Public Knowledge
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE PROMOTES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AN OPEN INTERNET, AND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS AND CREATIVE WORKS. WE WORK TO SHAPE POLICY ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 51%
- Reserves
- 9.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $268,772, 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: 52 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1551% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 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
0 of 10Did not give 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)
- $947,837 spent. BROADBAND: PK WORKS TO SECURE BROADBAND ACCESS FOR EVERYONE. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, PK WORKS TO CREATE A CONSISTENT, LONG-TERM SUBSIDY TO HELP PEOPLE AFFORD ACCESS; PROMOTE COMPETITION AMONG PROVIDERS TO LOWER PRICES; AND REQUIRE PROVIDERS TO OFFER ON-SITE BACKUP POWER TO KEEP NETWORKS UP. PK ALSO URGES POLICYMAKERS TO BAN PROVIDERS FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST CONSUMERS. PK ALSO WORKS TO ENSURE THE GOVERNMENT MANAGES SPECTRUM IN WAYS THAT BENEFIT ALL AMERICANS.
- $736,008 spent. DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT/COPYRIGHT: PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE (PK) WORKS TO CREATE A COPYRIGHT SYSTEM THAT RECOGNIZES THE ROLE THAT TECHNOLOGY PLAYS IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. PK SUPPORTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO REMIX CONTENT INTO NEW EXPRESSIONS OR CREATE OR SHARE LAWFUL CONTENT ONLINE. PK ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT PROTECT INNOVATION WITHOUT CONSTRAINING FAIR USE. PK URGES CONGRESS TO FIX THE DMCA SO THAT CONSUMERS CAN OWN, LEND, OR REPAIR THEIR DEVICES.
- $82,581 spent. PRESS/PUBLIC EDUCATION: PK'S MODES OF ADVOCACY INCLUDE EDUCATING THE PRESS, THE PUBLIC, AND POLICYMAKERS USING PLAIN-LANGUAGE ANALYSIS, WHITE PAPERS, BLOG POSTS, OP-EDS, FACT SHEETS, AND VIDEOS. PK EXPERTS ARE REGULARLY FEATURED IN THE NEWS, ON PODCASTS, AND IN OTHER MEDIA. PK'S WORK ALSO INCLUDES COORDINATING, HOSTING, AND FACILITATING EVENTS THAT PROVIDE A FORUM FOR POLICYMAKERS, THE PUBLIC, INDUSTRY, AND THE PRESS TO EXCHANGE IDEAS ABOUT PK'S CORE ISSUES. ADDITIONALLY, PK ORGANIZES AND RUNS COALITIONS TO HARNESS THE POWER OF PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS.
- $77,412 spent. POLICY STRATEGY CENTER
- $2,493 spent. INTERNATIONAL
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 March 2002.
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.