Fradkin Foundation for Economic Research
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To advance public understanding of the economic and societal consequences of digital and data-centric technologies, including the Internet, through rigorous empirical research and the provision of new tools which aid that research. To support rigorous economic research that aims to improve decision making by government, industry, and the scientific community.
- Income
- $5,000
- Spending
- $57,251
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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)
- $57,252 spent. The Foundation released the following in 2024: An open-source browser extension framework, Webmunk. A first draft of the paper, "Data Sharing and Website Competition: The Role of Dark Patterns, and presented it at several venues including MIT and the Advances in Field Experiments conference. In 2023, the Fradkin Foundation was incorporated and set up the infrastructure to receive and administer funds. It received a first tranche of funding from the Internet Society Foundation in pursuit of a grant to study the economic consequences of dark patterns on the internet. Dark patterns are digital interfaces that manipulate or coerce users into actions that they may not take otherwise.The foundation will seek to answer the following questions:- How effective are companies user interface designs in manipulating consumers data sharing decisions?- How do dark patterns change the economic outcomes that consumers face via changing their data sharing decisions? In particular, how do changes in data sharing affect the ads that consumers see, the types of websites they browse, and their consumption patterns?Does the removal of dark patterns affect different companies differently? If so, what can we say about the indirect effects of dark patterns on consumers via changes in competition?In order to pursue this research, the foundation needed a new piece of software for conducting research studies on line. The foundation negotiated a joint contract between itself, Harvard Business School, and Audacious Software to develop software for the purpose of the research objectives. This software is slated to be developed in 2023 and research studies will begin once the software development is finished.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 2025.
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 July 2022.
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.
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.