Barry Goldwater Institute for Public Policy Research
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THROUGH RESEARCH, INVESTIGATIONS, STRATEGIC LITIGATION, TESTIMONY, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE ADVANCES PUBLIC POLICY AND A RULE OF LAW UNDER WHICH INDIVIDUALS CAN SHAPE THEIR OWN DESTINIES AS FREE MEN AND WOMEN. WE HELP CITIZENS UNDERSTAND AND ADOPT POLICIES THAT SUSTAIN AND RESTORE ECONOMIC LIBERTY, EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS ON GOVERNMENT POWER CONSISTENT WITH THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC. WHEN GOVERNMENT OVERSTEPS ITS PROPER BOUNDS, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE USES PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION TO ENFORCE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND CONSTRAINTS ON GOVERNMENT POWER GUARANTEED BY OUR STATE AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS.
- Income
- $12.7 million
- Spending
- $8.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 20.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 47
- Volunteers
- 36
- Highest pay
- $299,338, 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 60% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (4)
- $3.4 million spent. POLICY ANALYSIS, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE CONDUCTS SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF STATE-LEVEL PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AND COMMUNICATES THAT RESEARCH TO THE PUBLIC. OUR PRIMARY AREAS OF RESEARCH INCLUDE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, EDUCATION REFORM, AND HEALTHCARE POLICY. IN 2024, WE DELIVERED 80 PUBLIC SPEECHES, DISTRIBUTED 8 POLICY REPORTS, AND TESTIFIED REGULARLY BEFORE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES. IN 2024, WE HAD 50 VICTORIES, WHICH INCLUDED POLICIES ADOPTED BY STATE LEGISLATURES NATIONWIDE AND FINAL DIRECT LITIGATION VICTORIES. GOLDWATER'S WORK SAFEGUARDS PATIENTS' RIGHT TO TRY CUTTING-EDGE, INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENTS (THE INSTITUTE'S ORIGINAL RIGHT TO TRY BECAME LAW IN 41 STATES BEFORE BEING SIGNED INTO FEDERAL LAW, AND 15 STATES HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED THE INSTITUTE'S EXPANSION). OTHER VICTORIES INCLUDE STATE LAWS THAT: ALLOW WORKERS LICENSED IN ONE STATE TO CONTINUE WORKING WHEN THEY MOVE TO A NEW STATE, WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY GETTING ANOTHER LICENSE TO DO THE SAME JOB (THIS REFORM IS LAW IN OVER HALF THE STATES AND IN WASHINGTON, D.C.); EMPOWER FAMILIES WITH GREATER EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS THAT FIT THEIR CHILDREN'S UNIQUE NEEDS (22 STATES HAVE APPROVED PROGRAMS BASED ON GOLDWATER'S EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS); RESTORE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES TO THEIR ORIGINAL PURPOSE WHILE CRACKING DOWN ON IDEOLOGICAL DOGMATISM AND RACE-BASED PREFERENCES; END JUDICIAL DEFERENCE TO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES AND BUREAUCRACIES AND PROVIDE MORE PROTECTIONS FOR THE RIGHT TO EARN A LIVING. THIS WORK WAS SUPPORTED IN PART THROUGH OUR RONALD REAGAN FELLOWS PROGRAM, WHICH DEVELOPS YOUNG TALENT BY TEACHING AND EMPLOYING 15 INTERNS AND LAW CLERKS.
