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Police Research and Education Project Inc

EIN 52-1719671 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE, THROUGH RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, THE WELL-BEING OF POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND TO EDUCATE AND INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.

Income
$377,658
Spending
$389,607
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$354,240, exec director & general counsel

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

Weak: 38 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 180% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    45 of 46 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $320,074 spent. AMERICAS TOP COP AWARDS PROGRAM - DISCOVERING, RECOGNIZING, AND AWARDING OUTSTANDING EXAMPLES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC AND THE NATION. CONDUCTING AN ANNUAL NATIONAL AWARDS CEREMONY, MAKING KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING EACH CASE, WITH AN EYE TOWARDS INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF, AND RESPECT FOR, THE RULE OF LAW AND THE SACRIFICE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN OUR REPUBLIC.
  2. $44,743 spent. SEMINARS: A SEMINAR FOR LAWYERS WHO REPRESENT LAW ENFORCEMENT LABOR ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF A PUBLIC SAFETY LAWYERS PRACTICE. ALSO, HOSTILE MEDIA SEMINAR: THIS SEMINAR BROUGHT TOGETHER NEWS REPORTERS AND PRODUCERS ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DISCUSS HOW POLICE ARE PORTRAYED IN THE MEDIA, WHY THEY ARE PORTRAYED IN A PARTICULAR MANNER, HOW THE PUBLIC PERCEIVES POLICE OFFICERS, AND HOW POLICE AGENCIES CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC THEY SERVE. IN PAST YEARS, THE SEMINAR WAS TITLED NAVIGATING THE NEW UNION ENVIRONMENT. EXPERTS SPOKE ON HOW TO EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR OFFICERS SAFETY, RESPOND TO SUPREME COURT LEGAL THREATS TO UNION DUES, HOW TO PRESERVE AND GROW MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHANGING LABOR ENVIRONMENT AND LEARNED OF LEGISLATIVE UPDATES. IN PAST YEARS THE FALL SEMINAR ADDRESSED TOPICS SUCH AS WORKERS COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR PSTD, LAW ENFORCEMENT RELATIONS WITH THE DOJ, AND PUBLIC SAFETY DRONES AND THE FUTURE OF AIR SPACE.
  3. $1,560 spent. THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS RIGHTS CENTER EXISTS TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL RIGHTS OF AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. IT ALSO EDUCATES OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THESE RIGHTS. THE RIGHTS CENTER DOES THIS PRIMARILY BY APPEARING AS AMICUS CURIAE OR FRIEND OF THE COURT IN LEGAL CASES AROUND THE COUNTRY, PRIMARILY AT THE APPELLATE LEVEL, INCLUDING THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. THE RIGHTS CENTER FILES LEGAL BRIEFS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE COURTS AND PARTIES TO LITIGATION ABOUT THE CONSTITUTONAL AND LEGAL RIGHTS ENJOYED AND NEEDED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. IT ALSO PUBLICIZES THE BRIEFS THEMSELVES AS WELL AS DECISIONS HANDED DOWN BY THE COURTS IN CASES IN WHICH IT HAS BECOME INVOLVED. THE RIGHTS CENTER ALSO CONDUCTS STUDIES FROM TIME TO TIME REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF VARIOUS LAWS TO POLICE OFFICERS IN VARIOUS US JURISDICTIONS.
  4. $9,446 spent. THE FLAGS FOR THE FALLEN PROGRAM PROVIDES, AT NO COST TO THE FAMILIES, A CUSTOM EMBROIDERED FLAG WITH A BADGE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SHIELD THEREON, TO THE SURVIVORS OF AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. EACH FLAG HAS STITCHED ONTO IT THE NAME, EMPLOYING AGENCY, BADGE NUMBER AND DATE OF DEATH OF THE OFFICER. THE FLAGS ARE PRESENTED TO THE SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS, OR COWORKERS OF THE SLAIN OFFICERS.

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 November 6, 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 1991.

    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 November 4, 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.