Center for Economic and Policy Research
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.
- Income
- $3.3 million
- Spending
- $6.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 44.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 64%
- Employees
- 44
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $170,903, co-director/treasurer
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 44.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 88% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 53% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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 (2)
- $1.9 million spent. DOMESTIC ECONOMIC POLICY THE CENTER PROVIDES RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ON DOMESTIC ECONOMIC ISSUES AFFECTING GROWTH AND INEQUALITY. DURING 2025, THE CENTER RESEARCHED THE ECONOMIC SITUATION WITH REGARD TO PRICES, WAGES, AND EMPLOYMENT EXAMINED THE ROLE OF HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES IN PROGRAMS SUCH AS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND MEDICAID HMOS ADVOCATED FOR THE ECONOMIC INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PUBLISHED RESEARCH AND ADVOCATED FOR TARGETED SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT AND STUDIED EFFORTS TO MITIGATE THE DAMAGE FROM EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. WE DISSEMINATED THE FINDINGS THROUGH PUBLICATIONS, WEBINARS, AND OP-EDS
- $3.1 million spent. THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM AT CEPR CONDUCTS RIGOROUS RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL POLICY DEBATES ON KEY GLOBAL ISSUES. WE PRODUCE REPORTS/ARTICLES CONDUCT PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND ENGAGE WITH PARTNERS, POLICYMAKERS, MEDIA, AND THE PUBLIC, PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN INFORMING THESE AUDIENCES. WE MONITOR THE IMFS POLICIES AND ACTIONS FOR THOSE THAT ARE HARMFUL TO COUNTRIES, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT CAN BE BENEFICIAL. BUILDING ON OUR PRIOR EFFORTS THAT WERE KEY TO WINNING THE 2021 ISSUANCE OF 650BN OF IMF SPECIAL DRAWING RIGHTS, WHICH SAVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES, WE CONTINUE MAKING THE CASE FOR NEW SDR ALLOCATIONS. WE ANALYZE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA, DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE IMPACT OF US POLICY. WE PLAY A KEY ROLE IN INFORMING POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE HARMFUL AND LETHAL IMPACT OF U.S. ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WHICH OFTEN TARGET THE GENERAL POPULATION. WE PRODUCE ANALYSIS THAT PROMOTES A MORE SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE, AND ACCOUNTABLE SYSTEM OF FINANCE, COMMERCE, AND TRADE.
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 February 2000.
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.
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