Disinformation Index Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DISINFORMATION INDEX IS A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT COMBATS DISINFORMATION BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND GLOBALLY THROUGH THE CREATION OF PUBLIC RATINGS OF MEDIA SOURCES THAT ASSESS THEIR DISINFORMATION RISK USING OBJECTIVE CRITERIA.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $24,034, president
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: 77 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 52 out of 100.
Independent board
18 of 254 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 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)
- $2.8 million spent. DISINFORMATION INDEX PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL TOOLS, MATERIALS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND THE MEDIA INDUSTRY'S UNDERSTANDING ABOUT DISINFORMATION ON THE INTERNET AND IN THE MEDIA.DISINFORMATION INDEX'S ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON FOUR KEY APPROACHES TO COMBATING DISINFORMATION:(1) PUBLIC EDUCATION ON DISINFORMATION: DISINFORMATION INDEX WILL PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL TOOLS AND MATERIALS THROUGH A WEBSITE, CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS, AND DISCUSSION GROUPS TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE PUBLIC REGARDING DISINFORMATION ON THE INTERNET AND IN THE MEDIA. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL CONSTITUTE APPROXIMATELY 30% OF DISINFORMATION INDEX'S OVERALL ACTIVITIES.(2) EDUCATION AND ENGAGING MEDIA ON DISINFORMATION: DISINFORMATION INDEX WILL PROVIDE FORUMS AND LECTURES FOR THE PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON ISSUES CONCERNING DISINFORMATION ON THE INTERNET AND IN THE MEDIA. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL CONSTITUTE APPROXIMATELY 30% OF DISINFORMATION INDEX'S OVERALL ACTIVITIES.(3) PUBLIC RATINGS ON DISINFORMATION: DISINFORMATION INDEX WILL MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC RATINGS OF WEBSITES AND MEDIA SOURCES, ASSESSING THEIR DISINFORMATION RISK USING OBJECTIVE PUBLISHED CRITERIA ON A NONPARTISAN BASIS. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL CONSTITUTE APPROXIMATELY 15% OF DISINFORMATION INDEX'S OVERALL ACTIVITIES.(4) RESEARCH TOOLS RELATED TO DISINFORMATION: DISINFORMATION INDEX WILL FACILITATE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES REGARDING DISINFORMATION ON THE INTERNET AND IN THE MEDIA. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL CONSTITUTE APPROXIMATELY 15% OF DISINFORMATION INDEX'S OVERALL ACTIVITIES.DISINFORMATION INDEX WILL CONDUCT THE ABOVE ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY, BY CONTRACTING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND THROUGH GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS.
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
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 2024.
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 September 2020.
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.