Open Society Institute
Open Society Institute maintains over $5 billion in assets with fluctuating revenue and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 137029285 · New York, NY · NTEE: T23 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $411.1M |
| Total Expenses | $390.5M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $5 |
| Net Assets | $4.5B |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Open Society Institute Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Open Society Institute directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Open Society Institute
Open Society Institute (EIN: 137029285) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code T23. The organization reported total revenue of $411.1M and total assets of $5.4B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Open Society Institute's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Open Society Institute is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 32 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 6.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $436.3M |
| Total Expenses | $390.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$45.8M |
| Total Assets | $5.3B |
| Total Liabilities | $727.6M |
| Net Assets | $4.5B |
| Operating Margin | 10.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 13.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 161.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Open Society Institute reported a surplus of $45.8M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 161.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 13.8% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Open Society Institute's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -22.7% | +7.1% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | -42.9% | -34.5% | -10.5% |
| 2021 | +87.7% | +46.7% | +48.3% |
| 2020 | +152.5% | -48.8% | +14.1% |
| 2019 | -43.6% | +296.5% | +32.9% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1994 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Open Society Institute with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Open Society Institute allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $45.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 13.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is highly unusual for an organization with over $5 billion in assets and hundreds of millions in annual expenses, suggesting either a fully volunteer executive leadership or that executive compensation is handled through an unstated mechanism not reflected in these filings.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Open Society Institute's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually high asset base relative to annual expenses, potentially indicating significant endowment management rather than direct program spending.
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is highly atypical for an organization of this size and complexity, raising questions about executive remuneration practices.
- Significant year-over-year revenue volatility, making long-term financial forecasting and program stability potentially challenging.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Open Society Institute:
- Strong financial reserves with over $5.4 billion in assets, providing long-term stability and capacity for large-scale initiatives.
- Generally efficient spending, with expenses typically well below revenue, contributing to asset growth.
- Consistent growth in assets over the past decade, demonstrating effective financial management and investment strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions about Open Society Institute
Is Open Society Institute a legitimate charity?
Open Society Institute (EIN: 137029285) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $411.1M. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Open Society Institute spend its money?
Open Society Institute directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Open Society Institute tax-deductible?
Open Society Institute is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 137029285). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Open Society Institute CEO make?
Open Society Institute's highest-compensated officer earns $5 annually. The organization reported $411.1M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Open Society Institute's spending goes to programs?
Open Society Institute directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Open Society Institute compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Open Society Institute is above average for NTEE category T23 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Open Society Institute located?
Open Society Institute is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 137029285. It is classified under NTEE code T23.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Open Society Institute have?
Open Society Institute has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $411.1M in total revenue.
How does Open Society Institute manage executive compensation if 0% is reported across all filings?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. It suggests that executive compensation may be covered by a related entity, through a volunteer model, or not reported in the standard officer compensation section of the 990, warranting further investigation into their financial disclosures.
What is the primary source of Open Society Institute's highly variable revenue?
The revenue figures show significant year-to-year fluctuations, such as $988 million in 2021 dropping to $564 million in 2022 and $436 million in 2023. This volatility suggests reliance on large, potentially one-time or project-specific grants rather than a stable base of recurring donations, which could impact long-term program planning.
How does Open Society Institute maintain such a large asset base despite revenue fluctuations?
The organization consistently maintains a substantial asset base, growing from $1.0 billion in 2011 to over $5.4 billion in the latest period. This growth is supported by expenses generally being lower than revenue in most years, allowing for accumulation of assets, and potentially significant investment returns on its existing endowment.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Open Society Institute showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Open Society Institute's revenue has grown by 115.5%, moving from $202.5M to $436.3M. Total assets increased by 422.8% over the same period, from $1.0B to $5.3B. Total functional expenses rose by 87.2%, from $208.6M to $390.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Open Society Institute reported a surplus of $45.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $727.6M in liabilities against $5.3B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 13.8%), resulting in net assets of $4.5B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $436.3M | $390.5M | $5.3B | $727.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $564.2M | $364.4M | $5.3B | $748.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $988.4M | $556.4M | $5.9B | $770.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $526.5M | $379.4M | $4.0B | $775.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $208.5M | $740.4M | $3.5B | $705.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $369.7M | $186.8M | $2.6B | $195.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $173.3M | $180.0M | $1.8B | $158.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $155.6M | $190.4M | $1.6B | $636.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $325.2M | $585.2M | $685.9M | $193.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $202.5M | $208.6M | $1.0B | $198.2M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $436.3M, expenses of $390.5M, and assets of $5.3B (revenue -22.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $564.2M, expenses of $364.4M, and assets of $5.3B (revenue -42.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $988.4M, expenses of $556.4M, and assets of $5.9B (revenue +87.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $526.5M, expenses of $379.4M, and assets of $4.0B (revenue +152.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $208.5M, expenses of $740.4M, and assets of $3.5B (revenue -43.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $369.7M, expenses of $186.8M, and assets of $2.6B (revenue +113.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $173.3M, expenses of $180.0M, and assets of $1.8B (revenue +11.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $155.6M, expenses of $190.4M, and assets of $1.6B (revenue -52.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $325.2M, expenses of $585.2M, and assets of $685.9M (revenue +60.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $202.5M, expenses of $208.6M, and assets of $1.0B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Open Society Institute:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Open Society Institute is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.