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Institute for the Future

EIN 95-2540449 · Palo Alto, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 111 cents.

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

What it says it does

INSTITUTE FOR THE FUTURE IS THE WORLD'S LEADING FUTURES ORGANIZATION. OUR MISSION IS TO PREPARE THE WORLD TO CREATE BETTER, MORE EQUITABLE FUTURES BY DISRUPTING SHORT-TERM THINKING WITH VISIONS OF TRANSFORMATIVE POSSIBILITIES.

Income
$8.9 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
35
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$298,483, executive producer

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 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 111 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 9 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $4.7 million spent. STRATEGIC ADVISORY (INCLUDING RESEARCH INITIATIVES, SPEECHES AND WORKSHOPS): FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, IFTF HAS CONDUCTED INDEPENDENT FUTURES RESEARCH, DESIGNED TO CREATE FORESIGHT THEN LEADS TO INSIGHT AND ULTIMATELY TO FUTURE-SMART ACTION. THIS WORK IS ORGANIZED ACROSS A CORE SET OF RESEARCH AGENDAS AND INTERCONNECTED LABS THAT, TOGETHER, BUILD BROAD SCANS OF THE FUTURE LANDSCAPE AND LEAD DEEP DIVES INTO URGENT FUTURES.
  2. $2.4 million spent. FORESIGHT ESSENTIALS: IFTF'S PORTFOLIO OF FORESIGHT TRAININGS ARE BUILT ON OVER 50 YEARS OF IFTF FUTURES METHODOLOGIES AND TOOLS. COURSES AND CUSTOM ENTERPRISE TRAININGS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS GROW THEIR SKILLS IN THE ART AND SCIENCE OF FORESIGHT. ALUMNI ALSO JOIN A VIBRANT COMMUNITY AND NETWORK OF PRACTITIONERS WHO CAN ADVANCE FUTURES THINKING IN ALL KINDS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GLOBE.
  3. $786,625 spent. VANTAGE: FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES, THE VANTAGE PROGRAM HAS BEEN A LEADING SOURCE OF FORESIGHT FOR BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFITS. IT'S A PLATFORM FOR SENSING TODAY'S LATENT SIGNALS, TRACKING THEIR INTERSECTIONS TO UNDERSTAND THE ECOSYSTEM OF CHOICES, AND DESIGNING PLATFORMS FOR FUTURE RESILIENCE. THIS IS AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM THAT, ALONG WITH ALL OTHER CORE FOUNDATIONAL MULTICLIENT PROJECTS, PROVIDES THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR INITIATIVES THAT FURTHER OUR MISSION IN LEADING THE EFFORTS ON LONG-TERM THINKING, WHILE SUPPORTING ONGOING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT PUSHES ARE RESEARCH INTO NEW AREAS OF STUDY. THE VANTAGE PROGRAM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 20 PARTNERS, HOSTED AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AND PROVIDED A DIVERSE ARRAY OF FORESIGHT DELIVERABLES.
  4. $493,834 spent. GRANT FUNDING: IFTF WORKS WITH PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS FOR A RANGE OF CIVIC AND PUBLIC-ORIENTED FORESIGHT WORK THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH OUR PUBLIC MISSION, BOTH FOR RESEARCH STUDIES AND FORESIGHT EDUCATION.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.