Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Capital Research Center

EIN 52-1289734 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CRC CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON THE INFLUENCE SECTOR, INCLUDING THE ADVOCACY GROUPS, THINK TANKS, FOUNDATIONS, ACTIVISTS, OTHER OPINION LEADERS, AND GROUPS INFLUENCING THE PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS.

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$8.0 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
16.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
36
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$429,067, president

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 47% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 (8)
  1. $2.2 million spent. RESEARCH: CRC CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON THE INFLUENCE SECTOR, INCLUDING THE ADVOCACY GROUPS, THINK TANKS, FOUNDATIONS, ACTIVISTS, OTHER OPINION LEADERS, AND GROUPS INFLUENCING THE PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS. CRC STRIVES TO PRODUCE IRONCLAD RESEARCH THAT IS USED TO DEVELOP COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON HOW SPECIAL INTERESTS ARE PROTECTED. CRC SHARES ITS RESEARCH THROUGH REGULAR PRINT PUBLICATIONS, A DYNAMIC WEBSITE (CAPITALRESEARCH ORG), EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, A PODCAST AND OTHER OUTLETS. CRC'S RESEARCH SPECIALTIES INCLUDE INVESTIGATING CHARITABLE GROUPS ENGAGING IN POLICY (AND POTENTIALLY POLITICAL) ADVOCACY; OTHER TAX-EXEMPT SPECIAL INTEREST ENTITIES AND SOCIAL WELFARE GROUPS; FOUNDATIONS, INDIVIDUAL DONORS, AND GRANT-MAKING ORGANIZATIONS; LABOR UNIONS, THEIR MISSION, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, ORGANIZING CAMPAIGNS, SOURCES OF SUPPORT, AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. CRC ALSO PROFILES OTHER INFLUENCERS, INCLUDING THE MEDIA AND WELL-KNOWN ACTIVISTS AND POLICYMAKERS. CRC PRODUCED EIGHT (8) PRINT/MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS OF LONG-FORM ARTICLES AND POPULATED THE WEBSITE WITH ROUGHLY TEN POSTS PER WEEK OF ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY.
  2. $1.1 million spent. INFLUENCE WATCH: CRC MAINTAINS INFLUENCEWATCH.ORG. A WIKI-STYLE ONLINE RESOURCE OF FACT-BASED, ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE VARIOUS INFLUENCERS OF PUBLIC POLICY DEBATES. INFLUENCEWATCH STRIVES TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, PROVIDING FREQUENTLY UPDATED PROFILES COMPLETE WITH RELIABLE SOURCING. PROFILES INCLUDE ACTIVISTS, NON-PROFIT ENTITIES, FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES, LABOR UNIONS, POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES, AGENCIES, LEGISLATION, AND MOVEMENTS. THE WEBSITE GREW TO 15,000 TOTAL ENTRIES, WITH APPROXIMATELY 7,500 LONG PROFILES COMPLETED. WEBSITE TRAFFIC WAS 2.3 MILLION UNIQUE USERS AND 4.5 MILLION PAGEVIEWS. ROUGHLY 2,000 USERS RECEIVE A MONTHLY EMAIL WITH INFORMATION ON INFLUENCEWATCH ENTRIES.
  3. $418,852 spent. COMMUNICATIONS: COMMUNICATIONS: CRC DISSEMINATES ITS RESEARCH (VIA PRESS RELEASE, MEDIA STATEMENTS, AND OTHER MEDIA RELATIONS EFFORTS) TO NEWS OUTLETS THAT COVER THE TOPIC OF PUBLIC POLICY INFLUENCE. CRC'S MEDIA APPEARANCES (INCLUDING OP EDS, INTERVIEWS, REFERENCES IN THE MEDIA, AND OTHER CITATIONS) IN OUTLETS LIKE THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, FOX NEWS, THE CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY, NATIONAL REVIEW, REALCLEAR POLITICS, WASHINGTON EXAMINER, WASHINGTON FREE BEACON, THE DAILY CALLER, AMONG OTHERS. OUR HITS JUMPED TO CLOSE TO 4,500, AN INCREASE OF 12.5 PERCENT. CRC'S MANY EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS WERE VIEWED OVER 8.6 MILLION TIMES ON YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK.
  4. $364,313 spent. OUTREACH
  5. $273,518 spent. CENTER FOR STRATEGIC GIVING
  6. $259,108 spent. SOCIAL MEDIA
  7. $75,216 spent. RESEARCH ARCHIVES
  8. $18,045 spent. DANGEROUS DOCUMENTARIES

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 May 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.