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Competitive Enterprise Institute

EIN 52-1351785 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE (CEI) IS A NON-PROFIT PUBLIC POLICY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE ENTERPRISE AND LIMITED GOVERNMENT. WE BELIEVE THAT CONSUMERS ARE BEST HELPED NOT BY GOVERNMENT REGULATION BUT BY BEING ALLOWED TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES IN A FREE MARKETPLACE.

Income
$12.9 million
Spending
$9.1 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
53
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$399,080, president

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

Good: 83 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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 (6)
  1. $1.7 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACHCEI'S COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH DEPARTMENT ASSISTS THE CEI POLICY CENTERS WITH THEIR EFFORTS TO DISSEMINATE RESEARCH FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS TO VARIOUS AUDIENCES INCLUDING POLICYMAKERS, NEWS MEDIA, ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IT ALSO HELPS THE POLICY CENTERS BUILD COALITIONS OF LIKE MINDED SCHOLARS, ACTIVISTS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO ADVANCE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OF PROMOTING THE INSTITUTIONS OF LIBERTY AND REMOVING GOVERNMENT-CREATED BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC FREEDOM, INNOVATION, AND PROSPERITY.
  2. $1.1 million spent. CENTER FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT CEI'S CENTER FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT MAKES THE POSITIVE CASE FOR ABUNDANT ENERGY AND PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES BASED ON ECONOMIC FREEDOM, PROPERTY RIGHTS, AND LIMITED GOVERNMENT. THE CENTER WORKS TO COMBAT THE BELIEF THAT PROSPERITY THREATENS THE ENVIRONMENT, THAT THE ANSWER TO EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE IS MORE REGULATION, AND THAT RISKS CAN BE ABOLISHED BY LIMITING HUMAN INGENUITY.
  3. $979,795 spent. CENTER FOR ECONOMIC FREEDOMCEI'S CENTER FOR ECONOMIC FREEDOM ADDRESSES MANY OF THE INDUSTRIES AND ACTIVITIES WHERE LONG-ESTABLISHED, AND OFTEN PATERNALISTIC, REGULATORY POLICIES TEND TO STYMIE THE CREATION AND EVOLUTION OF NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, TECHNOLOGIES, BUSINESS PRACTICES, AND WORK ARRANGEMENTS. KEY ISSUE AREAS INCLUDE BANKING AND SECURITIES REGULATION, CONSUMER FINANCE, LABOR LAW AND EMPLOYMENT POLICY, CONSUMER PRODUCT REGULATION, AND TRADE POLICY. THESE ISSUE AREAS REQUIRE OUR EXPERTS TO HAVE A FIRM UNDERSTANDING OF EXISTING REGULATION, REGULATION'S MONETARY AND SOCIAL COSTS, AND AN APPRECIATION OF THE WAY TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION PRESENT NEW CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR REFORM.
  4. $739,145 spent. CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION - CEI'S CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION STRIVES TO KEEP THE REGULATORY STATE FROM ENCROACHING UPON FRONTIER INDUSTRIES AND ENSURE THAT 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT SHACKLED BY 20TH CENTURY REGULATIONS. THE CENTER WORKS TO ADVANCE MARKET DISCIPLINE AS SUPERIOR TO REGULATORY INTERVENTION; WE LEGITIMIZE MARKET PROCESSES AND FORESTALL GOVERNMENTAL RESTRICTIONS ON WEALTH CREATION.
  5. $707,268 spent. CENTER FOR LITIGATION - THE CENTRAL MISSION OF CEI'S CENTER FOR LAW & LITIGATION IS TO ENCOURAGE GOVERNMENT BODIES TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW THAT GOVERNS THEM. CEI DOES THIS THROUGH REPRESENTATION OF PARTIES IN PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION, SUBMISSION OF AMICUS BRIEFS, POLICY ANALYSIS AND ADVOCACY, GOVERNMENT RECORDS REQUESTS, AND RESEARCH SUPPORT EXTENDED TO CEI'S POLICY COLLEAGUES. ISSUES THAT THE CENTER HAS FOCUSED ON IN THE RECENT PAST INCLUDE CORPORATE AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS, CONSUMER APPLIANCE ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS, THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE FEE, MUTUAL FUNDS FEES, AND CIVIL FORFEITURE REFORM.
  6. $1.9 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

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.