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Urban Institute

EIN 52-0880375 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that drives impact by equipping changemakers with evidence and solutions to create a future where every person and community has the opportunity and power to thrive.

Income
$129.6 million
Spending
$148.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
748
Volunteers
59
Highest pay
$1.3 million, president and chief executive officer

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: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 32 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, 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. $20.0 million spent. SOCIAL SCIENCES - RESEARCH AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS: THE RESEARCH TO ACTION LAB IS AN INNOVATION HUB SERVING DECISIONMAKERS AND CREATIVE THINKERS EAGER TO EFFECT SOCIAL CHANGE. WE DRAW ON THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF THE URBAN INSTITUTE'S RESEARCH INSIGHTS TO TEST NEW STRATEGIES AND DEVELOP CUTTING-EDGE TOOLS, PROGRAMS, AND TRAININGS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE STRATEGIC AND PHILANTHROPIC ADVICE TO PUBLIC, NONPROFIT, AND PRIVATE-SECTOR LEADERS. NIMBLE AND CREATIVE, THE LAB TAKES AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO HELPING DECISIONMAKERS NAVIGATE CURRENT CHALLENGES AND SEIZE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES IN LOCALITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. OUR MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OFFERS EXPERTISE IN IDENTIFYING AND CULTIVATING APPROACHES THAT SHAPE PUBLIC DEBATE, IMPROVE DECISIONMAKING, AND SPARK DISRUPTIVE SOLUTIONS TO TODAY'S COMPLEX SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.
  2. $18.4 million spent. SOCIAL SCIENCES - RESEARCH AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS: AT THE CENTER ON LABOR, HUMAN SERVICES, AND POPULATION, WE STUDY HOW FAMILY, YOUTH, AND INDIVIDUAL WELL-BEING IS SHAPED BY ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS, AND HOW POLICIES AND PROGRAMS CAN IMPROVE ECONOMIC SECURITY, WORK, AND CHILD WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT. UNDERSTANDING HOW FAMILIES ARE FARING IN THE FACE OF ECONOMIC PRESSURES, DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES IS ESSENTIAL FOR POLICYMAKERS AND PRACTITIONERS WHO OVERSEE SOCIAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. OUR RESEARCH EXPLORES THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE CHANGES FOR PEOPLE AND POLICIES.
  3. $14.9 million spent. SOCIAL SCIENCES - RESEARCH AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS: THE INCOME AND BENEFITS POLICY CENTER GIVES DECISIONMAKERS CRUCIAL INFORMATION BY PREDICTING HOW POLICY CHANGES WILL AFFECT PEOPLE, PROGRAMS, AND GOVERNMENT. WE ANALYZE FAMILY ECONOMIC WELL-BEING FROM CHILDHOOD THROUGH RETIREMENT AND UNDERTAKE RESEARCH ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES, INCLUDING INCOME SUPPORT, SOCIAL INSURANCE, TAXES, AND CHILD SUPPORT; EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS AND POLICIES; EMPLOYERS, WORKPLACES, AND THE LABOR MARKET; AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS AND POLICIES. AS TECHNOLOGICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS TRANSFORM THE NATURE OF JOBS, OUR EXPERTS ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STUDY WHAT SKILLS WORKERS WILL NEED IN THE FUTURE AND WHAT CHALLENGES LIE AHEAD FOR RETIREES. OUR RESEARCH EXPLORES THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE CHANGES FOR PEOPLE AND POLICIES.
  4. $64.4 million spent. URBAN CONDUCTED ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDING RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS, CONVENINGS, DATA TOOLS AND MODELING, STRATEGIC ADVISING, PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THAT FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES.
  5. (Expenses $ 64,438,985 including grants of $ 5,372,987)(Revenue $ 46,571) URBAN CONDUCTED ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDING RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS, CONVENINGS, DATA TOOLS AND MODELING, STRATEGIC ADVISING, PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THAT FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES.

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 April 1968.

    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.