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James B Hunt Jr Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy

EIN 80-0025367 · Cary, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SECURE AMERICA'S FUTURE THROUGH QUALITY EDUCATION.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$11.7 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
69
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$538,032, president and 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: 73 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

    24 of 25 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 (3)
  1. $1.7 million spent. HUNT-KEAN LEADERSHIP FELLOWS:SENIOR, STATE-LEVEL POLITICAL LEADERS WHO HAVE THE SKILL AND WILL TO BE EFFECTIVE, REFORM-MINDED EDUCATION POLICYMAKERS IN THEIR STATES WITH LEADING MINDS IN EDUCATION, POLICY, AND POLITICS. THE HK FELLOWS CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO EQUIP PARTICIPANTS WITH KNOWLEDGE, RELATIONSHIPS, AND INSPIRATION THEY NEED TO ENGAGE IN CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EQUITY AND LEAD ON EDUCATION REFORM IN THEIR CURRENT ROLES AND AS THEY PURSUE HIGHER OFFICE. EACH COHORT INCLUDES AT LEAST 20 HK FELLOWS, WITH EACH REPRESENTING A DIFFERENT STATE AND WITH THE COHORT MAINTAINING A BIPARTISAN BALANCE.
  2. $1.3 million spent. STATE ENGAGEMENT:THE INSTITUTE IS CURRENTLY PARTNERING WITH ILLINOIS, MISSOURI, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, AND VIRGINIA TO PROVIDE A SERIES OF PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF STATE LEGISLATORS AS THEY TACKLE THE EDUCATION CHALLENGES FACING THEIR STATES. IN EACH OF ITS PARTNER STATES, THE INSTITUTE HOSTS A STATE LEGISLATORS RETREAT (SLR) AND OFFERS ONGOING LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO LEGISLATORS, SUCH AS ACCESS AND INVITATIONS TO THE INSTITUTE'S NATIONAL PROGRAMMING, VIRTUAL CONVENINGS AND/OR POLICY DISCUSSIONS THAT SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTS A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF POLICYMAKERS WITH KEY NATIONAL EXPERTS IN EDUCATION POLICY.
  3. $7.9 million spent. CROSS-STATE TEAM ENGAGEMENT:THE HUNT INSTITUTE CONTINUES TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF FOSTERING BOTH INTER- AND INTRA-STATE LEARNING BY CONVINING STATE TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO DISCUSS TOPICS FROM ACROSS THE EDUCATION CONTINUUM. OUR PROGRAM, POLICY AND CONTENT TEAMS HAVE EXPERTISE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD, K12, EDUCATOR WORKFORCE PIPELINES, AND HIGHER EDUCATION. THESE CONVENINGS CAN BE TOPICAL IN NATURE, SUCH AS THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SUMMIT, GOVERNORS ADVISORS RETREATS, HBCU CONVENINGS, ATTAINMENT SUMMITS, LITERACY INITIATIVES OR GEARED TOWARD CONVENING STATE TEAMS INCLUDING GOVERNORS' ADVISORS/POLICY DIRECTORS, STATE CHIEFS, HIGHER EDUCATION REPS, LEGISLATORS, AND OTHERS TO DISCUSS TOPICAL ISSUES ADDRESSING THE FULL EDUCATION CONTINUUM.

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 March 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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