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Patriots Foundation

EIN 45-3070364 · Des Moines, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PATRIOTS FOUNDATION SERVES AS A GOVERNMENT "WATCHDOG," PROMOTES OPEN AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT, MONITORS THE ACTIVITIES OF POLICYMAKERS, AND ENGAGES IN NEUTRAL AND NONPARTISAN VOTER EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND GET-OUT-THE-VOTE ACTIVITIES.

Income
$358,500
Spending
$417,829
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
100

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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 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 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 298% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $211,008 spent. THE ORGANIZATION ENGAGES IN PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS ETHICS AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY ACTIVITIES.
  2. $35,168 spent. ENGAGE IN NEUTRAL AND NONPARTISAN VOTER EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT AND GET-OUT-THE VOTE ACTIVITIES.
  3. $70,336 spent. CONDUCT AN ONGOING WATCHDOG INVESTIGATION UTILIZING FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT TO BRING TRANSPARENCY TO GOVERNMENT DECISION MAKING PROCESSES AND CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE SPENDING ABUSE.
  4. $35,167 spent. CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION UTILIZING FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT TO BRING TRANSPARENCY TO UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND GOVERNMENT RESEARCH.

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 September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    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 2024.

    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 August 2014.

    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.