Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Oversight Inc

EIN 81-5294830 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AMERICAN OVERSIGHT ADVANCES TRUTH, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND DEMOCRACY BY ENFORCING THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO GOVERNMENT RECORDS.

Income
$7.3 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
44
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$291,849, interim executive director (from 4/24)

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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 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 (2)
  1. $3.3 million spent. LEGAL & RESEARCH: AMERICAN OVERSIGHT CONDUCTS RESEARCH INTO GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, FILES OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT, AND LITIGATES TO ENFORCE THOSE OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS FILED MORE THAN 10,500 OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS SINCE 2017 AND OBTAINED MORE THAN 2,500,000 PAGES OF PUBLIC RECORDS.
  2. $1.4 million spent. EDUCATION & OUTREACH: AMERICAN OVERSIGHT EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT OUR INVESTIGATIONS AND FINDINGS BY ENGAGING WITH THE NEWS MEDIA, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND DIRECTLY VIA OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS AN EXTENSIVE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ONLINE LIBRARY OF DOCUMENTS OBTAINED VIA OUR OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS AND LITIGATION.

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 November 6, 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 June 2017.

    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 November 4, 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.