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Institute for Policy Studies

EIN 52-0788947 · Suite, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES (THE INSTITUTE) IS A 60-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED TO BUILDING A MORE EQUITABLE, ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE, AND PEACEFUL SOCIETY.

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
47
Volunteers
66
Highest pay
$188,689, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 49% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 14 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 (6)
  1. $2.0 million spent. NEW ECONOMY - IPS HAS BEEN A LEADER IN STRENGTHENING RESPONSES TO THE GLOBAL ECONOMY BY PROVIDING RESEARCH, WRITING AND COMMUNICATION. THIS PROJECT HAS PRODUCED COUNTLESS RESEARCH REPORTS, ARTICLES, FORUMS, AND BOOKS.
  2. $849,565 spent. COMMON SECURITY - THIS PROJECT WORKS TO COMBAT ECONOMIC INEQUALITY, ACHIEVE CLIMATE JUSTICE, AND BUILD PEACE. IT'S FOCUSED ON FOREIGN POLICY BASED ON HUMAN RIGHTS, INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND DIPLOMACY OVER MILITARY INTERVENTION.
  3. $572,250 spent. AFFILIATES - THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES PROJECT (NPP) CARRIES OUT RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY THAT HELPS THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND NATIONAL PRIORITIES THROUGH THE LENS OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET.
  4. $613,645 spent. COMMUNICATIONS - INEQUALITY.ORG - INEQUALITY.ORG IS THE PREMIER PORTALFOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, JOURNALISTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, ACADEMICS, ACTIVISTS, AND ANY OTHERS SEEKING INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS ON WEALTHAND INCOME INEQUALITY. ULTIMATELY, THE INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS TO CREATEAND CURATE HIGH-QUALITY RESEARCH AND INFORMATION, ALONG WITH COMPELLINGSTORIES, WITH THE GOAL OF ENDING ECONOMIC INEQUALITY IN THE U.S. ANDABROAD. OTHERWORDS - OTHERWORDS IS A FREE, NON-PROFIT EDITORIAL SERVICETHAT DISTRIBUTES PROGRESSIVE COMMENTARIES TO HEARTLAND NEWSPAPERSACROSS THE UNITED STATES. FOREIGN POLICY IN FOCUS - FOREIGN POLICY INFOCUS (FPIF) IS A "THINK TANK WITHOUT WALLS" CONNECTING THE RESEARCHAND ACTION OF MORE THAN 600 SCHOLARS, ADVOCATES, AND ACTIVISTS SEEKINGTO MAKE THE UNITED STATES A MORE RESPONSIBLE GLOBAL PARTNER. FPIFPROVIDES TIMELY ANALYSIS OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONALAFFAIRS AND RECOMMENDS POLICY ALTERNATIVES.
  5. $189,735 spent. NEXT LEADERS - THE NEXT LEADERS PROGRAM BRINGS IN 10-15 NEXT LEADER INTERNS EACH YEAR FOR 10 WEEK PAID INTERNSHIPS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LOW-INCOME STUDENTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
  6. $211,026 spent. SPECIAL PROJECTS - THE INSTITUTE NURTURED THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERALPROJECTS WORKING TO BUILD A MORE JUST, PEACEFUL, AND SUSTAINABLE WORLDIN THE U.S. AND AROUND THE GLOBE.

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 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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 February 1965.

    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 October 21, 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.