- $1.9 million spent. PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION: THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE LITIGATES CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS, ON BEHALF OF AMERICANS WHO WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO DEFEND AGAINST THE HEAVY HAND OF GOVERNMENT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE OR EXPERTISE. WE DEFEND TAXPAYER AND PROPERTY RIGHTS, FREE SPEECH AND FREE ENTERPRISE, AND EDUCATIONAL CHOICE. WE ENFORCE CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS ON GOVERNMENT POWER. OUR CASES SEEK TO SET BROAD LEGAL PRECEDENTS TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS OF OUR CLIENTS AND ALL AMERICANS. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE ALSO MANAGES A SUCCESSFUL "LITIGATION BY LETTERHEAD" EFFORT, WHERE WE INDUCE GOVERNMENT TO CEASE UNLAWFUL ACTIONS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH INFORMATION BY LETTER, WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO COURT. IN 2024, WE HAD 41 ACTIVE LAWSUITS, AND WE ADVANCED CUTTING-EDGE LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP IN THE COURTS BY PARTICIPATING AS AMICUS CURIAE ("FRIEND OF THE COURT") IN 45 CASES. WE WON 21 LEGAL VICTORIES THROUGH DIRECT LITIGATION AND BY FILING AMICUS BRIEFS.
- $1.4 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS: IN 2024, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE CONTINUED TO CAPTURE NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION WITH INTERVIEWS AND NEWS REPORTS ABOUT ITS SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO DEFEND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE'S MEDIA RELATIONS EFFORTS ARE BUILT ON A MULTI-LEVEL STRATEGIC APPROACH THAT HARNESSES THE POWER OF ITS IN-HOUSE DIGITAL PLATFORMS, THE REACH OF TRADITIONAL MEDIA, AND THE VIRALITY OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO REACH AUDIENCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE RESULTS ARE SEEN BY COUNTLESS AMERICANS ON THE PAGES OF THE NATION'S MOST NOTABLE NEWSPAPERS AND MOST-WATCHED NEWS NETWORKS. GOLDWATER INSTITUTE EXPERTS AND CLIENTS PUBLISHED 87 OP-EDS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR IN 2024, IN OUTLETS THAT INCLUDED THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, FOX NEWS, NATIONAL REVIEW, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER, THE HILL, USA TODAY, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, THE TENNESSEAN, THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC, AND THE ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES, WHOSE COMBINED ONLINE CIRCULATION EXCEEDS 180 MILLION READERS PER MONTH. OUR EXPERTS WERE ALSO A REGULAR PRESENCE ON NATIONAL CABLE TV NEWS NETWORKS, NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO SHOWS, AND LOCAL BROADCAST TV AND RADIO, SHARING GOLDWATER'S WORK WITH AN EVEN WIDER AUDIENCE. ALL TOLD, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE MORE THAN DOUBLED ITS APPEARANCES ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, APPEARING 51 TIMES ON PROGRAMS INCLUDING FOX & FRIENDS, NEWSMAX SATURDAY AGENDA, NEWSNATION MORNING IN AMERICA, REAL AMERICA'S VOICE SPECIAL REPORT, SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP'S NATIONAL DESK, ABC 15 ARIZONA, TELEMUNDO ARIZONA, WLKY-TV IN KENTUCKY, AND WILKOW! ON SALEM NEWS CHANNEL. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE GARNERED MORE THAN 6,800 MENTIONS IN TRADITIONAL (PRINT, RADIO, TELEVISION, AND ONLINE) AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE DOES NOT JUST RELY ON OUTSIDE MEDIA OUTLETS TO DISSEMINATE ITS MESSAGE. IN 2024, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE LEVERAGED THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENGAGE AUDIENCES AND COMMUNICATE ITS MESSAGE, INCLUDING ON FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, X, INSTAGRAM, AND YOUTUBE. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE SHARED ORIGINAL ARTICLES, BLOG POSTS, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS, LEGAL AND POLICY RESEARCH, GRAPHICS, AND GOLDWATER INSTITUTE-PRODUCED VIDEOS ON ALL PLATFORMS. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE'S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT RECEIVED OVER 600,000 IMPRESSIONS, AND ITS X ACCOUNT SURPASSED 520,000 IMPRESSIONS. ON YOUTUBE, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE'S VIDEOS RECEIVED OVER 85,000 VIEWS IN 2024, INCLUDING VIDEOS DISCUSSING TOPICS LIKE PROPERTY RIGHTS, FREE SPEECH, PARENTS' RIGHTS, AND EQUALITY.
