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Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

EIN 38-3633581 · Dearborn, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ISPU PROVIDES OBJECTIVE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ABOUT AMERICAN MUSLIMS TO SUPPORT WELL-INFORMED DIALOGUE AND DECISION-MAKING.

Income
$970,979
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
13
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$171,050, executive di

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 82% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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, 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 (3)
  1. $624,641 spent. DISCOVER: ISPU DISCOVERS NEW DATA THROUGH RIGOROUS RESEARCH. OUR PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING OUR AMERICAN MUSLIM POLL, PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED INSIGHT INTO ISSUES IMPACTING NOT JUST AMERICANS WHO ARE MUSLIM BUT ALL OF US.
  2. $350,677 spent. EDUCATE: ISPU USES WHAT WE LEARN TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND RAISE AWARENESS. WE REACH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR THROUGH IN-PERSON AND DIGITAL EDUCATION EVENTS, EXHIBITS, CONVENINGS, MEDIA COVERAGE, AND MORE. TO MULTIPLY OUR IMPACT, WE PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS TO INCREASE OUR REACH TO AUDIENCES WHO MAY NOT BE IMMEDIATELY FAMILIAR WITH ISPU.
  3. $383,480 spent. EQUIP: ISPU EQUIPS JOURNALISTS, POLICYMAKERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, TEACHERS, ADVOCATES AND OTHERS BY PROVIDING EVIDENCED-BASED RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO USE IN THEIR OWN WORK. THROUGH WORKSHOPS, TOOLKITS, INFOGRAPHICS, VIDEOS AND MORE, WE HELP CHANGEMAKERS DO THEIR WORK SMARTER AND MORE EFFECTIVELY. EQUIPPING OTHERS MULTIPLIES OUR IMPACT AS THE DATA LIVES ON IN THE WORK OF THOSE WHO JOIN US IN CATALYZING CHANGE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.