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Project Liberty Institute

EIN 87-3213298 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO CREATE A NEW CIVIC ARCHITECTURE FOR THE DIGITAL WORLD THAT RETURNS THE OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF PERSONAL DATA TO INDIVIDUALS, EMBEDS ETHICAL VALUES INTO TECHNOLOGY, AND EXPANDS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR WEB USERS AND DEVELOPERS ALIKE.

Income
$26.6 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
51%
Reserves
-37.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 59%
Employees
12
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$413,821, head of strategic insights

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: 38 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 351% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 77% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 76% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    51% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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 (2)
  1. $1.8 million spent. PROJECT LIBERTY INSTITUTE CONDUCTS AND PROVIDES FUNDING FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS THAT FURTHER THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC AND THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON SOCIETY, INCLUDING AN ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING OF, AND ADVANCEMENT OF, DATA PRIVACY, ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS, AND NEW DIGITAL GOVERNANCE AND DIGITAL SHARED ECONOMIC MODELS.
  2. $1.3 million spent. PROJECT LIBERTY INSTITUTE ORGANIZES AND PARTICIPATES IN REGULAR EVENTS, CONVENINGS AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS OF TECHNOLOGISTS, ETHICISTS, LEGAL EXPERTS, ENTREPRENEURS, SOCIAL INNOVATORS AND OTHER EXPERTS IN THE UNITED STATES, UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, AND ELSEWHERE TO FOSTER DIALOGUE AND DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO EXPLORE AND ADVANCE BETTER MODELS OF DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS.PROJECT LIBERTY INSTITUTE CEASED OPERATIONS IN THE UK WITH THE TERMINATION OF ALL UK-BASED STAFF ON JANUARY 15, 2024. THEREAFTER, PLI CLOSED THE UK OFFICE AND WORKED TO DISSOLVE THE COMPANY. PL UK SERVICES LIMITED WAS OFFICIALLY DISSOLVED ON MAY 25, 2025.

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 2025.

    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 May 2022.

    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.