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Henry L Stimson Center

EIN 52-1640938 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE STIMSON CENTER PROMOTES INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, SHARED PROSPERITY & JUSTICE THROUGH APPLIED RESEARCH AND INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS, DEEP ENGAGEMENT, AND POLICY INNOVATION.

Income
$14.9 million
Spending
$13.7 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
103
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$440,667, president & ceo

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $5.0 million spent. GRAND STRATEGY IN PIVOTAL PLACES: FOCUSES ON THE KEY PLAYERS IN GLOBAL PEACE, SECURITY, AND GREAT POWER COMPETITION. PROGRAMMATIC WORK EXAMINES HOW POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SECURITY DYNAMICS IN AREAS LIKE THE INDO-PACIFIC, LATIN AMERICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND NORTH AFRICA SHAPE INTERNATIONAL STABILITY. THE WORK AIMS TO REDUCE CONFLICT, STRENGTHEN COOPERATION, AND SUPPORT SECURITY IN THESE STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT REGIONS THROUGH NEW DIALOGUE AND POLICY SOLUTIONS.
  2. $3.2 million spent. PROMOTING SECURITY AND PROSPERITY: EXAMINES HOW CONVENTIONAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, ECONOMIC STATECRAFT, AND SHIFTING GLOBAL POWER DYNAMICS SHAPE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN POLICY. PROGRAMMATIC WORK SPANS CRITICAL ISSUES LIKE EXPORT CONTROLS, THE INTERNATIONAL ARMS TRADE, SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY, DIGITAL GOVERNANCE, AND THE GEOPOLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIESINCLUDING AI AND SEMICONDUCTORSALONGSIDE DETERRENCE, ARMS CONTROL, NON-PROLIFERATION, NUCLEAR RISK REDUCTION, AND THE EVOLVING ROLE OF ALLIANCES AND PARTNERSHIPS.
  3. $1.4 million spent. PROTECTING PEOPLE: EXPLORES HOW GOVERNANCE, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND INCLUSIVE INSTITUTIONS CAN UNDERPIN PEACE AND STABILITY. PROGRAMMATIC WORK EXAMINES CHALLENGES SUCH AS CONFLICT, PEACEKEEPING, AND THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN CRISIS SETTINGS, AS WELL AS THE MULTILATERAL AND REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND MECHANISMS DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES. THROUGH RESEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT, THE PROGRAMMATIC WORK PROMOTES GOVERNANCE AND POLICIES THAT STRENGTHEN HUMAN SECURITY AT THE LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS.
  4. $1.0 million spent. PRESERVING THE PLANET: EXPLORES THE LINKS BETWEEN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL RISK, AND GLOBAL STABILITY. PROGRAMMATIC WORK FOCUSES ON HOW WATER, ENERGY, AND OTHER RESOURCE CHALLENGES EXACERBATE SECURITY CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY IN FRAGILE AND CONFLICT-PRONE REGIONS. THROUGH RESEARCH, DIALOGUE, AND POLICY ENGAGEMENT, THE PROGRAMMATIC WORK BUILDS PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE RESILIENCE, REDUCE RISKS, AND SUPPORT A MORE SECURE FUTURE.
  5. $911,187 spent. SPECIAL PROJECTS

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 October 1989.

    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.