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Panetta Institute for Public Policy

EIN 77-0495799 · Seaside, CA

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

See Schedule O

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
73.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
17
Volunteers
64

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 73.7 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 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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.

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.3 million spent. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A:LEON PANETTA LECTURE SERIES - EACH SPRING THE PANETTA INSTITUTE BRINGS TOGETHER NATIONALLY KNOWN GOVERNMENT AND POLICY LEADERS TO DISCUSS CURRENT ISSUES WITH CENTRAL COAST STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAMS ARE BROADCAST THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. BY THE END OF THE 2024 SEASON, MORE THAN 289 SPEAKERS HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS OF THIS PROGRAM. ALL FOUR LECTURES WERE HELD IN PERSON IN 2024.
  2. $653,907 spent. Form 990, Part III, Line 4b:CONGRESSIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM HAS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION AS THE PREMIER INTERN PROGRAM IN THE NATION AND PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR QUALIFIED STUDENTS FROM ALL ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS TO WORK IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS FIRST HAND. BY 2024,637 STUDENTS HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE OFFICES OF MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. IN 2024,21 STUDENTS WERE PLACED IN CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES.
  3. $239,205 spent. Form 990, Part III, Line 4c:YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT RESEARCH:EVERY SPRING,THE INSTITUTE CONDUCTS A NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF COLLEGE STUDENTS TO HELP GUIDE THE CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMS, THIS STUDY EXPLORES THE ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ON MANY TOPICS, INCLUDING CURRENT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TRENDS, LEVEL OF POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT AND CAREER EXPECTATIONS. FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, THE INSTITUTE'S NATIONWIDE POLL HAS BECOME A HIGHLY RESPECTED SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR ACADEMICS, RESEARCHERS, POLITICAL SCIENTISTS, AND POLICY MAKERS AND JOURNALISTS INTERESTED IN ANALYZING TWO DECADES OF COLLECTED DATA.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITONAL PROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITIES.
  4. DESCRIPTION OF OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: EDUCATION FOR LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SERVICE SEMINAR: IN JUNE, ELECTED STUDENT BODY LEADERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, ALONG WITH THREE PRIVATE SCHOOLS, SPEND A WEEK AT THE PANETTA INSTITUTE TO SHARPEN THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS, IMPROVE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF GOVERNMENT AND CONSIDER A CAREER IN PUBLIC LIFE. IN ITS TWENTY-FIVE YEAR HISTORY, 615 STUDENTS HAVE ENROLLED IN THIS PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM HAD 22 STUDENT PARTICIPANTS IN 2024. LEON E PANETTA ARCHIVE - THE PERSONAL PAPERS OF SECRETARY PANETTA'S FIFTY YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE HAVE BEEN ARCHIVED AT THE PANETTA INSTITUTE TO PRESERVE A HISTORICAL RECORD FOR STUDY. MONTEREY COUNTY READS - THIS LITERACY INITIATIVE TRAINS AND PLACES VOLUNTEERS IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT MONTEREY COUNTY TO HELP CHILDREN READ AT GRADE LEVEL BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE. DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, THIS PROGRAM WAS PLACED ON HOLD SINCE 2020. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1997, TO THE END OF MARCH 2020, MCR HAS RECRUITED AND TRAINED MORE THAN 3,950 VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE LOGGED MORE THAN 135,210 HOURS READING ONE TO ONE WITH MORE THAN 20,200 STUDENTS.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 August 1999.

    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.