- AGUIRRE V. ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THE INSTITUTE IS REPRESENTING PARENTS IN CHALLENGING THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S "CURRICULUM NEXUS" REQUIREMENT UNDER THE EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT PROGRAM. THIS CASE WILL ENSURE THAT ESA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS ARE DONE IN A LAWFUL MANNER THAT ENSURES THAT FAMILIES GET THE BENEFITS THE PROGRAM ENTITLES THEM TO. NO MOTION FOR FEES HAS BEEN FILED AT THIS STAGE. ANDERSON V. ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY REQUIRES FACULTY TO COMPLETE A TRAINING CALLED "ASU INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES," WHICH PROMULGATES BLAME OR JUDGMENT ON THE BASIS OF RACE, IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW - IN OTHER WORDS, INSTRUCTS EMPLOYEES THAT THE UNITED STATES IS A STRUCTURALLY RACIST SOCIETY, IN WHICH MEMBERS OF SOME RACES ARE "PRIVILEGED" DUE TO THEIR RACE. REPRESENING AN ASU PROFESSOR, WE ARE CHALLENGING THE LEGALITY OF THIS REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO VINDICATE THE RIGHTS OF STATE EMPLOYEES AND OF TAXPAYERS WHO ARE FORCED TO FUND THIS UNLAWFUL PROGRAM. NO MOTION FOR FEES HAS BEEN FILED AT THIS POINT. ASSOCIATED MINORITY CONTRACTORS OF ARIZONA V. CITY OF PHOENIX PHOENIX AND TUCSON PASSED "PREVAILING WAGE ORDINANCES THAT VIOLATE A STATE LAW EXPRESSLY FORBIDDING MUNICIPALITIES FROM ENACTING PREVAILING WAGE ORDINANCES. WE REPRESENT SEVERAL TRADE GROUPS IN A CHALLENGE TO THESE ILLEGAL ORDINANCES, IN ORDER TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS FROM HIGH LABOR COSTS AND TO ENSURE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OBEY THE LAW. NO FEES WERE AWARDED IN THE TRIAL COURT, AND THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN SOUGHT ON APPEAL. BARTH V. TOWN OF GILBERT THE TOWN OF GILBERT IS IMPOSING A NEW AND INCREASED TAX ON SERVICES ON SEVERAL TAXING CATEGORIES, INCLUDING HOME-SHARING SERVICES. THESE TAXES VIOLATE THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION, WHICH PROHIBITS CITIES FROM IMPOSING OR RAISING TAXES ON SERVICES. REPRESENTING A PROPERTY OWNER AND THE HOME BUILDERS' ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL ARIZONA, WE SUED TO CHALLENGE THESE UNCONSTITUTIONAL TAXES. NO MOTION FOR REES HAS BEEN FILED AT THIS STAGE OF THE LITIGATION. BATES V. STATE OF OREGON WE REPRESENT THE OWNER OF AN OREGON VAPE SHOP WHOSE FREE SPEECH RIGHTS ARE VIOLATED BY STATE RULES PROHIBITING SELLERS FROM TRUTHFULLY LABELING THE VAPING LIQUIDS THEY SELL WITH WORDS SUCH AS "STRAWBERRY OR FROM INCLUDING PICTURES OF STRAWBERRIES ON LABELS. OUR LAWSUIT CONTENDS THAT THIS VIOALTES THE STATE CONSTITUTION'S PROTECTIONS FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. WE PREVAILEDIN THE OREGON COURT OF APPEALS, BUT THE OREGON SUPREME COURT HAS NOW TAKEN UP THE CASE. THIS LAWSUIT WILL PROTECT FREE EXPRESSION RIGHTS UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION. NO FEES HAVE BEEN AWARDED. CENTER FOR ARIZONA POLICY, INC. V. STATE OF ARIZONA THIS CASE CHALLENGES THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF PROPOSITION 211, WHICH DEPRIVES DONORS OF THEIR PRIVACY RIGHTS IF THEY DONATE TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT OR OPPOSE BALLOT INITIATIVES AT AN ELECTION OR SPEAK ABOUT CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. WE REPRESENT TWO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND TWO ANONYOMOUS DONORS IN CONTENDING THAT THIS RESTRICTION VIOLATES THE STATE CONSTITUTION'S FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PRIVACY CLAUSES. THE TRIAL COURT DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT AND THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS AFFIRMED THAT