Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center consistently dedicates 100% of reported officer compensation to program services, maintaining strong assets despite occasional operating deficits.
EIN: 200881724 · Washington, DC · NTEE: V05 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Pew Research Center Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Pew Research Center directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center (EIN: 200881724) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, classified under NTEE code V05. The organization reported total revenue of $46.7M and total assets of $54.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Pew Research Center's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Pew Research Center is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 5.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $44.0M |
| Total Expenses | $49.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-4,974,534 |
| Total Assets | $79.1M |
| Total Liabilities | $26.4M |
| Net Assets | $52.7M |
| Operating Margin | -11.3% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 33.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 19.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Pew Research Center reported a deficit of $5.0M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 19.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 33.4% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Pew Research Center's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -1.3% | +13.1% | -9.2% |
| 2022 | +22.2% | -0.1% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | -21.3% | -11.2% | -10.1% |
| 2020 | -0.7% | +10.9% | +23.4% |
| 2019 | +9.9% | +19.7% | +3.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
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 Pew Research Center with a Mission Score of 95 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: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, Pew Research Center allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. With 90% 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 deficit of $5.0M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 33.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation directly from the organization, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with annual revenues exceeding $40 million.
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 Pew Research Center's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and could indicate compensation is reported elsewhere or through a related entity, potentially obscuring full executive compensation details.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Pew Research Center:
- Strong program spending ratio, indicating a high percentage of funds are directed towards its mission-related activities.
- Robust asset base consistently exceeding liabilities, demonstrating strong financial health and resilience.
- Consistent revenue generation, typically in the $40-46 million range annually, supporting ongoing operations.
- Clear alignment between NTEE code (Research Institutes) and reported activities, suggesting focused mission execution.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pew Research Center
Is Pew Research Center a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Pew Research Center (EIN: 200881724) some concerns. Mission Score: 95/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Pew Research Center spend its money?
Pew Research Center directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Pew Research Center tax-deductible?
Pew Research Center is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 200881724). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Pew Research Center manage to report 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests that executive salaries may be covered by a related entity or through a different funding mechanism not directly reported as officer compensation on the 990, or that the organization operates with an entirely volunteer executive leadership, which is highly uncommon for an organization of this scale.
Is Pew Research Center financially stable given periods of expenses exceeding revenue?
Yes, despite some periods where expenses exceeded revenue (e.g., 2023 with $48,967,894 expenses vs. $43,993,360 revenue), the organization maintains a robust asset base (e.g., $79,127,107 in assets in 2023) that significantly outweighs its liabilities, indicating strong financial stability and the capacity to absorb such fluctuations.
What is the trend in Pew Research Center's assets and liabilities?
Pew Research Center has generally maintained a strong asset position, with assets consistently in the range of $70-90 million in recent years. Liabilities have fluctuated but remain significantly lower than assets, indicating a healthy balance sheet. For example, assets were $79,127,107 in 2023, while liabilities were $26,421,160.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Pew Research Center showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Pew Research Center's revenue has grown by 88.8%, moving from $23.3M to $44.0M. Total assets increased by 78% over the same period, from $44.5M to $79.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 92.8%, from $25.4M to $49.0M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Pew Research Center reported a deficit of $5.0M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $26.4M in liabilities against $79.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 33.4%), resulting in net assets of $52.7M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $44.0M | $49.0M | $79.1M | $26.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $44.6M | $43.3M | $87.1M | $29.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $36.5M | $43.4M | $88.7M | $32.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $46.3M | $48.8M | $98.7M | $35.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $46.7M | $44.0M | $80.0M | $14.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $42.5M | $36.8M | $77.2M | $14.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $39.5M | $40.1M | $73.6M | $16.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $44.4M | $35.1M | $73.7M | $15.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $38.4M | $34.3M | $61.1M | $12.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $40.0M | $31.5M | $48.2M | $3.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $33.4M | $30.6M | $39.7M | $3.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $20.5M | $27.8M | $36.9M | $3.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $23.3M | $25.4M | $44.5M | $3.8M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $44.0M, expenses of $49.0M, and assets of $79.1M (revenue -1.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $44.6M, expenses of $43.3M, and assets of $87.1M (revenue +22.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $36.5M, expenses of $43.4M, and assets of $88.7M (revenue -21.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $46.3M, expenses of $48.8M, and assets of $98.7M (revenue -0.7% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $46.7M, expenses of $44.0M, and assets of $80.0M (revenue +9.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $42.5M, expenses of $36.8M, and assets of $77.2M (revenue +7.6% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $39.5M, expenses of $40.1M, and assets of $73.6M (revenue -11.1% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $44.4M, expenses of $35.1M, and assets of $73.7M (revenue +15.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $38.4M, expenses of $34.3M, and assets of $61.1M (revenue -3.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $40.0M, expenses of $31.5M, and assets of $48.2M (revenue +19.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $33.4M, expenses of $30.6M, and assets of $39.7M (revenue +63.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $20.5M, expenses of $27.8M, and assets of $36.9M (revenue -12.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $23.3M, expenses of $25.4M, and assets of $44.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Pew Research Center:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Pew Research Center 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.