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Marathon Initiative

EIN 85-0983902 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MARATHON INITIATIVE IS TO DEVELOP THE DIPLOMATIC, MILITARY, AND ECONOMIC STRATEGIES THAT THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO NAVIGATE PROTRACTED COMPETITIONS WITH GREAT POWER RIVALS. MOTIVATED BY THE CONVICTION THAT STRATEGY IS POSSIBLE AND NECESSARY, MARATHON'S FOCUS IS ON DEVELOPING SUCH STRATEGIES THROUGH DEEP, RIGOROUS, AND INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, INFORMED BY HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, AND SCHOLARSHIP. MARATHON'S GOAL IS TO EQUIP AMERICA AND ITS LEADERS WITH STRATEGIES FOR THE HARDEST PROBLEMS OF GREAT POWER COMPETITION, STRATEGIES THAT ARE OF THE UTMOST RIGOR BUT AT THE SAME TIME RELEVANT, REALISTIC, AND VIABLE.

Income
$842,245
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$381,847, director and treasurer

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: 29 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 70% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 4 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

    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, 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 (3)
  1. $237,381 spent. IN THE AREA OF DEFENSE AND GEOPOLITICS, THE MARATHON INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON ADAPTING U.S. DEFENSE AND MILITARY STRATEGY FOR THE ERA OF GREAT POWER COMPETITION. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED CONTINUED DISSEMINATION OF THE ARGUMENTS OF A MAJOR 2021 BOOK ON U.S. DEFENSE STRATEGY; PUBLISHING ANALYSES ON EXPANDING U.S. DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY AND OPTIMIZING ALLIANCE BURDEN-SHARING; AND ARTICULATING A VISION AND IDEAS FOR A REVISED DEFENSE STRATEGY THROUGH A VARIETY OF PUBLICATIONS, MEDIA APPEARANCES, PUBLIC EVENTS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT.
  2. $248,443 spent. IN THE AREA OF DIPLOMACY AND GEOPOLITICS, THE MARATHON INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON ADAPTING U.S. DIPLOMATIC AND ALLIANCE STRATEGY FOR THE ERA OF GREAT POWER COMPETITION. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED RESEARCH AND MANUSCRIPT DEVELOPMENT FOR A MAJOR BOOK ON U.S. DIPLOMATIC STRATEGY; AND PUBLISHING STUDIES ON THE EVOLUTION OF U.S. DIPLOMACY IN RESPONSE TO CHINA'S NEW DIPLOMATIC STRATEGY AND LEVERAGING U.S. ALLIES IN CRITICAL REGIONS TO MITIGATE THE RISK OF MULTI-FRONT GLOBAL CONFLICT.
  3. $283,651 spent. IN THE AREA OF GRAND STRATEGY, THE MARATHON INITIATIVE DEVELOPS STRATEGIES THAT INTEGRATE U.S. ECONOMIC, MILITARY, AND DIPLOMATIC POWER FOR THE ERA OF GREAT POWER COMPETITION. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED MANUSCRIPT DEVELOPMENT FOR A MAJOR BOOK ON CHINA'S LAND NEIGHBORS TO INFORM U.S. GRAND STRATEGY; PUBLISHING ANALYTICAL STUDIES ON U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AND COMPETITION AND CONSTRAINTS IN U.S. SECURITY STRATEGY; AND PUBLISHING ARTICLES, CONDUCTING MEDIA INTERVIEWS, AND PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC EVENTS ON U.S. GRAND STRATEGY.

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 November 6, 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 October 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 November 4, 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.