knowledge and insights that were previously inaccessible due to language constraints. Achievements: Successfully completed and published the translation of hundreds of articles and audio files related to effective altruism, ensuring that the core principles, methodologies, and impactful insights are preserved and conveyed accurately in Spanish, French, Italian, Turkish, Korean and Japanese. Number of Persons Benefited: Our translated materials are slated for distribution through several digital platform, reaching thousands of individuals across various countries. This estimate is based on our current subscription base and engagement rates on social media platforms. Community Impact and Future Objectives: By making these effective altruism texts available in Spanish, we aim to foster a more inclusive and diverse dialogue around ethical considerations, philanthropy, and rational decision-making for the greater good. Our initiative seeks to equip non-English-speaking communities with the tools needed for informed participation in global altruistic movements. Moving forward, we intend to expand our translation efforts to include additional vital resources in other languages. This translation project represents a significant step towards fulfilling our organization's exempt purpose of educational advancement and promotion of altruistic principles. By dismantling language barriers, we are not only expanding the reach of important philosophical and practical guidance on effective altruism but also enriching the global conversation with diverse perspectives from non-English-speaking communities.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 January 2024.

    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.