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The Carter Center Inc

EIN 58-1454716 · Atlanta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CARTER CENTER IS GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLES OF OUR FOUNDERS, JIMMY AND ROSALYNN CARTER. FOUNDED, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EMORY UNIVERSITY, ON A FUNDAMENTAL COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ALLEVIATION OF HUMAN SUFFERING, THE CENTER SEEKS TO PREVENT AND RESOLVE CONFLICTS, ENHANCE FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, AND IMPROVE HEALTH. 1) THE CENTER BELIEVES THAT PEOPLE CAN IMPROVE THEIR OWN LIVES WHEN PROVIDED WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES. 2) THE CENTER EMPHASIZES ACTION AND MEASURABLE RESULTS IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IT SEEKS TO HELP. 3) THE CENTER VALUES THE COURAGE TO BREAK NEW GROUND, FILL VACUUMS, AND ADDRESS THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS IN THE MOST DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. 4) THE CENTER RECOGNIZES THAT SOLVING DIFFICULT PROBLEMS REQUIRES CAREFUL ANALYSIS, RELENTLESS PERSISTENCE, AND THE RECOGNITION THAT FAILURE IS AN ACCEPTABLE RISK. 5) THE CENTER IS NONPARTISAN AND IT SEEKS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO

Income
$163.9 million
Spending
$154.8 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
36.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
378
Volunteers
400,000
Highest pay
$531,474, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 36.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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 August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • The Center has monitored more than 100 national elections.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $84.4 million spent. The Carter Center Health Programs fight six preventable diseases - Guinea Worm, River Blindness, Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis, Trachoma, and Malaria - by using education and simple, low-cost methods. The Center also strives to improve access to mental health care. These efforts have brought to resource limited countries better disease surveillance and health care delivery systems, many established as part of the center's historic campaign to eradicate guinea worm disease. Because communities are often burdened by several diseases, the center is pioneering new public health approaches to efficiently and effectively impact general populations.
  2. $30.7 million spent. The Carter Center Peace Programs strengthen freedom and democracy in nations worldwide, securing for the people the political and civil rights that are the foundation of just and peaceful societies. The Center has become a pioneer in election observation, monitoring more than 100 national elections to help ensure that the results reflect the will of the people. Beyond elections, the Center seeks to deepen democracy by nurturing full citizen participation in public policy-making and by helping to establish government institutions that bolster the rule of law, fair administration of justice, access to information, and government transparency. A culture of respect for human rights is crucial to permanent peace. The Center supports the efforts of human rights activists at the grass roots, while also working to advance national and international human rights laws that uphold the dignity and worth of each individual. When democracy backslides or formal democracy fails, the Carter Center offers conflict resolution expertise and has furthered avenues for peace in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.
  3. $7.4 million spent. The Carter Center receives broad-based support which is beneficial to all programs and is categorized as cross-program. Expenses aid the achievement of the other program service goals and are considered additions to program service expense.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.