New America Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO RENEWING AMERICA BY CONTINUING THE QUEST TO REALIZE OUR NATION'S HIGHEST IDEALS, HONESTLY CONFRONTING THE CHALLENGES CAUSED BY RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE, AND SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES THOSE CHANGES CREATE.
- Income
- $37.2 million
- Spending
- $41.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 196
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $609,860, 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: 54 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 36% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 19 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 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)
- $21.6 million spent. DOMESTIC POLICY PROGRAMSEDUCATION POLICY PROGRAM: THE EDUCATION POLICY PROGRAM USES ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND POLICY ANALYSIS TO HELP SOLVE THE NATION'S CRITICAL EDUCATION PROBLEMS, CRAFTING OBJECTIVE ANALYSES AND SUGGESTING NEW IDEAS FOR POLICYMAKERS, EDUCATORS, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. NEW AMERICA COMBINES A STEADFAST CONCERN FOR HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS WITH A BELIEF THAT BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT EDUCATION CAN VASTLY IMPROVE BOTH THE POLICIES THAT GOVERN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE QUALITY OF LEARNING ITSELF. THE EDUCATION POLICY PROGRAM CONTAINS SEVERAL SUB-PROGRAMS:THE EARLY & ELEMENTARY EDUCATION POLICY TEAM WORKS TO HELP ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO A SYSTEM OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FROM BIRTH THROUGH THIRD GRADE THAT PREPARE THEM TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.THE PREK-12 INITIATIVE WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN ATTENDING PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS TO AND RECEIVE HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON IMPROVING EQUITY AND OUTCOMES FOR TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS. IT ALSO CONTAINS THE SUB-INITIATIVES:(1) THE ENGLISH LEARNERS INITIATIVE PROVIDES A POLICY-DRIVEN FOCUS ON LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD YEARS THROUGH THE PREK-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM. THE INITIATIVE CONDUCT RESEARCH, DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS, AND DISSEMINATE NEW IDEAS TO POLICYMAKERS, PRACTITIONERS, AND THE PUBLIC TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS.(2) THE EDUCATION FUNDING EQUITY INITIATIVE CONDUCTS QUANTITATIVE, QUALITATIVE, AND GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS TO UNDERSTAND AND HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT OF CURRENT SCHOOL FUNDING POLICIES AND POINT THE WAY TOWARD MORE EQUITABLE APPROACHES. THE HIGHER EDUCATION INITIATIVE WORKS TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE, INNOVATIVE, STUDENT-CENTERED, OUTCOMES-FOCUSED, AND EQUITABLE.THE TEACHING, LEARNING, AND TECH PROJECT FOCUSES ON HOW EDUCATORS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS CAN USE NEW MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGIES TO PROMOTE MORE EQUITABLE SYSTEMS OF LEARNING, FROM PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE AND INTO THE POST-SECONDARY YEARS.THE CENTER ON EDUCATION AND LABOR IS DEDICATED TO RESTORING THE LINK BETWEEN EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY. THE CENTER'S WORK SPANS THE POLICY DOMAINS OF EDUCATION, LABOR, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GOAL IS TO FORGE A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE CHALLENGES GENERATED FROM TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, AN APPROACH THAT RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO EQUIP WORKERS OF THE FUTURE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND POWER NECESSARY TO FULFILL THE TERMS OF OUR SOCIAL CONTRACT. IT ALSO CONTAINS THE SUB-INITIATIVES:FUTURE OF WORK AND INNOVATION ECONOMY INITIATIVE. THE FUTURE OF WORK AND INNOVATION ECONOMY INITIATIVE (FOWIE) IS A RESEARCH, STORYTELLING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND POLICY INCUBATOR TO ENSURE THAT THE INNOVATION ECONOMY CREATES FAMILY-SUSTAINING JOBS, RELIABLE PATHWAYS INTO THOSE JOBS, AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES THAT MAKE WORK BETTER FOR ALL. FOWIE WORKS WITH LOCAL HIGHER EDUCATION, LABOR, AND WORKFORCE ORGANIZATIONS TO ALIGN POLICY AND PRACTICE.PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP. THE PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP (PAYA) IS A MULTI-YEAR, COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE THAT SUPPORTS STATES AND