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Center for Strategic and International Studies Inc

EIN 52-1501082 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (CSIS) IS A BIPARTISAN, NONPROFIT POLICY RESEARCH ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVANCING PRACTICAL IDEAS TO ADDRESS THE WORLD'S GREATEST CHALLENGES.

Income
$50.3 million
Spending
$66.5 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
525
Volunteers
42
Highest pay
$600,846, ceo, & langone chr in amer. ldrshp

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 36% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 42 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 (4)
  1. $8.1 million spent. THE CSIS INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM (ISP) IS A CONSTANT SOURCE OF RELIABLE ANALYSIS ON THE THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES SHAPING U.S. SECURITY INTERESTS AT HOME AND ABROAD.ISP TACKLES ONE OF THE MOST ROBUST AND AMBITIOUS RESEARCH AGENDAS IN THE FIELD. IT COVERS CONVENTIONAL POLITICAL-MILITARY ISSUES, INCLUDING DEFENSE STRATEGY AND POLICY, ACQUISITION AND INDUSTRY, COUNTERTERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. NUCLEAR POLICY, WMD PROLIFERATION, DEFENSE BUDGET ANALYSIS, MISSILE DEFENSE, STRATEGIC FUTURES, AND SECURITY COOPERATION. ISP IS ALSO COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING A GROWING RANGE OF NONMILITARY ISSUES DEFINING U.S. FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY.NONPARTISAN/BIPARTISAN ANALYSIS OF THE ONGOING DEFENSE AND SECURITY CHALLENGES FACING THE NATION PROVIDES CONGRESS, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, AND INDUSTRY THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS. ISP ASSEMBLES TOP-LEVEL LEADERS AND PROVIDES THE PLATFORM FOR THEM TO DEFINE CRITICAL ISSUES AND EXPLAIN THE IMPACT NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY.
  2. $2.6 million spent. THE CSIS CHAIR ON INDIA AND EMERGING ASIA ECONOMICS AIMS TO UNLOCK THE FULL POTENTIAL OF U.S. PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDIA AND THE BROADER ASIA REGION. WHILE CONTINUING TO LEAD THE CENTER'S WORK ON INDIA, THE CHAIR HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE EMERGING ECONOMIES ACROSS ASIA, FOSTERING U.S. ECONOMIC SECURITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND DEEPENING BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THESE COUNTRIES AND THE UNITED STATES. WE REMAIN THE LEADING AUTHORITY ON STATE-LEVEL POLITICAL-ECONOMIC ISSUES IN INDIA AND HAVE SPEARHEADED MULTIPLE FUNDED PROJECTS TO ENHANCE SUBNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
  3. $2.5 million spent. THE ENERGY AND SECURITY TEAM PROVIDES THE ANALYSIS LEADERS NEED TO BUILD ENERGY SECURITY, ADDRESS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, AND ALLEVIATE ENERGY INJUSTICE.THEY PROVIDE INNOVATIVE, STRATEGIC INSIGHTS AND POLICY SOLUTIONS BY EXAMINING ENERGY ISSUES AT THE INTERSECTION OF GEOPOLITICS, POLICY, MARKETS, AND DEVELOPMENT. COLLABORATING WITH LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, AND CIVIL SOCIETY, THE TEAM DEVELOPS PROJECTS TO HELP DECISIONMAKERS DESIGN SMART ENERGY POLICIES THAT BALANCE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND SECURITY PRIORITIES.
  4. $30.3 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 May 1987.

    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.