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Portulans Institute

EIN 84-3566840 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DEVELOP CROSS-COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE AND DIALOGUE ON HOW PEOPLE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH; TO INFORM POLICY-MAKERS, BY PRODUCING INDEPENDENT, RIGOROUS METRICS AND DATA-BASED RESEARCH; TO COLLABORATE WITH PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS IN DRIVING A BUSINESS AGENDA THAT INVESTS IN PEOPLE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION FOR A PROSPEROUS COMMON FUTURE; TO HOST AND CO-ORGANIZE EVENTS AND CONFERENCES ON THE ABOVE ISSUES AFFECTING HUMAN-CENTRIC SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.

Income
$793,560
Spending
$570,224
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$120,000, ceo & 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (6)
  1. $198,949 spent. RESEARCH - AT THE PORTULANS INSTITUTE, OUR RESEARCH PROJECTS PRIMARILY FOCUS ON CONDUCTING TECHNICAL ANALYSES GROUNDED IN DATA DERIVED FROM COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS THE NETWORK READINESS INDEX (NRI) AND THE GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX (GII), AMONG OTHER COMPOSITE INDICATORS. THESE INITIATIVES ENABLE US TO METICULOUSLY EXAMINE THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND HUMAN CAPITAL. LEVERAGING OUR SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE IN THESE DOMAINS, WE FORMULATE INSIGHTFUL POLICY ANALYSES AND CRAFT STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS. OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER INFORMED POLICYMAKING THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY CAPITALIZE ON THE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND INNOVATION DYNAMICS. THESE EFFORTS ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN GUIDING STAKEHOLDERS AT VARIOUS LEVELS TO ACHIEVE ENHANCED ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL OUTCOMES.
  2. $176,844 spent. CORPORATE PARTNERS PROGRAM - PORTULANS INSTITUTE AIMS TO ENGAGE WITH PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS TO FOCUS ON HUMAN-CENTRIC AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH. THE PRIVATE SECTOR PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN BUILDING OUR COMMON FUTURE AND IT IS CRUCIAL THAT CORPORATE LEADERS INVEST WISELY AND APPROPRIATELY.
  3. $22,106 spent. ACADEMIC NETWORK - PORTULANS INSTITUTE CONVENES LEADING ACADEMICS FROM GLOBAL UNIVERSITIES FOR ADVANCING RESEARCH IN ISSUES OF INTEREST IN THE DOMAINS OF HUMAN CAPITAL, TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY, AND INNOVATION READINESS.
  4. $22,105 spent. AFFILIATE NETWORK - PORTULANS INSTITUTE'S AFFILIATE PARTNERS NETWORK BRINGS TOGETHER GOVERNMENTAL, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND CORPORATIONS TO FOSTER DIALOGUE AND ENCOURAGE ACTION ON KEY THEMES RELATED TO INNOVATION, TECHNOLOGY AND TALENT. THE FOCUS IS ON INCREASING THE COMPETITIVENESS AND FUTURE READINESS OF NATIONS, REGIONS, CITIES, AND CORPORATIONS.
  5. $13,263 spent. SENIOR FELLOWS AND COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE - COPS BRING TOGETHER EXPERTS FROM BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, WHO ARE INVOLVED IN POLICY-MAKING, RESEARCH, OR DEVELOPMENT OF MARKET SOLUTIONS. EACH COP IS LED BY A SENIOR FELLOW. COPS DEVELOP CROSS-COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE AND DIALOGUE ON HOW PEOPLE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH. EACH COP INDEPENDENTLY SETS ITS OWN STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE ITS AGREED OBJECTIVES. THE COPS' OUTPUTS MAY INCLUDE PUBLICATIONS, ROADMAPS OR SETS OF BEST PRACTICES, FOR EXAMPLE.
  6. $8,842 spent. FELLOWS PROGRAM - PORTULANS INSTITUTE OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PH.D. STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO WORK ON NOVEL RESEARCH RELATED TO HUMAN CAPITAL, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION POLICIES. WE ENCOURAGE APPLICATIONS FROM SCHOLARS, PRACTITIONERS, INNOVATORS, ENGINEERS, ARTISTS, AND OTHERS COMMITTED TO UNDERSTANDING AND ADVANCING THE INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONS AND SOCIETIES.

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 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 2025.

    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 March 2020.

    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.