Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Legislative Exchange Council

EIN 52-0140979 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL (ALEC) IS A FORUM FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND DEVELOP POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. ALEC'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE AND PROMOTE THE JEFFERSONIAN PRINCIPLES OF LIMITED GOVERNMENT, FREE MARKETS AND FEDERALISM.

Income
$10.9 million
Spending
$10.6 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
43
Volunteers
51
Highest pay
$527,789, ceo

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 47% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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 (5)
  1. $3.4 million spent. TASK FORCES - ALEC'S POLICY TASK FORCES PROVIDE A FORUM FOR LEGISLATORS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO DISCUSS ISSUES, DEVELOP POLICIES, AND DRAFT MODEL POLICY WHICH SERVES AS A PUBLIC RESOURCE. THE TASK FORCES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: AMERICAN CITY COUNCIL EXCHANGE; CIVIL JUSTICE; COMMERCE, INSURANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY; CRIMINAL JUSTICE; EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND AGRICULTURE; HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; FEDERALISM AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; TAX AND FISCAL POLICY; AND HOMELAND SECURITY. EACH TAX FORCE IS CO-CHAIRED BY A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR MEMBER OF ALEC.
  2. $2.3 million spent. CONFERENCES - ALEC HOLDS NATIONAL CONFERENCES, PROVIDING WORKSHOPS ON CURRENT ISSUES WITH LEADING EXPERTS, PUBLIC FIGURES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE TWO NATIONAL CONFERENCES HELD IN 2024 AND 2023 WERE THE ANNUAL MEETING AND STATES AND NATIONAL POLICY SUMMIT MEETING.
  3. $1.2 million spent. STATE OUTREACH - ALEC'S STATE OUTREACH PROGRAM PROVIDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR QUALIFYING COSTS, PRINCIPALLY TRAVEL AND LODGING, OF STATE LEGISLATORS TO ATTEND VARIOUS CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS OF ALEC. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, ALEC ALSO WORKS TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGISLATIVE MEMBERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION IN ALEC. THIS PROGRAM ALSO ENCOMPASSES ALEC'S STATE EQUITY ALLIANCE WORK WHICH INCLUDES VOTER EDUCATION INITIATIVES.
  4. $689,101 spent. PUBLIC AFFAIRS - ALEC CONDUCTS AN ON-GOING COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM THAT INTEGRATES ALL DEPARTMENTS OF ALEC TO PROMOTE POLICIES BASED ON FREE-MARKET, LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND FEDERALISM AMONG ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR MEMBERS. PUBLIC AFFAIRS ALSO EDUCATES THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON ALEC'S INSTITUTIONAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
  5. $658,319 spent. MEMBERSHIP - MEMBERSHIP MANAGES THE PROGRAMS FOR THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF ALEC STATE LEGISLATOR MEMBERS. THIS INCLUDES LIAISON WITH THE ALEC STATE CHAIRS AND PRIVATE SECTOR STATE CHAIRS. IN ADDITION, MEMBERSHIP PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO ALEC STATE CHAIRS IN ENSURING THAT MEMBERS OF ALEC'S LEADERSHIP ARE OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALEC'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

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 March 1977.

    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.