Center for the Study of Democratic Institution
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Organization of events and contributions to various charitable organizations to foster and encourage dialogues, discussions and contributions in public health, public policy, national security, foreign affairs, democracy, and human rights; also to contribute to youth education and outreach in art and music in Los Angeles County.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 80.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 10
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 80.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 57% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 54% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 October 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)
- $2.8 million spent. Fostering and encouraging dialogues, discussions and contributions in public health, national security, foreign affairs and human rights by (1) hosting conferences, events, trainings and other symposia attended by a wide variety of public and private figures who are thought leaders in these areas and (2) contributing to various like-minded charitable organizations in support of their efforts to facilitate greater understanding of these issues. Major gifts in these areas have gone to the schools of public health and advanced international studies of Johns Hopkins University. Additional gifts for programming support have gone to the Brookings Institution, The New America Foundation and the Atlantic Council.
- $85,000 spent. Supported functions to protect health and save lives including contributions to global public health, encourage healthy behaviors, and improve quality of life. Sustained innovative research in humanitarian health science to discover and apply evidence-based strategies for prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and reintegration.
- $84,559 spent. Fostering and encouraging dialogues, discussions and contributions in democracy, by (1) providing financial support for the operations, activities and the quarterly publication of the nonpartisan journal Democracy, A Journal of Ideas; (2) hosting conferences, events, trainings and other symposia attended by a wide variety of public and private figures who are thought leaders in this area; and (3) contributing to various like-minded charitable organizations in support of their efforts to facilitate greater understanding of these issues. Major gifts in these areas have gone to Democracy, A Journal of Ideas, Human Rights Watch and to the Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development at Johns Hopkins University.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 October 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 2004.
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.