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Civilization Research Initiative

EIN 84-4016495 · Carlsbad, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CIVILIZATION RESEARCH INITIATIVE "CRI" IS A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON PREVENTING CIVILIZATIONAL RISKS AND IMPROVING SOCIAL COORDINATION. THE AIM IS TO SUPPORT STABILITY AND GENUINE PROGRESS.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$242,250, president & ceo

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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 100% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 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, 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 (6)
  1. $383,892 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION & COMMUNICATIONS(120) - CRI OFFERS EDUCATIONAL AND ADVISORY SERVICES TO LEADERS IN THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND CIVIC ARENAS. EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS ALSO INCLUDE PUBLIC EDUCATION (ON PODCASTS, LECTURES, ETC) ON TOPICS RELATED TO SOCIETAL RESILIENCE. CRI'S FOCUS IS ON DELIVERING FRAMEWORKS TO UNDERSTAND COMPLEX TOPICS AND PROVIDE INSIGHTS TOWARDS SOLUTIONS. THE CONSILIENCE PROJECT IS AN ONLINE PUBLICATION PRODUCED BY CRI, FOCUSED ON IMPROVING PEOPLE`S THINKING SKILLS, MEDIA LITERACY, AND ABILITY TO MAKE SENSE OF COMPLEX AND FRAUGHT TOPICS. THE PROJECT ALSO EXPLORES THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS KINDS OF TECHNOLOGY ON SOCIAL SYSTEMS AND CULTURE.
  2. $789,521 spent. METACRISIS TRAINING(160): $789,521- THE METACRISIS TRAINING IS DEVELOPING CURRICULUM FOR PEOPLE SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND AND EFFECTIVELY MANAGE GLOBAL CATASTROPHIC AND EXISTENTIAL RISKS. WE OFFER A GENERALIZED CURRICULUM AS WELL AS DOMAIN-SPECIFIC TUTORING. ALL COURSES ARE DISTRIBUTED VIA ONLINE COURSES AND IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS.
  3. $1.1 million spent. CATASTROPHIC RISK RESEARCH & WRITING(140): $1,093,540 - RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON ISSUES AT THE INTERFACE OF CATASTROPHIC RISK, CIVILIZATIONAL COLLAPSE, AND SOCIAL SYSTEM RESILIENCE. RESEARCHERS PRODUCED PAPERS PUBLISHED AND SHARED VIA VARIOUS PUBLIC MEDIUMS (E.G. EVENT FORUMS, OUR WEBSITE) AND IN PRIVATELY CIRCULATED WHITE PAPERS. TALKS AND PODCASTS RELATED TO THIS RESEARCH WERE CREATED TO SPUR FURTHER WORK IN THE FIELD.
  4. $285,492 spent. WHITE PAPER PRODUCTION & EDITING(130):$285,493 - WHITE PAPERS ARE ONE OF THE PRIMARY MEDIUMS CRI USES TO FORMALIZE AND DISTRIBUTE OUR RESEARCH IN CATASTROPHIC RISK AND CIVILIZATION DESIGN.
  5. $60,319 spent. HURRICANE DISASTER PROGRAM (170): TEMPORARY AND SHORT-TERM NATURAL DISASTER EMERGENCY FUNCTION. WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HURRICANE HELENE OCCURRED IN 2024 CAUSING DEVASTATION ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITIES, THERE WERE SEVERAL CRI TEAM MEMBERS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY THAT NATURAL DISASTER AS WELL. CRI GRATEFULLY HAD A NETWORK OF RESOURCES AND THE CAPACITY TO HELP WITH IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY DISASTER RELIEF. RESTRICTED FUNDS GRANTED TO CRI WERE USED TO PROVIDE EMPLOYER DISASTER RELIEF STIPENDS TO THE EMPLOYEES IN NEED OF SUPPORT AND VARIOUS DISASTER RELIEF SUPPLIES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
  6. $795,451 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS(110):$855,947 - GIVEN THAT OUR WORK IS INTERDISCIPLINARY IN NATURE, WE OFTEN HAVE A VARIETY OF PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT THE ENTIRE ROSTER OF PROGRAMS ACROSS CRI. IN ADDITION TO ORG-WIDE PROJECTS, THIS IS ALSO WHERE WE HOUSE OUR RESEARCH MATERIAL COSTS, ACCESS TO VARIOUS JOURNALS, EXPERT CONVENINGS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS.

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 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 2024.

    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 January 2020.

    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.