International Foundation for Electoral Systems
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IFES IS DEDICATED TO EXTENDING DEMOCRACY WORLDWIDE THROUGH PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN VOTER EDUCATION, ELECTION ADMINISTRATION, CIVIL SOCIETY, GOVERNANCE, RULE OF LAW AND POLITICAL PROCESSES.
- Income
- $54.1 million
- Spending
- $54.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 58%
- Employees
- 244
- Volunteers
- 27
- Highest pay
- $544,221, country director, ukraine
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: 33 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 79% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% 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 35% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $2.7 million spent. THE UKRAINE RESPONSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE POLITICS PROGRAM STRIVES TO ENSURE THAT POLITICAL COMPETITION IN UKRAINE IS FAIRER AND MORE TRANSPARENT, AND POLITICAL ACTORS ARE MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF AND ACCOUNTABLE TO CITIZENS.
- $2.6 million spent. THROUGH THE RISE PROJECT, IFES PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ELECTION MANAGEMENT BODIES, WORKS WITH DOMESTIC NGOS TO MONITOR GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD OF ELECTIONS, PROMOTES CIVIC LITERACY AND EDUCATION AMONG YOUTH THROUGH IN-SCHOOL CIVIC CLASSES AND TRAINING FOR INSTRUCTORS, SUPPORTS PROFESSIONAL POLITICAL FINANCE OVERSIGHT AND CAPACITY FOR EMBS AND OVERSIGHT BODIES ON ELECTION DISPUTE RESOLUTION, AND WORKS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS.
- $2.4 million spent. THE DRC PROGRAM STRENGTHENS CENI'S CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES AND ADMINISTER CREDIBLE ELECTORAL PROCESSES. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROMOTES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND OVERSIGHT, WITH A FOCUS ON WOMEN, YOUTH, AND MARGINALIZED GROUPS. AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, IFES IS PILOTING ITS "SHE LEADS WOMEN" LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO BUILD PARTICIPANTS' KNOWLEDGE OF ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRACY, ENHANCE THEIR ADVOCACY SKILLS, AND EMPOWER THEM TO SUPPORT GREATER INCLUSION IN POLITICAL AND ELECTORAL PROCESSES.
- $36.8 million spent. IFES PROVIDES TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STRENGTHEN TRANSITIONAL DEMOCRACIES AS WELL AS PROVIDE TECHNICAL ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE ACROSS MANY AREAS OF DEMOCRACY DEVELOPMENT. THESE INCLUDE EMPOWERING THE UNDERREPRESENTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, EDUCATION IN ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE, CIVIL SOCIETY, GOVERNANCE, WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW.
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
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 2026.
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