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Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Inc

EIN 52-1069070 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE JOINT CENTER FOR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STUDIES, AMERICA'S BLACK THINK TANK, PROVIDES COMPELLING AND ACTIONABLE POLICY SOLUTIONS TO ERADICATE PERSISTENT AND EVOLVING BARRIERS TO THE FULL FREEDOM OF BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA. (SEE SCHEDULE O)WE ARE THE TRUSTED FORUM FOR LEADING EXPERTS AND SCHOLARS TO PARTICIPATE IN MAJOR PUBLIC POLICY DEBATES AND PROMOTE IDEAS THAT ADVANCE BLACK COMMUNITIES. WE USE EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, CONVENINGS, AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS TO SUPPORT BLACK COMMUNITIES AND A NETWORK OF ALLIES.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
20.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
24
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$278,602, and operations thru 11/24

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 59% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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 (2)
  1. $2.0 million spent. ECONOMIC STUDIES: THE JOINT CENTER'S ECONOMIC STUDIES PROGRAM CONDUCTS SURVEY RESEARCH, PRODUCES POLICY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, WRITES AND PUBLISHES REPORTS AND FACT SHEETS, ORGANIZES EVENTS, AND DISSEMINATES INFORMATION ON BLACK COMMUNITIES AND THE FUTURE OF WORK, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, TECHNOLOGY, AND PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND SECURITY. THE ECONOMIC STUDIES PROGRAM ALSO EXPLORES AND INCUBATES NEW RESEARCH ISSUE AREAS.
  2. $554,855 spent. POLITICAL STUDIES: THE JOINT CENTER'S POLITICAL STUDIES PROGRAM COLLECTS AND ANALYZES DATA, CONDUCTS SURVEY RESEARCH, PRODUCES POLICY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, WRITES AND PUBLISHES REPORTS AND FACT SHEETS, ORGANIZES EVENTS, AND DISSEMINATES INFORMATION ON CONGRESSIONAL STAFF DIVERSITY, AND OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION OF BLACK 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 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 June 1976.

    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.

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