CITIES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH. THE PARTNERSHIP CONVENES AND MOBILIZES THE EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE, AND COLLECTIVE NETWORKS OF NATIONAL, STATE, AND REGIONAL PARTNERS.STUDENT PARENT INITIATIVE. THE STUDENT PARENT INITIATIVE TEAM CONDUCTS RESEARCH, POLICY ANALYSIS, AND ADVOCACY WORK IN THE STUDENT PARENT SPACE. THE INITIATIVE BUILDS ON NEW AMERICA'S EXPERTISE IN FEDERAL ADVOCACY, COALITION-BUILDING AND WORK WITH HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND STATES TO: RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT STUDENT PARENTS; BRING NEW VOICES AND PRACTITIONERS INTO THE FIELD; CONNECT RESEARCH, DATA, AND PROMISING PRACTICES TO ADVANCE POLICY SOLUTIONS FOR STUDENT PARENTS.COMMUNITY COLLEGES. THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES INITIATIVE IS A RESEARCH AND CONVENING INITIATIVE THAT SYNTHESIZES POLICY AND PRACTICE FOR SUPPORTING EQUITABLE ACCESS, COMPLETION, AND LABOR MARKET ADVANCEMENT THROUGH THE IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES; ADVOCATES FOR THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY THAT SUPPORTS COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND THEIR STUDENTS; AND FACILITATE LEARNING AND INNOVATION TO SUPPORT THE WIDE-SCALE ADOPTION OF STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES FACING COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEIR INSTITUTIONS.FUTURE OF LAND AND HOUSING: THE FUTURE OF LAND AND HOUSING PROGRAM AT NEW AMERICA AIMS TO HELP SOLVE TODAY'S PROPERTY RIGHTS CHALLENGES BY SHRINKING THE GULF BETWEEN TECHNOLOGISTS AND POLICYMAKERS. THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, WRITING, AND CONVENING, WE STRIVE TO BRING THESE TWO CONSTITUENTS INTO THE SAME ROOM. OUR GOAL IS TO ACT AS A BRIDGE, AS A TRANSLATOR BETWEEN THE WORLD OF DRONES, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND SELF-SOVEREIGN IDENTITY, AND THE WORLD OF POLITICS, LAWS, AND INSTITUTIONS.POLITICAL REFORM PROGRAM: THE POLITICAL REFORM PROGRAM SEEKS TO DEVELOP NEW STRATEGIES AND INNOVATIONS TO REPAIR THE DYSFUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT, RESTORE TRUST, AND REBUILD THE PROMISE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY BY WORKING TOWARDS AN OPEN, FAIR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, WITH EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULL PARTICIPATION, IN ORDER TO RESTORE DYNAMISM AND GROWTH TO THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND SOCIETY. THE PROGRAM CONTAINS THESE INITIATIVES:(1) THE NEW MODELS OF POLICY CHANGE INITIATIVE WORKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS TO IDENTIFY OUTDATED POLICY PARADIGMS AND PROMOTE CREATIVE THINKING ABOUT HOW POLICY CHANGE HAPPENS, WHO MAKES POLICY, AND WHAT US INTERNATIONAL POLICY CANOR SHOULD BE.(2) CONGRESSIONAL CAPACITY PROJECT: WORKING WITH THE R STREET INSTITUTE, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CAPACITY WORKING GROUP, DIRECTED BY LEE DRUTMAN AND KEVIN KOSAR. THIS PROJECT CREATES AN ENDURING, BIPARTISAN SPACE TO ASSESS THE CAPACITY OF CONGRESS TO PERFORM ITS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES AND TO COLLABORATE ON IDEAS
- $5.6 million spent. TECHNOLOGY POLICY PROGRAMSOPEN TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE: THE OPEN TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES THROUGH GROUNDED RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, AND POLICY REFORM. NEW AMERICA CREATES REFORM TO SUPPORT OPEN-SOURCE INNOVATIONS AND FOSTER OPEN TECHNOLOGIES AND COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS. PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITIES, RESEARCHERS, INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS, NEW AMERICA PROMOTES AFFORDABLE, UNIVERSAL, AND UBIQUITOUS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS. IN 2024 THE PROGRAM CONTAINED ONE INITIATIVE:THE WIRELESS FUTURES PROJECT DEVELOPS AND ADVOCATES POLICY PROPOSALS TO PROMOTE UNIVERSAL, AFFORDABLE, AND UBIQUITOUS BROADBAND AND IMPROVE THE PUBLIC'S ACCESS TO CRITICAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES. PUBLIC INTEREST TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM: THE PUBLIC INTEREST TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM CONNECTS TECHNOLOGISTS TO PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE SERVICES TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND STRENGTHEN LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THEM. IN 2024 THE PROGRAM FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON ONE INITIATIVE:PIT UNIVERSITY NETWORK (PIT-UN) MISSION IS TO HELP ADVANCE THE FIELD OF PUBLIC INTEREST TECHNOLOGY TO BRING POSITIVE IMPACT TO COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GLOBE. WE