German Marshall Fund of the US
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE UNITED STATES (GMF) STRIVES TO CHAMPION DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND THE TRANSATLANTIC ALLIANCE BY STRENGTHENING CIVIL SOCIETY, FORGING BOLD AND INNOVATIVE POLICY IDEAS, AND DEVELOPING A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS TO TACKLE GLOBAL CHALLENGES. GMF DELIVERS HOPE BY UPHOLDING THE DIGNITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND DEFENDING FREEDOM IN THE SPIRIT OF THE MARSHALL PLAN.
- Income
- $38.4 million
- Spending
- $42.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 43.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 39%
- Employees
- 117
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $530,021, president (thru 9/24)
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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 43.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $14.3 million spent. DEMOCRACY - AS MANY COUNTRIES IN THE TRANSATLANTIC COMMUNITY AND BEYOND HELD ELECTIONS IN 2024, GMF DEMOCRACY FOCUSED ITS WORK ON COMBATING THREATS TO DEMOCRACY AND THE ABUSE OF RECENT TECHNOLOGIES. BOTH ISSUES POSE CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRATIC VALUES, IN PARTICULAR ELECTION ADMINISTRATION. GMF DEMOCRACY SHED LIGHT ON WIDESPREAD EFFORTS TO MANIPULATE ONLINE INFORMATION AND INTERFERENCE IN ELECTIONS WHILE HELPING TO SECURE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS.
- $6.5 million spent. GEOSTRATEGY - GMF PROVIDES POLICYMAKERS AND BUSINESS LEADERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC WITH IN-DEPTH AND COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSES OF THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND STRATEGIC TRENDS THAT IMPACT THEM. GMF GEOSTRATEGY FOCUSES ON SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS WHOSE AUDIENCES REQUIRE HOLISTIC RISK MANAGEMENT THAT INTEGRATES POLICY PLANNING AND RESILIENCE IN AN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT INCREASINGLY DEFINED BY GEOPOLITICAL COMPETITION, ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS, AND HYBRID THREATS.
- $2.9 million spent. STRATEGIC ENGAGMENT - GMF CONVENES GLOBAL LEADERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND EXPERTS ACROSS SECTORS TO SHAPE THE TRANSATLANTIC AGENDA AND DEBATE THE MOST PRESSING GLOBAL CHALLENGES. GMF OFFERS RISING AND ESTABLISHED LEADERS DYNAMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD TRANSATLANTIC BRIDGES.
- $2.8 million spent. INNOVATION - GMF INNOVATION ADVANCES NEW THINKING BY CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND PROJECTS, AND DEVELOPING INITIATIVES, THROUGH ITS TWO KEY DIVISIONS GMF CITIES AND GMF TECHNOLOGY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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