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National Democratic Institute for International Affairs

EIN 52-1338892 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NDI STRIVES FOR A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE HAVE A SAY IN HOW THEY'RE GOVERNED AND WHERE LEADERS ARE ACCOUNTABLE TOTHEIR PEOPLE - CREATING A MORE STABLE, PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS WORLD FOR EVERYONE.

Income
$107.2 million
Spending
$107.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 98%
Employees
505
Volunteers
134
Highest pay
$362,220, chief financial officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 93% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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 September 30, 2025, 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 (1)
  1. $92.3 million spent. NDI IS A NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION WHOSE WORK OVER FOUR DECADES HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF LOCAL PARTNERS AND TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LIVE IN GREATER FREEDOM, WITH GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE MORE RESPONSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR PEOPLE. NDI PROVIDES GUIDANCE, COLLABORATION, TOOLS, AND TRAINING PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN:- EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW THEY'RE GOVERNED- MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK BY HELPING POLITICAL PARTIES, GOVERNMENTS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS BE MORE RESPONSIVE, ACCOUNTABLE AND EFFECTIVE IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF THEIR PEOPLE- STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES BY SUPPORTING FREEDOM'S ADVOCATES AND PUSHING BACK ON FORCES THAT SEEK TO UNDERMINE FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.

    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 September 1984.

    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.