Center for Civic Education
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CENTER CULTIVATES AN INFORMED AND THOUGHTFUL CITIZENRY BY TEACHING THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF DEMOCRACY TO MILLIONS OF EDUCATORS AND THEIR STUDENTS. AS A NATIONAL, NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT, THE CENTER DESIGNS COMPREHENSIVE CIVICS CURRICULAR PROGRAMS,
- Income
- $7.2 million
- Spending
- $7.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 5.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 81%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 189
- Highest pay
- $281,885, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 48% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
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
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 July 31, 2025, 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 (3)
- $5.3 million spent. INNOVATIVE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING: THROUGH THE JAMES MADISON LEGACY PROJECT EXPANSION AND DOCUMENTS OF DEMOCRACY PROJECTS FUNDED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE CENTER CREATED NEW CIVICS RESOURCES ALIGNED TO THE WE THE PEOPLE PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND THEIR STUDENTS IN 20 STATES. THE PROJECT CITIZEN INTEGRATED CIVIC COMPETENCIES PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND THEIR STUDENTS IN SIX STATES REACHING 120 TEACHERS. FUNDED BY THE LEONORE ANNENBERG INSTITUTE FOR CIVICS TEACHING250 ENGAGED 50 EDUCATORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN A WEEKEND SEMINAR TO PREPARE FOR AMERICA 250.
- $697,483 spent. COMPREHENSIVE EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA: WE THE PEOPLE: THE CITIZEN AND THE CONSTITUTION IS A NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAM FOCUSED ON THE HISTORY OF PRINCIPLES OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND BILL OF RIGHTS FOR UPPER ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THIS PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED IN ALL 50 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BY A NETWORK OF STATE COORDINATORS AND A NATIONAL NETWORK OF CIVICS MENTORS. STUDENTS AT ALL LEVELS SHOWCASE AND COMPETE IN SIMULATED CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS AT DISTRICT AND STATES WITH THE TOP TEAMS COMPETING AT NATIONAL FINALS AND NATIONAL INVITATIONAL FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. PROJECT CITIZEN: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN PUBLIC POLICY IS A CURRICULAR PROGRAM FOR UPPER ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS WHERE STUDENTS APPLY KNOWLEDGE OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM.
- $126,030 spent. SUITE OF FREE CIVICS RESOURCES:THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, PROJECT COMMUNITY MEDIA LITERACY VIDEOS AND ALIGNED LESSONS ADDRESSING MEDIA LITERACY SKILLS LIKE CORROBORATION, AI, AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 July 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 March 1981.
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.