Foundation for Government Accountability Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO FORMULATE AND PROMOTE PUBLIC POLICES BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF TRANSPARENCY, THE FREE MARKET, INDIVIDIUAL FREEDOM, AND LIMITED CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT.
- Income
- $14.8 million
- Spending
- $13.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 13.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 62
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $508,220, ceo and president
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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 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 (4)
- $5.7 million spent. PROMOTE WELFARE AND UNEMPLOYMENT REFORM: A PROJECT TO IDENTIFY AND PROMOTE POLICIES THAT MOVE INDIVIDUALS FROM DEPENDENCY TO FULL-TIME WORK AND ALLOW THEM TO QUICKLY ESCAPE POVERTY OR JOB LOSS, AND POLICIES THAT REDUCE FRAUD IN WELFARE AND UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS TO PROTECT RESOURCES FOR THE TRULY NEEDY.
- $2.6 million spent. TRANSPARENT & ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT: RESEARCH AND PROMOTE POLICIES TO CREATE TRANSPARENCY FOR REGULATIONS AND QUASI-REGULATORY ACTIONS LIKE OFFICIAL "GUIDANCE" THAT TEND TO INCREASE THE SIZE AND COST OF GOVERNMENT, AND TO GIVE VOTERS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES MORE TOOLS TO LIMIT COSTLY REGULATIONS AND THEIR IMPACT ON ENTREPRENEURS AND FAMILIES.
- $2.0 million spent. RESTORE VOTER CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS - RESTORE VOTER CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS BY PROMOTING POLICIES THAT RESULT IN TRANSPARENT AND SECURE ELECTIONS SO THAT EVERY ELIGIBLE VOTER MAY VOTE KNOWING THEIR VOTES WILL MATTER AND GET COUNTED ACCURATELY AND QUICKLY.
- $2.3 million spent. RESEARCH AND PROMOTE PUBLIC POLICIES THAT ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM, REDUCE THE COST AND REGULATORY BURDEN OF GOVERNMENT, AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AMERICANS.
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 September 2011.
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.