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Open Markets Institute

EIN 82-2529375 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OPEN MARKETS INSTITUTE WORKS TO HELP PEOPLE RELEARN HOW TO USE COMPETITION POLICY TO BUILD STRONGER DEMOCRACIES, MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETIES, MORE INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES, AND A MORE SECURE AND PEACEFUL WORLD.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
22
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$230,174, policy director

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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

    5 of 5 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 (4)
  1. $1.0 million spent. FAIR ECONOMY - OPEN MARKETS USES RESEARCH AND JOURNALISM TO EXPOSE THE DANGERS OF MONOPOLIZATION, IDENTIFIES INTERVENTIONS IN POLICY AND LAW TO ADDRESS THEM, AND EDUCATES POLICYMAKERS, ACADEMICS, MOVEMENT GROUPS, AND OTHER INFLUENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS TO RE-ESTABLISH THE COMPETITIVE MARKETS THAT HAVE LONG FORMED THE BEDROCK OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. BY COMBINING POLICY, LEGAL, AND MARKET STRUCTURE EXPERTISE WITH SOPHISTICATED COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND COALITION-BUILDING EFFORTS, OPEN MARKETS SEEKS NOT ONLY TO HOLD TODAY'S MONOPOLIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR ABUSE OF POWER, BUT TO REBUILD AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM WHERE PROGRESS IS EASIER TO ACHIEVE, BECAUSE POWER IS FAR MORE WIDELY AND EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED.
  2. $665,565 spent. TECHNOLOGY AND DEMOCRACY - SINCE OUR LAUNCH AS AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION, THE OPEN MARKETS TEAM HAS FOCUSED ON SOUNDING THE ALARM ON THE MONOPOLISTIC PRACTICES AND HARMS OF FACEBOOK, GOOGLE, AND AMAZON. WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THAT THIS IS NOW A PART OF THE NATIONAL DEBATE AND THE MOMENTUM FOR ACTION. WHILE WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON ENSURING STRUCTURAL REMEDIES ARE APPLIED TO THE HARMS OF THESE PLATFORM MONOPOLIES, WE PLAN TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND OUR WORK ON TECHNOLOGY AND POWER BEYOND THE THREE BIG PLATFORMS. THE MISSION OF THE TECHNOLOGY & POWER PROGRAM IS TO ENSURE THAT NEW TECHNOLOGIES ALWAYS SERVE THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE AND CANNOT BE USED TO CONCENTRATE DANGEROUS DEGREES OF POWER AND CONTROL OVER THE ACTIONS OR THOUGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, OR ENTIRE SOCIETIES.
  3. $665,428 spent. COMPETITION LAW AND PHILOSOPHY - OPEN MARKETS SEEKS TO ACCELERATE SHAPING THE DIRECTION OF THE LAW THROUGH RESEARCH AND THE FILING OF AMICUS BRIEFS AND COMMENT LETTERS AND PETITIONS TO FEDERAL AGENCIES IN ANTITRUST CASES AND OTHER COMPETITION POLICY MATTERS. THIS WORK HAS ALREADY HAD INFLUENCE. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS IN DRIVING ACTION THROUGH OUR STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL PROGRAM AS SEEN IN THE TWO MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS ANNOUNCED INTO GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH STATE OFFICES ON ISSUES RELATED TO AGRICULTURE, LABOR, AND HEALTHCARE.
  4. $652,184 spent. INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS - PUBLIC POLICIES THAT AFFECT THE TERMS OF TRADE WITH OTHER NATIONS, INCLUDING TARIFFS, HAVE PROFOUND EFFECTS ON THE STRUCTURE OF MARKETS, RANGING FROM UNWARRANTED PROTECTION FOR DOMESTIC MONOPOLIES TO THE PROMOTION OF TRANSNATIONAL TRADING COMPANIES THAT EXPLOIT LABOR, EVADE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, AND CREATE DANGEROUSLY OVEREXTENDED SUPPLY CHANNELS. AT THE SAME TIME TRADE POLICY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN STRENGTHENING OR WEAKENING AMERICA'S GEOPOLITICAL POSITION IN THE WORLD, MAKING TRADE, COMPETITION POLICY, AND NATIONAL SECURITY INTRINSICALLY LINKED.

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 April 2018.

    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.