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Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies

EIN 36-3235550 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY EXISTS TO PROMOTE THE PRINCIPLES THAT THE STATE EXISTS TO PRESERVE FREEDOM, THE SEPARATION OF POWERS IS CENTRAL TO OUR CONSTITUTION, AND THAT IT IS THE DUTY OF THE JUDICIARY TO SAY WHAT THE LAW IS, NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

Income
$30.1 million
Spending
$31.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
10.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
68
Volunteers
6,125
Highest pay
$824,145, dir./pres & ceo (thru 1/2025)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 13 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 September 30, 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 (8)
  1. $4.3 million spent. STUDENT ACTIVITIES: STUDENT ACTIVITIES ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE SOCIETY. THE SOCIETY MAINTAINS A CHAPTER AT NEARLY EVERY LAW SCHOOL IN THE NATION. EACH CHAPTER IS COMMITTED TO SPARKING DISCUSSION OF CRITICAL ISSUES THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY DEBATES AND LECTURES FEATURING A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF CONSERVATIVE AND LIBERTARIAN THOUGHT. THE CHAPTERS HOST MORE THAN 1,000 EVENTS EACH ACADEMIC YEAR.
  2. $4.2 million spent. SYMPOSIUM AND CONFERENCES - - THE SOCIETY'S STUDENT SYMPOSIUM HAS BEEN ONE OF ITS KEYSTONE EVENTS FOR MORE THAN FORTY YEARS. IN ADDITION TO THE STUDENT SYMPOSIUM, THE SOCIETY HOSTS A PROGRAM OF SEMINARS, CONFERENCES, AND MEETINGS AT WHICH DISTINGUISHED LEGAL SCHOLARS ENGAGE IN DEBATE AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT LEGAL ISSUES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
  3. $4.9 million spent. PRACTICE GROUPS AND NETWORKS - - THE PRACTICE GROUPS AND NETWORKS HOST MORE THAN 200 PROGRAMS EACH YEAR AND CONNECT THE ORGANIZATION'S MEMBERS ALONG AREAS OF LEGAL PRACTICE AND INTEREST. THE PRACTICE GROUPS AND NETWORKS PROVIDE PROGRAMMING THAT IS BASED UPON THE MOST RECENT AND NOTEWORTHY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAW.
  4. $6.4 million spent. GENERAL PROGRAM
  5. $4.0 million spent. LAWYERS ACTIVITIES
  6. $2.1 million spent. EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
  7. $1.9 million spent. FACULTY ACTIVITIES
  8. LAWYER CHAPTER ACTIVITIES: ========================== PROVIDE ATTORNEYS, BUSINESS LEADERS, POLICY LEADERS, AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN EXAMINING THE LAW WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET IN VIRTUALLY EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. EACH CHAPTER IS RUN BY LOCAL VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP AND HOSTS DEBATES, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND SPEECHES ON LEGAL MATTERS OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. FACULTY ACTIVITIES: =================== THE FACULTY DIVISION PROVIDES A SETTING FOR CONSTRUCTIVE SCHOLARLY DISCOURSE AND QUALITY SCHOLARSHIP AMONG CONSERVATIVE AND LIBERTARIAN FACULTY AND AMONGST FACULTY AS A WHOLE. GENERAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: =========================== THE SOCIETY CONDUCTS OTHER ACTIVITIES ENCOURAGING FAIR, SERIOUS, AND OPEN DEBATE ABOUT THE NEED TO ENHANCE INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND THE ROLE OF COURTS IN SAYING WHAT THE LAW IS RATHER THAN WHAT THEY WISH IT WOULD BE. THE SOCIETY IS ABOUT IDEAS. BEYOND OUR STATEMENT OF PURPOSE, WE DO NOT LOBBY FOR LEGISLATION, TAKE POLICY POSITIONS, OR SPONSOR OR ENDORSE NOMINEES AND CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 July 1983.

    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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