Check before you give

Public Advocate of the United States

EIN 52-1112449 · Chantilly, VA

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

What it says it does

IMPROVMENT OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND PROCESSES THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate

This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)

$952,274 spent. PUBLIC ADVOCATE OF THE UNITED STATES DESSEMINATES INFORMATION USING REGULAR MESSAGES AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH SUPPORTERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH BULLETINS, PRINTED NEWSLETTERS, AND E-MAILS ON TOPICS SELECTED THROUGH POLLS AND SURVEYS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES COMMENTARIES ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO MEDIA THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. PUBLIC ADVOCATE CONDUCTS NEWS CONFERENCES, PUBLIC OFUMS, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, STRET THEATRE, AND MAKES AVAILABLE INDIVIDUALS TO APPEAR ON RADIO AND TELEVISION TALKS SHOWS. THE WEBSITE AT WWW.PUBLICADVOCATE.ORG PROVIDES NEWS COMMENTARIES AND PHOTOS.
$17,290 spent. IN 2024, PUBLIC ADVOCATE PARTICIPATED IN FILING 17 AMICUS BRIEFS. ELEVEN WERE FILED IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT: NRA V. VULLO; TRUMP V. ANDERSON; MURTHY V. MO.; PARENTS PROTECTING V. EAU CLAIRE; LITTLE V. HECOX; W.V. V. B.P.J.; CROUCH V. ANDERSON; U.S. V. SKRMETTI; FREE 3 SPEECH COALITION V. PAXTON; PETERSON V. DOE; AND L.M. V. MIDDLEBOROUGH. SIX WERE FILED IN U.S. CIRCUIT COURTS: TENN. V. CARDONA (6TH CIR.); DOE V. LADAPO (11TH CIR.) KAN. V. DEPT. OF EDUCATION (10TH CIR.); LOUIS. V. DEPT. OF EDUCATION (5TH CIR.); U.S.A. V. TRUMP (11TH CIR.); AND PARENTS DEFENDING V. OLENTANGY (6TH CIR.).

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate

Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(4) social welfare 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? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 November 1978.
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.

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.