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Congressional Management Foundation

EIN 52-1076614 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO HELPING CONGRESS BECOME A MORE PRODUCTIVE AND EFFECTIVE INSTITUTION THROUGH BETTER MANAGEMENT. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO EDUCATES AND TRAINS CITIZENS ON EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
10
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$225,662, former president & 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 40% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 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 (4)
  1. $438,533 spent. CMF PROVIDES ADVANCED "ADVOCACY ACADEMY" TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE THEIR CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE CONGRESS, INCLUDING MULTIPLE WEBINARS ON ADVOCACY PRACTICES AND ONE-DAY BOOTCAMPS FOR ADVOCATES. CMF AND THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS INSTITUTE AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY (GAI) CONDUCT JOINT MULTI-DAY TRAINING ON LEGISTLATIVE OPERATIONS FOR CONGRESSIONAL STAFF.
  2. $51,016 spent. PARTNERSHIP FOR A MORE PERFECT UNION - CMF'S PARTNERSHIP FOR A MORE PERFECT UNION IS DEDICATED TO ENRICHING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITIZENS AND CONGRESS BY COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESSING THE DETERIORATING RELATIONSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS CHALLENGES FACED BY BOTH SIDES.THE GOAL OF THE PARTNERSHIP IS TO FURTHER MEANINGFUL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH EDUCATION, RE-ESTABLISHING TRUST, AND PROVIDING INNOVATIVE YET PRAGMATIC TOOLS TO FACILITATE PURPOSEFUL TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION. CMF PROVIDES ITS PARTNERS WHO PAY ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FEES WITH A NUMBER OF BENEFITS INCLUDING IN-PERSON SPEECHES, ONLINE TRAINING (WEBINARS), ROUNDTABLE PRESENTATIONS ON EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY AND REUSABLE CONTENT BASED ON CMF'S RESEARCH.
  3. $56,328 spent. DEMOCRACY AWARDS - CMF CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM. THE DEMOCRACY AWARDS ARE PRESENTED TO CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES, ALLOWING THE STAFF TO SHARE IN THE CREDIT FOR THE ACHEIVEMENT AND RECOGNIZING THE REALITY THAT A DEGREE OF SUCCESS FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IS DUE TO THE EMPLOYEES THEY HIRE AND MANAGE. BY CREATING AN AWARDS SYSTEM, CMF SEEKS TO: RECOGNIZE AND APPLAUD LEGISLATORS AND STAFF WHO TRULY DESERVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THEIR BEST PRACTICES IN THE SERVICE OF THE CONGRESS; PROVIDE EXAMPLES FOR CONGRESSIONAL COLLEAGUES TO EMULATE, THEREBY ENHANCING THE ENTIRE INSTITUTION; ENHANCE AND IMPROVE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND TRUST IN CONGRESS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, CMF IDENTIFIES BEST PRACTICES IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND DISSEMINATES THOSE PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE CONGRESS.
  4. $484,080 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR STAFF TO MAKE OPERATING IMPROVEMENTS.

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 November 6, 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 May 1977.

    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 November 4, 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.