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Frameworks Institute

EIN 71-0891642 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak31 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IDENTIFY, CONDUCT, TRANSLATE, AND APPLY RIGOROUS RESEARCH THAT FRAMES THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE ON SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC SECTORS' COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY, ALIGNMENT, AND EFFECTIVENESS.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$10.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
32
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$488,161, chief executive officer

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

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 69% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (7)
  1. $3.4 million spent. HEALTH: FRAMEWORKS' RESEARCH HAS TAKEN PLACE ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUE AREAS, INCLUDING CHILDREN'S MENTAL AND ORAL HEALT, TOBACCO-RELATED HEALTH DISPARITIES, SOCIAL DETERMINTS OF HEALH, THE INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHER SECTORS, COMMUNITY HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, HEALTH CARE AND PUBLIC INFORMATICS.
  2. $1.8 million spent. CHILDREN YOUTH & FAMILIES: FRAMEWORKS HELPS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO DISCOVER AND DOCUMENT THE EFFECTS OF FRAMES ON PUBLIC VIEWS AND ATTITUDES, AS WELL AS TRANSLATE THE VIEWS OF EXPERTS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE PUBLICS. THE AIM OF THIS WORK IS TWO-FOLD: TO DEEPEN PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF COMPLEX SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND TO HELP INDIVIDUALS BETTER EVALUATE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO THE TOUGH CHALLENGES THAT CONFRONT MANY CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. ISSUES ADDRESSED RANGE FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT TO CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION, CHILD NUTRITION AND ORAL HEALTH, ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, FOSTER CARE, AND EDUCATIONAL REFORM.
  3. $637,574 spent. ECONOMY AND EQUALITY: AS INCOME INEQUALITY CONTINUES TO RISE, PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO ITS EFFECTS ON THE COUNTRY'S SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS. DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WAYS TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY, REDUCE INEQUITY, PROMOTE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND REDEFINING THE FUTURE OF WORK ARE PERMEATING POLICY CIRCLES, THE MEDIA, AND SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS AND FRAMEWORKS IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN RESEARCH IN ALL THESE AREAS.
  4. $562,128 spent. CROSS-CUTTING: WORK IN THIS AREA, ALONG WITH THAT UNDERWRITTEN BY GENERAL SUPPORT, FOCUS ON INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY AND SERVICES THAT CROSS DISCRETE ISSUE-FOCUSED BOUNDARIES AND ARE WIDE-RANGING IN IMPACT.
  5. $513,557 spent. HUMAN RIGHTS, SERVICES AND JUSTICE: FRAMEWORKS UNDERTAKES MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN THE AREAS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, SERVICES, AND JUSTICE. RESEARCHERS STUDY HOW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS CAN HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE NEED TO REFORM IT IN THE U.S. AND THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE INSTITUTE ALSO EXPLORED HOW ADVOCATES IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, CAN MOBILIZE THEIR COMMUNITY AROUND IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTITUTE HAS CONDUCTED RESEARCH IN THE U.S. AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
  6. $299,443 spent. PUBLICATIONS AND CURRICULA: FRAMEWORKS ACADEMY IS FRAMEWORKS' ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM THAT CONTAINS MULTIMEDIA CLASSES ON FRAMING AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN A VARIETY OF AREAS. AMONG ITS MANY OFFERINGS ARE COURSES ON FRAMING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) EDUCATION, REFRAMING ELDER ABUSE AND FRAMING FOR CLIMATE INTERPRETERS.
  7. $166,943 spent. EDUCATION: RECOGNIZING THE CHALLENGE THAT NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC-SECTOR LEADERS FACE IN ENGAGING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IN MEANINGFUL EDUCATION REFORMS, AN INFLUENTIAL GROUP OF PHILANTHROPIC LEADERS CAME TOGETHER TO PARTNER WITH THE INSTITUTE IN DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE NEW WAYS OF TALKING ABOUT THIS CRITICAL ISSUE: A NEW CORE STORY OF EDUCATION. FRAMEWORKS OFFERS WORKSHOPS AND ON- LINE COURSES TO HELP ADVOCATES USE THIS RESEARCH. FRAMEWORKS ALSO WORKS WITH THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE OF LEARNING IN THE SHARED STORY PROJECT, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO CREATE A NARRATIVE SHIFT THAT CENTERS PUBLIC EDUCATION AS A PUBLIC GOOD. ADDITIONALLY, FRAMEWORKS HAS CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON FAMILY, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.

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 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 June 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 August 2002.

    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.

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