DECISION. THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT HAS NOW ACCEPTED REVIEW. NO FEES HAVE BEEN AWARDED. CROWE V. OREGON STATE BAR THIS CASE CHALLENGES AN OREGON LAW THAT REQUIRES ATTORNEYS TO JOIN AND PAY DUES TO THE OREGON STATE BAR. THE BAR USES THESE DUES TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ADVOCACY AND TO PUBLISH A MAGAZINE THAT MAKES POLITICAL STATEMENTS WITH WHICH MEMBERS DO NOT NECESSARILY AGREE. THE CASE RAISES FIRST AMENDMENT FREE SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION ISSUES THAT WILL PROTECT BOTH ATTORNEYS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THE TRIAL COURT FOUND IN FAVOR OF THE OREGON STATE BAR. THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOUND IN FAVOR OF OUR CLIENT, DANIEL CROWE. WE HAVE ASKED THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO TAKE THE CASE. NO FEES HAVE BEEN AWARDED. GOLDWATER INSTITUTE V. CITY OF PHOENIX THIS IS A STATUTORY SPECIAL ACTION CASE AGAINST THE CITY'S REFUSAL TO PRODUCE LABOR NEGOTIATION RECORDS AS THE STATE'S PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS REQUIRE. THIS CASE WILL ENSURE TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY IN THE CONTEXT OF LABOR NEGOTIATIONS. THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS RULED AGAINST THE INSTITUTE, AND WE HAVE NOW FILED A PETITION FOR REVIEW WITH THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT. NO FEES HAVE BEEN AWARDED. GOLDWATER INSTITUTE V. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GOLDWATER SENT A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST TO THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SEEKING DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE BIDEN ADMINITRATION'S DECISION TO IMPOSING A $37.7 MILLION FINE ON GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY. THE DEPARTMENT REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE REQUESTED DOCUMENTS, CITING VARIOUS EXCEPTIONS TO THE FOIA REQUIREMENT. THIS CASE SEEKS TO COMPEL THE PRODUCTION OF THE DOOCUMENTS TO PROMOTE TRANSARENCY IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW SIGNIFICANT DECISIONS WERE MADE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE TRIAL COURT HAS ORDERED THE DEPARTMENT TO REPROCESS AND RE-RELEASE REQUESTED DOCUMENTS. NO MOTION FOR FEES HAS BEEN FILED AT THIS STAGE. HEDRICK V. CITY OF HOLIDAY ISLAND WE REPRESENT AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS OWNER WHOSE TRASH-HAULING BUSINESS HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY THE CITY UNDER AN AGREEMENT THAT GIVES A MONOPOLY ON GARBAGE REMOVAL TO ANOTHER BUSINESS. WE ARGUE THAT THIS VIOLATES THE ANTI-MONOPOLY CLAUSE OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, AND OTHER CLAUSES PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO EARN A LIVING. THE TRIAL COURT GRANTED THE CITY'S MOTION TO DISMISS, AND WE HAVE APPELAED TO THE ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT. NO FEES HAVE BEEN AWARDED. IN RE CHILDREN OF L.K. THIS CASE INVOLVES TWO MINNESOTA CHILDREN BORN WITH SEVERE MEDICAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THEIR MOTHER'S DRUG USE. THEY WERE PLACED WITH A FOSTER FAMILY THAT CARED FOR THEM, BUT A YEAR LATER, WERE TAKEN AWAY UNDER THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT. REPRESENTING THE FOSTER FAMILY, WE ARGUE THAT THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT TREATS CHILDREN AND ADULTS DIFFERENTLY BASED SOLELY ON THEIR BIOLOGICAL ANCESTRY, IN VIOLATION OF T
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 November 6, 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 February 1989.
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 November 4, 2026.
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