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John Locke Foundation Inc

EIN 56-1656943 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION IS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH, DISSEMINATE INFORMATION, AND ADVANCE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SOCIETY BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, THE VOLUNTARY EXCHANGES OF A FREE MARKET ECONOMY, AND LIMITED GOVERNMENT. THE FOUNDATION SHALL GIVE PRIORITY TO NORTH CAROLINA STATE PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AND NATIONAL ISSUES AFFECTING NORTH CAROLINA.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$5.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
46
Highest pay
$226,575, ceo

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

Good: 72 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (5)
  1. $1.3 million spent. RESEARCH - THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS AND ANALYZES RESEARCH IN SEVERAL AREAS, INCLUDING FISCAL POLICY, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION, LEGAL POLICY, AGRICULTURE, ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, REGULATION, ELECTION SECURITY, AND TRANSPORTATION. RESEARCH EFFORTS ALSO INCLUDE THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY, THE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY PROJECT, THE CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION, AND THE CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE EDUCATION.
  2. $820,736 spent. COMMUNICATIONS - THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AND OBJECTIVES IS SUPPORTED THROUGH MEDIUMS SUCH AS THE LOCKE WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND EMAIL. THE COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE ALSO INCLUDES A STATE-OF-THE-ART STUDIO DESIGNED FOR CREATING SOUND AND VIDEO CONTENT.
  3. $1.1 million spent. CAROLINA JOURNAL - CAROLINA JOURNAL OFFERS DAILY COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS OF NORTH CAROLINA POLITICS AND POLICY AND IS A LEADER IN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE STATE. THE OUTFIT MAINTAINS A NEWS MEDIA STRUCTURE THAT INCLUDES PRINT, DIGITAL, AND RADIO AND REACHES MARKETS STATE-WIDE.
  4. $1.3 million spent. FIRST IN FREEDOM - THIS IS A ROBUST PROGRAM AREA THAT ENCOMPASSES THE FOUNDATION'S OUTREACH EFFORTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE EA MORRIS FELLOWSHIP AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, BOTH INTENDED TO TRAIN A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS USING FREE-MARKET IDEAS; GRASSROOTS OUTREACH: AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY, RECRUIT AND ENGAGE GRASSROOTS LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE; GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: EDUCATES ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT LIMITED GOVERNMENT POLICIES AT THE STATE LEVEL; AS WELL AS EVENTS SUCH AS THE CAROLINA LIBERTY CONFERENCE.
  5. FIRST IN FREEDOM - THIS IS A ROBUST PROGRAM AREA THAT ENCOMPASSES THE FOUNDATION'S OUTREACH EFFORTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE EA MORRIS FELLOWSHIP AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, BOTH INTENDED TO TRAIN A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS USING FREE-MARKET IDEAS; GRASSROOTS OUTREACH: AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY, RECRUIT AND ENGAGE GRASSROOTS LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE; GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: EDUCATES ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT LIMITED GOVERNMENT POLICIES AT THE STATE LEVEL; AS WELL AS EVENTS SUCH AS THE CAROLINA LIBERTY CONFERENCE.

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 February 1990.

    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.