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Constructive Dialogue Institute Inc

EIN 83-3388563 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS TO EQUIP THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICANS WITH THE MINDSET AND SKILLSET TO ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE ACROSS DIFFERENCES.

Income
$11.0 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
34
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$328,910, executive director, secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 146% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 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, 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. $2.5 million spent. EDUCATIONAL TOOLS: CDI DEVELOPS RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATIONAL TOOLS TO EQUIP SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, AND WORKPLACES WITH A SHARED LANGUAGE AND PRACTICAL SET OF SKILLS TO ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE ACROSS LINES OF DIFFERENCE. CDI'S PRIMARY OFFERING, PERSPECTIVES, IS A BLENDED LEARNING PROGRAM THAT DISTILLS RIGOROUS BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE RESEARCH INTO PRACTICAL SKILLS THAT REDUCE LEARNERS' POLARIZATION AND INCREASE THEIR INTELLECTUAL HUMILITY, OPENNESS TO DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS. TO DATE, NEARLY 200,000 LEARNERS HAVE USED PERSPECTIVES.
  2. $1.6 million spent. TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS: TO COMPLEMENT OUR ONLINE EDUCATIONAL TOOLS, CDI OFFERS LIVE TRAININGS TO TEACH THE SKILLS AND CONCEPTS OF CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE. WE OFFER VARIOUS TRAININGS GEARED TOWARD DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES THAT RANGE IN DURATION AND FOCUS. TRAININGS INCLUDE (A) A LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR COLLEGE PRESIDENTS AND THEIR CAMPUSES; (B) A HALF-DAY TRAINING FOR STAFF, FACULTY, AND STUDENT LEADERS TO EQUIP THEM WITH THE SKILLS TO FACILITATE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CONTENTIOUS ISSUES IN CURRICULAR AND CO-CURRICULAR SETTINGS; (C) A 20-HOUR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TO EQUIP STUDENT-FACING STAFF AND STUDENT LEADERS WITH THE SKILLS TO MEDIATE CONFLICT AND FACILITATE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ANY TOPIC; AND (D) A DAYLONG TRAINING TO PROVIDE HIGHER ED ADMINISTRATORS WITH BEST PRACTICES FOR RESPONDING TO LARGE-SCALE CONFLICTS ON CAMPUS AND REBUILDING TRUST AND COMMUNITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF RUPTURE.
  3. $1.3 million spent. RESEARCH AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: AS A RESEARCH-FOCUSED ORGANIZATION, CDI IS COMMITTED TO CONDUCTING RIGOROUS ACADEMIC RESEARCH ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS PROGRAMS. TO DATE, CDI HAS COMPLETED TWO RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS (RCTS) EVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF ITS PERSPECTIVES BLENDED LEARNING PROGRAM. BOTH STUDIES FOUND STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN INTELLECTUAL HUMILITY, AFFECTIVE POLARIZATION, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS. CDI IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING AN ADDITIONAL EFFICACY STUDY EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF ITS PROGRAMS ON STUDENTS' INTELLECTUAL HUMILITY. CDI ALSO PROVIDES ANALYTICS REPORTS TO PARTNER INSTITUTIONS THAT SUMMARIZE PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND SUPPORT EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS PROGRAMS.CDI ALSO CONDUCTS AND DISSEMINATES ORIGINAL RESEARCH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FIELD OF BRIDGE-BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE. CDI'S RESEARCH HAS APPEARED IN NINE PEER-REVIEWED ACADEMIC JOURNAL ARTICLES, AND WE PUBLISH WHITE PAPERS AND HOST EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 July 2019.

    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.