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American Foreign Policy Council

EIN 52-1274529 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AFPC'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO BRING INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO MAKE OR INFLUENCE THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES AND ARRANGE MEETINGS AND FACILITATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN AMERICAN STATESMEN AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
13
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$268,017, senior vp & secretary

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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 47% 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 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $737,685 spent. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY - AFPC HOLDS MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ABROAD, THAT BRING TOGETHER THOSE WHO MAKE OR INFLUENCE FOREIGN POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
  2. $746,924 spent. BULLETINS AND PUBLICATIONS - AFPC RESEARCHES, PREPARES, AND PUBLISHES NUMEROUS BULLETINS AND PUBLICATIONS WITH THE INTENT TO PROVIDE A TIMELY AND INSIGHTFUL ANALYSIS ON ISSUES OF FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.
  3. $773,561 spent. CENTRAL ASIA-CAUCASUS INSTITUTE - AFPC PROVIDES INFORMATION, RESEARCH, AND ANALYSIS ON THE VAST TERRITORY OF CENTRAL EURASIA STRETCHING FROM TURKEY TO WESTERN CHINA, WITH THE AIM TO HELP BRING GREATER ATTENTION TO THESE REGIONS AMONG OFFICIALS AND POLICYMAKERS.
  4. $109,158 spent. POLICY OUTREACH AND CONFERENCES - AFPC PROVIDES INFORMATION AND FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS TO THE MEDIA, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND KEY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION EXPERTS IN MEETINGS, WEBINARS, AND PODCASTS, AND THROUGH WRITTEN COMMUNICATION. AFPC ATTENDS CONFERENCES ON FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY THAT ARE HOSTED BY THIRD PARTIES TO DISCUSS ISSUES OF FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.

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 February 1983.

    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.