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American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

EIN 53-0218495 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE IS A COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS AND SUPPORTERS COMMITTED TO EXPANDING LIBERTY, INCREASING INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY, AND STRENGTHENING FREE ENTERPRISE. AEI PURSUES THESE IDEALS THROUGH INDEPENDENT THINKING AND THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF RESEARCH AND EXPOSITION.

Income
$75.4 million
Spending
$73.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
33.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
372
Volunteers
31
Highest pay
$1.3 million, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (social science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (social science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 29 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 June 30, 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 (4)
  1. $14.0 million spent. DOMESTIC POLICY STUDIES: AEI'S DOMESTIC POLICY STUDIES SCHOLARS EXPLORE A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION REFORM, CITIZENSHIP, ETHICS, JUDICIARY ISSUES, EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE POLITICS, POLLS AND ELECTIONS, FEDERALISM, POVERTY, CIVIL RIGHTS, CRIME, AND OTHER PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES. AEI'S SCHOLARS ARE THOUGHT LEADERS IN THEIR FIELDS AND CONVENE CONFERENCES, IN-PERSON AND ONLINE EVENTS, AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SEMINARS. IN ADDITION TO ITS MANY EVENTS AND SEMINARS, AEI PROMOTES ITS RESEARCH AND IDEAS THROUGH PRINT AND DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS, BLOG POSTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, CONFERENCES, AND WORKING GROUPS.
  2. $12.8 million spent. FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICY STUDIES: AEI'S FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICY STUDIES SCHOLARS SEEK TO UNDERSTAND HOW AMERICAN INTERESTS AND POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FREEDOM CAN BE PROTECTED AND ADVANCED AROUND THE WORLD. THE PROGRAM'S RESEARCH AREAS INCLUDE U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE, TERRORISM, INTERNATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY, AND U.S. POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ASIA, RUSSIA, AND NUMEROUS OTHER AREAS. AEI'S SCHOLARS FOCUS ON CURRENT POLICY ISSUES AS WELL AS THOSE FURTHER OVER THE HORIZON. IN THE PROCESS, THEY EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS, BUSINESS LEADERS, ACADEMICS, JOURNALISTS, STUDENTS, AND ALL INTERESTED CITIZENS ON OUR NATION'S MOST CRITICAL POLICY ISSUES.
  3. $11.3 million spent. SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND CONSTITUTIONAL STUDIES: AEI'S SOCIAL CULTURAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL STUDIES SCHOLARS EXPLORE ISSUES RELATED TO THREE RESEARCH AREAS: 1.) LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL TOPICS 2. POLITICS AND PUBLIC OPINION, AND 3. SOCIETY AND CULTURE. TOPICS STUDIED BY LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS INCLUDE CONGRESS, THE US PRESIDENCY, THE COURTS (INCLUDING THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES), THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE, AND THE US CONSTITUTION. POLITICS AND PUBLIC OPINION SCHOLARS FOCUS ON POLLING, ELECTIONS, AND POLITICAL THEORY. SOCIETY AND CULTURE SCHOLARS STUDY AND COMMENT ON LIBERAL EDUCATION (SPECIFICALLY, THE HUMANITIES, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND CLASSICAL EDUCATION), CIVIL INSTITUTIONS, THE MEDIA, AMERICAN HISTORY, AND RELIGION.
  4. $19.6 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 July 1944.

    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.