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Government Accountability Institute

EIN 45-4681912 · Tallahassee, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INVESTIGATE AND EXPOSE CRONY CAPITALISM, MISUSE OF TAXPAYER MONIES, AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL CORRUPTION OR MALFEASANCE THROUGH JOURNALISTIC EFFORTS AND WITH ALL FORMS OF MEDIA.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
28
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$270,255, president, secretary/treas

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $3.4 million spent. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INSTITUTE IS AN INDEPENDENT NON-PROFIT MEDIA AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATION WHOSE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM EXPOSES CRONYISM AND GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION IN ORDER TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE OFTEN-HIDDEN FORCES THAT DRIVE GOVERNMENT DECISIONS AFFECTING THEIR DAILY LIVES. THE RESULT OF THIS WORK IS A MORE INFORMED CITIZENRY, BETTER EQUIPPED FOR PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC LIFE. THE WORK OF GAI IS DONE IN A NON-PARTISAN AND NON-IDEOLOGICAL MANNER. ALL INFORMATION PRODUCED BY GAI FOR PUBLIC DISSEMINATION IS SUBJECTED TO A RIGOROUS FACT-CHECKING AND EDITORIAL PROCESS, ADHERING TO THE STRICTEST STANDARDS OF JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY. MATERIAL IS DISSEMINATED AND PUBLISHED ON GAI'S OWN PLATFORMS AND ALSO IN COOPERATION WITH NATIONAL NEWS OUTLETS. GAI'S WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED ON CNN, NPR NEWS, NEW YORK TIMES, NATIONAL REVIEW, 60 MINUTES, ABC NEWS, NY POST, FOX NEWS, POLITICO, WASHINGTON TIMES, FORBES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND NUMEROUS OTHERS. GAI RESEARCH FEATURED IN THREE NEW YORK TIMES #1 BEST SELLING BOOKS.

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 November 6, 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 2013.

    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 November 4, 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.