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Judicial Watch Inc

EIN 52-1885088 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT AND FIDELITY TO THE RULE OF LAW THROUGH PUBLIC ADVOCACY, LITIGATION AND MONITORING AND INVESTIGATING FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND OFFICIALS, AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES.

Income
$102.3 million
Spending
$57.4 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
66
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$1.2 million, president, director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 3 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 December 31, 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 (3)
  1. $26.8 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION - JUDICIAL WATCH FULFILLS ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION BY DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ABOUT ITS PUBLIC ADVOCACY, LITIGATION, MONITORING AND INVESTIGATIONS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, AND EMAIL UPDATES AND BLOGS, AS WELL AS REGULAR MAILINGS, PERIODIC SPECIAL REPORTS AND OTHER PUBLIC OUTREACH EFFORTS.
  2. $7.2 million spent. LEGAL - JUDICIAL WATCH PROSECUTES NUMEROUS LAWSUITS, TYPICALLY ON ITS OWN BEHALF BUT ALSO ON BEHALF OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES, TO PROMOTE INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT AND FIDELITY TO THE RULE OF LAW. JUDICIAL WATCH HAS PROSECUTED OR DEFENDED LAWSUITS IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS PUBLIC INTEREST MISSION AND OBTAINED MANY NOTEWORTHY SUCCESSES.
  3. $2.9 million spent. INVESTIGATIONS/RESEARCH - JUDICIAL WATCH MONITORS AND INVESTIGATES THE ACTIONS OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, TYPICALLY USING OPEN RECORDS LAWS SUCH AS THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. JUDICIAL WATCH HAS SERVED OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS AND SECURED THE RELEASE OF PREVIOUSLY UNDISCLOSED GOVERNMENT RECORDS INTO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. JUDICIAL WATCH ALSO MAINTAINS DATABASES OF THE RECORDS IT OBTAINS AND MAKES THESE RECORDS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 August 1995.

    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.