FOCUS ON THE UNIVERSITY ECOSYSTEM SINCE THIS IS WHERE TALENT, SKILLS, AND IDEAS ARE BORN. THROUGH OUR NETWORK, CHALLENGE, AND CONTENT, WE EMPOWER PIT STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND PRACTITIONERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. PIT-UN CONCLUDED OPERATIONS AT NEW AMERICA AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024.FUTURE TENSE: FUTURE TENSE IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NEW AMERICA AND ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY TO EXPLORE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECTS ON SOCIETY AND PUBLIC POLICY. CENTRAL TO THE PARTNERSHIP IS A SERIES OF EVENTS THAT TAKE IN-DEPTH, PROVOCATIVE LOOKS AT ISSUES THAT, WHILE LITTLE UNDERSTOOD TODAY, WILL DRAMATICALLY RESHAPE THE POLICY DEBATES OF THE COMING DECADE.DIGITAL IMPACT AND GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE: THE DIGITAL IMPACT AND GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE (DIGI) DEVELOPS TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS THAT TRANSFORM THE WAY INSTITUTIONS DELIVER VALUE FOR CITIZENS. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH PARTNERS IN GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CREATE MODULAR, INTEROPERABLE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS BUILT ON OPEN SOURCE CODE THAT ADDRESS KEY CHALLENGES FACING THE PUBLIC SECTOR. THESE PLATFORMS PROVIDE 80 PERCENT SOLUTIONS, WITH GOVERNMENTS ABLE TO CUSTOMIZE THE LAST 20 PERCENT OF EACH PLATFORM TO MEET THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.#SHARETHEMICINCYBER: THE #SHARETHEMICINCYBER FELLOWSHIP, HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN #SHARETHEMICINCYBER AND NEW AMERICA, IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR UNDER-REPRESENTED MID-CAREER CYBERSECURITY PROFESSIONALS OR THOSE TRANSITIONING INTO THE CYBER FIELD, AND PRESENTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO FURTHER THEIR CAREERS IN THE FIELD.
- $2.4 million spent. GLOBAL POLICY PROGRAMSFUTURE SECURITY INITIATIVE: FUTURE SECURITY INITIATIVE IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN NEW AMERICA AND ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY THAT RECONCEPTUALIZES U.S. SECURITY POLICY AS A HOLISTIC ENGAGEMENT WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES INCLUDING DOMESTIC TERRORISM, ARMED DRONES, CLIMATE CHANGE, PANDEMICS, RISING AUTHORITARIANISM, AND NEW AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. FSI GENERATES TRANSFORMATIVE IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS GROUNDED IN CONCRETE, TRANSDISCIPLINARY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HUMAN FLOURISHING AND WELL-BEING. FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE TRACKING DRONE STRIKES, TRACKING TERRORISM IN AMERICA POST 9/11, AND EXAMINING THE FUTURE OF PROXY WARFARE.FUTURE FRONTLINES: FUTURE FRONTLINES USES OPEN SOURCE INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS, DATA MINING TECHNIQUES, AND JOURNALISTIC METHODS TO EXPLORE HOW THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION IS RESHAPING GLOBAL CONFLICT, COMPETITION AND INFLUENCE. FROM SATELLITE IMAGERY TO FLIGHT AND SHIPPING DATA TO SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, THE PROGRAM CONNECTS THE DOTS TO FERRET OUT FACTS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE HIDDEN OR EVEN PURPOSELY OBSCURED FOR STRATEGIC REASONS. USING DATA THAT IS PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, THE PROGRAM'S AIM IS TO DISCERN CONNECTIONS, PATTERNS AND TRENDS THAT EXPLAIN HOW COMPETITION FOR ATTENTION AND INFLUENCE IN CYBERSPACE PLAYS OUT ONLINE AND IN THE REAL WORLD.PLANETARY POLITICS: THE PLANETARY POLITICS INITIATIVE IS A CALL TO ACTION FOR REIMAGINING A MORE INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL ORDER. IT PRODUCES RESEARCH, JOURNALISM, AND POLICY BRIEFS ROOTED IN THREE VALUES: POWER FLOWS FROM ADAPTATION; GLOBAL GOVERNANCE MUST BE INCLUSIVE; PEOPLE AND THE PLANET ARE THE PRIORITY. PROJECTS INCLUDE DIGITAL FUTURES (MAPPING DIGITAL HARMS AND DEVELOPING PRINCIPLES DIGITAL GOVERNANCE GLOBALLY), POWER REIMAGINED (CLIMATE STRATEGY), AND A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ELEVATING NEW VOICES IN THE SECURITY FIELD.
- $2.0 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS
- $1.2 million spent. FELLOWS PROGRAMS: THE NEW AMERICA NATIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM INVESTS IN THINKERS-JOURNALISTS, SCHOLARS, FILMMAKERS, AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSTS-WHO GENERATE BIG, BOLD IDEAS THAT HAVE AN IMPACT AND SPARK NEW CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF OUR DAY.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.