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Tradeoffs

EIN 83-4075323 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRADEOFFS' MISSION IS TO HELP AMERICA HAVE SMARTER, MORE HONEST HEALTH POLICY CONVERSATIONS. THROUGH OUR PODCAST, IN-DEPTH ARTICLES AND LIVE EVENTS, WE EXPLORE THE TOUGHEST CHOICES IN HEALTH CARE.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) WE DIVE INTO ISSUES LIKE THE COST OF CARE, HEALTH EQUITY, INSURANCE, MENTAL HEALTH AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. WE CONNECT POLICY TO PRACTICE, UNCOVERING THE DATA AND PERSONAL STORIES THAT HELP AUDIENCES UNDERSTAND THE STAKES - AND THE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
8
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$165,155, executive 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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 76% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 (1)
  1. $1.0 million spent. TRADEOFFS' PODCAST, ARTICLES, NEWSLETTER AND EVENTS REACH MORE THAN 170,000 PEOPLE EACH MONTH, INFLUENCING POLICYMAKERS, EDUCATORS, JOURNALISTS AND THE PUBLIC ALIKE. IN 2024, OUR WORK CONTINUED TO ELEVATE THE NATIONAL DISCOURSE AROUND HEALTH POLICY. OUR MODEL OF ACCESSIBLE REPORTING THAT PAIRS DATA AND EVIDENCE WITH THE STORIES OF REAL PEOPLE DEEPLY RESONATED WITH OUR AUDIENCE. IN OUR 2024 AUDIENCE SURVEY, 96% OF RESPONDENTS REPORTED THEY USE TRADEOFFS TO INFORM THEIR THINKING ABOUT HEALTH CARE. OUR WORK WAS WIDELY CONSUMED AND SHARED BY MANY OF THE NATION'S TOP HEALTH POLICY LEADERS. WE HAD A 51% INCREASE IN PODCASTING LISTENING AND OUR NEWSLETTER HAD HIGHER-THAN-INDUSTRY AVERAGES IN OPEN AND CLICK THROUGH RATES, SHOWCASING THE VALUE DERIVED FROM OUR WORK. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OUR PODCAST AND WRITTEN STORIES WERE REPUBLISHED NEARLY 100 TIMES IN 2024, REACHING MILLIONS OF READERS AND LISTENERS VIA PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS. OUR WORK EARNED NATIONAL ACCOLADES, INCLUDING A NATIONAL EDWARD R. MURROW AWARD, A FIRST-PLACE NATIONAL HEADLINER AWARD, AND THREE AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH CARE JOURNALISM FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH CARE JOURNALISTS (AHCJ) FOR 2024 COVERAGE OF HEALTH POLICY ISSUES.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 December 2019.

    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.

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.