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Zephyr Institute Inc

EIN 47-1979289 · Palo Alto, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ZEPHYR INSTITUTE IS A COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS, STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS COMMITTED TO GAINING A FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMAN PERSON AND THE COMMON GOOD.

Income
$469,627
Spending
$396,983
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
44.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
3
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$93,516, president and executive director

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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 44.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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 (2)
  1. $261,852 spent. THE ZEPHYR INSTITUTE'S CENTER OF THE STUDY OF FIRST PRINCIPLES PROVIDES A FORUM FOR SCHOLARS, STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS TO ENGAGE LIFE'S DEEPEST AND MOST ENDURING QUESTIONS. FROM OUR FLOURISHING SOCIETY GATHERINGS TO OUR ANNUAL ZEPHYR PHILOSOPHY CAMP, FIRST PRINCIPLES PROGRAMS EXAMINE THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS AND ASSUMPTIONS ON WHICH POPULAR MORAL, POLITICAL AND METAPHYSICAL THEORIES ARE BASED.
  2. ZEPHYR'S CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE PROFESSIONS AND MORAL PURPOSEHELPS STANFORD STUDENTS THINK DEEPLY ABOUT THE PHILOSOPHICALFOUNDATIONS AND THE TELOS OF CULTURE-SHAPING PROFESSIONS. AS STANFORDSTUDENTS PREPARE TO PIONEER DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY, MEDICINE,BUSINESS AND MEDIA, THEY NEED NOT ONLY PRACTICAL KNOW-HOW, BUT ALSO APROFOUND UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THEIR WORK FITS INTO THE BROADER CONTEXTOF HUMAN HISTORY, WHAT THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF THEIR PROFESSIONS ARE,AND HOW INNOVATIONS IN THESE FIELDS MIGHT BEST SERVE THE HUMAN FAMILY.THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE PROFESSIONS AND MORAL PURPOSE OFFERS ANOPPORTUNITY FOR VIGOROUS DEBATE AND PROFOUND INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE,GOALS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROFESSIONS MOST DIRECTLY SHAPINGSOCIAL NORMS.

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? 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 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 December 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.