Insight Crime Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
INSIGHT CRIME IS A THINK TANK AND MEDIA ORGANIZATION THAT SEEKS TO DEEPEN AND INFORM THE DEBATE ABOUT ORGANIZED CRIME AND CITIZEN SECURITY IN THE AMERICAS BY PROVIDING REGULAR REPORTING, ANALYSIS, DATA, INVESTIGATION, AND POLICY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO TACKLE THE MULTIPLE CHALLENGES THEY PRESENT.IT DOES THIS BY FUSING INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM WITH ACADEMIC RIGOR, BUILDING ITS ANALYSIS FROM EXTENSIVE GROUND RESEARCH, WHICH INCLUDES SPEAKING TO ALL THE ACTORS, LEGAL AND ILLEGAL. AS WELL AS ITS PUBLISHED WORK ON THIS WEBSITE, IT WORKS WITH A NETWORK OF EXPERTS AND PARTNERS IN THE REGION TO PROVIDE BESPOKE RISK ANALYSIS, DIAGNOSTICS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSITIVE INTERVENTION.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 61%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $162,999, co-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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 48% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $1.7 million spent. INSIGHT CRIME IS A THINK TANK AND MEDIA ORGANIZATION THAT SEEKS TO DEEPEN AND INFORM THE DEBATE ABOUT ORGANIZED CRIME AND CITIZEN SECURITY IN THE AMERICAS BY PROVIDING REGULAR REPORTING, ANALYSIS, DATA, INVESTIGATION, AND POLICY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO TACKLE THE MULTIPLE CHALLENGES THEY PRESENT. IN 2024, THE WEBSITE RECEIVED 4,139,067 USERS, CONSOLIDATING INSIGHT CRIME AS THE AUTHORITY ON ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE AMERICAS.OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, INSIGHT CRIME CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON PRECURSOR CHEMICAL TRAFFICKING IN MEXICO, PRISONS AND VIOLENCE DYNAMICS IN ECUADOR, CONFLICT RESOLUTION EFFORTS IN COLOMBIA, CORRUPTION IN GUATEMALA, AND THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LATIN AMERICA AND EUROPEAN ORGANIZED CRIME.INSIGHT CRIME REPRESENTATIVES PARTICIPATED IN A TOTAL OF 24 ACADEMIC EVENTS, PANELS, CONFERENCES AND CLOSED DOOR SESSIONS IN 2024. THE TEAM ALSO LAUNCHED INSIGHT CRIME'S PODCAST, WHICH EXPLORES ORGANIZED CRIME DYNAMICS IN THE AMERICAS THROUGH HUMAN STORIES DISCOVERED DURING OUR FIELDWORK IN BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, THE US-MEXICO BORDER, HONDURAS, BOLIVIA, AND EL SALVADOR.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.