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Ludlow Institute

EIN 99-5084876 · Lee, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LUDLOW INSTITUTE IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO ADVANCING INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM THROUGH TECHNOLOGY VIA RESEARCH, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND POLICY ANALYSIS. THE INSTITUTE STUDIES BOTH TECHNOLOGIES THAT ADVANCE INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT LIMIT IT, AND ACROSS THESE AREAS CONDUCTS RESEARCH, PRODUCES EDUCATIONAL MEDIA AND WRITTEN MATERIALS, AND DELIVERS TRAINING THAT HELPS INDIVIDUALS PROTECT AND EMPOWER THEMSELVES IN THE DIGITAL AGE.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$510,753
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
41.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
3
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$97,333, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 41.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 76% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (4)
  1. $198,435 spent. EDUCATION (VIDEOS & ARTICLES): LUDLOW'S MEDIA PLATFORM SURPASSED 1 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS AND 100 MILLION TOTAL VIEWS ACROSS MAJOR SOCIAL VIDEO PLATFORMS IN 2025. PROGRAMMING INCLUDED INVESTIGATIVE VIDEOS, MINI-DOCUMENTARIES, TUTORIALS, AND EXPLAINERS COVERING THE FULL SPECTRUM OF TECHNOLOGIES THAT ADVANCE OR THREATEN INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM IN THE DIGITAL AGE. LUDLOW WAS FEATURED ACROSS MAJOR NATIONAL TELEVISION, PRINT, AND ONLINE OUTLETS, INCLUDING A NATIONALLY SYNDICATED COLUMN REACHING MILLIONS OF READERS. NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS GREW TO NEARLY 9,000, AND THE INSTITUTE'S EBOOK SURPASSED 3,477 COPIES SOLD.
  2. $94,903 spent. RESEARCH (GRANTS & IN-HOUSE): IN 2025, LUDLOW LAUNCHED ITS RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM, FUNDING INVESTIGATIONS INTO DATA COLLECTION PRACTICES AND CONSENT TRANSPARENCY IN EVERYDAY TECHNOLOGY. FIRST-ROUND GRANTS SUPPORTED A PHD STUDENT'S RESEARCH ON HIDDEN DATA COLLECTION IN SMART TVS, AND A CYBERSECURITY RESEARCHER'S EXAMINATION OF SURVEILLANCE IN FITNESS WEARABLES. LUDLOW ALSO WON A $10,000 COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANT FOR AN IN-HOUSE RESEARCH PROJECT EXPLORING HOW TO USE AI-GENERATED DATA TO DISRUPT DATA BROKER TRACKING SYSTEMS.
  3. $25,883 spent. POLICY: LUDLOW CONDUCTED NONPARTISAN LEGAL AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH ON THE APPLICATION OF FOURTH AMENDMENT PRINCIPLES TO DATA HELD BY THIRD PARTIES, SUCH AS BANKS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS, AND DATA BROKERS, AND ENGAGED IN PUBLIC ADVOCACY ON DIGITAL PRIVACY ISSUES. IN COLLABORATION WITH LEGAL SCHOLARS AND TECHNICAL ADVISORS, LUDLOW ANALYZED HOW WARRANT REQUIREMENTS OPERATE UNDER EXISTING CONSTITUTIONAL DOCTRINE AND MADE ITS FINDINGS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. LUDLOW'S RESEARCH INFORMED PUBLIC DEBATE ON DIGITAL PRIVACY, AND CONCEPTS DEVELOPED THROUGH THIS WORK WERE REFLECTED IN LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS. LUDLOW ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ROUNDTABLE EXAMINING FINANCIAL PRIVACY AND BANKING POLICY.
  4. $111,112 spent. TRAINING: LUDLOW DELIVERED HANDS-ON PRIVACY AND DIGITAL SECURITY TRAINING THROUGHOUT 2025, REACHING AUDIENCES RANGING FROM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GLOBAL CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS. TRAININGS INCLUDED A HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM SESSION, A COMMUNITY INTENSIVE THAT SEEDED A LOCAL PRIVACY MEETUP NETWORK, TWO SESSIONS AT A MAJOR CYBERSECURITY CONFERENCE, A WORKSHOP AT AN INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION SUMMIT, A DIGITAL SECURITY MASTERCLASS FOR A GLOBAL NETWORK OF FREEDOM ACTIVISTS, AND A FIRESIDE CHAT ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PRIVACY AT AN INTERNATIONAL PRIVACY TECHNOLOGY CONGRESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 September 2024.

    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.