Lucy Parsons Institute for Social Research
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The purpose of LPI is to investigate and evaluate the conditions, relationships, and dynamics of our society based on understanding the value of labor and the ownership of the means of production. We hope to positively impact labor and social movements through education and organizing. We will host meetings and workshops, as well as present papers and proposals, at conferences and forums, to impact public opinion on important issues and matters of the day.
- Income
- $583,525
- Spending
- $283,183
- Spent on programs
- 58%
- Reserves
- -0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $43,468, 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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 122% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1558% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
- $76,730 spent. Social Movement Research and Publishing: A little more than half of the total staff time was spent on social movement research and publishing in 2025. The staff wrote hundreds of articles, dozens of statements, and edited more than one thousand news articles - all made available for educational purposes to the public online free of any charge or advertisement.
- $55,539 spent. Community Center for Grassroots Organizations: In 2024, the organization purchased a building, three-quarters of which is dedicated to serve as a meeting and event space for grassroots organizations in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area of Minnesota. In the 2025 calendar year, the space was used to host more than 200 meetings of about 20 people and around 50 larger events with attendance of 100 or more people. The events included community education panels, diaper drives for single mothers in need, back-to-school supplies drives for students, know-your-rights trainings, cultural performances and other similar events. Depending on the financial resources of the grassroots organizations, the space is either offered free of charge or a flat fee of $50 for up to 3 hours use of the main hall, which is 1200 sq ft, which is well below market rate.
- $30,601 spent. The 2025 Lucy Parsons Institute for Social Research Summer Organizing School brought 60 young activists and organizers from across the country for a week of classes and training in social movement history, grassroots organizing strategy, and skill trainings free of charge.
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
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2022 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 2025.
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 July 2023.
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 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.