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Postsecondary National Policy Institute

EIN 47-4374655 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PNPI'S MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE, CAPACITY, AND DIVERSITY OF FEDERAL POSTSECONDARY POLICYMAKERS, LEADERS, AND THINKERS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
12.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
7
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$319,914, president

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 296% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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. $368,410 spent. PNPI HOSTED ONE VIRTUAL BOOT CAMP FOCUSED ON MICROCREDENTIALS AND ONE IN-PERSON BOOT CAMP FOCUSED ON FEDERAL STUDENT AID; A VIRTUAL BRIEFING SERIES FOCUSED ON THE FEDERAL BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS; A VIRTUAL BRIEFING FOCUSED ON PELL GRANTS; A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE BRIEFING; AN IN-PERSON BRIEFING FOR WASHINGTON D.C.-BASED INTERNS FOCUSED ON THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS; AND A SUMMER SCHOLARS INTERN PROGRAM FOR TWO SUMMER INTERNS.
  2. $189,139 spent. SMALLER MEETINGS WERE HELD WITH HIGHER EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS AS A MEANS TO EXTEND OUR REACH AND EXPERTISE. PNPI ALSO CREATES AND PUBLISHES FACTSHEETS ON POSTSECONDARY TOPICS, HOSTS THE PNPI EXPLORER (A HIGHER EDUCATION DATA TOOL), AND OFFERED TWO VIRTUAL COURSES FOCUSED ON FEDERAL STUDENT AID AND HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION. PNPI ALSO HOSTED A VIRTUAL DEMONSTRATION OF HOW THE PNPI EXPLORER WORKS.
  3. $144,975 spent. PNPI HOSTED TWO IN-PERSON SEMINARS FOR CONGRESSIONAL STAFF. ONE FOCUSED ON COLLEGE COST AND ONE FOCUSED ON STUDENT DEBT AND REPAYMENT.

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 August 2015.

    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.