Public Policy Fund Inc
Public Policy Fund Inc. consistently operates at a deficit, with declining revenue over the past decade.
EIN: 205734264 · Washington, DC · NTEE: S46 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Public Policy Fund Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Public Policy Fund Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Public Policy Fund Inc
Public Policy Fund Inc (EIN: 205734264) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, classified under NTEE code S46. The organization reported total revenue of $5.1M and total assets of $2.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Public Policy Fund Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Public Policy Fund Inc is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 16 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -0.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $4.5M |
| Total Expenses | $5.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-689,636 |
| Total Assets | $2.7M |
| Total Liabilities | $2.1M |
| Net Assets | $543K |
| Operating Margin | -15.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 79.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 6.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Public Policy Fund Inc reported a deficit of $690K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 6.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 79.8% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Public Policy Fund Inc's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -9.3% | -0.2% | -24.4% |
| 2022 | +3.5% | +5.1% | +137.1% |
| 2021 | -2.3% | -3.6% | -12.9% |
| 2020 | -17.8% | -16.2% | -11.4% |
| 2019 | -12.7% | -21.1% | -20.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2010 |
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 Public Policy Fund Inc with a Mission Score of 60 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Public Policy Fund Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% 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 $690K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 79.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting either a volunteer leadership model or that executive compensation is categorized differently, which enhances transparency regarding direct officer salaries.
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 Public Policy Fund Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operational deficits, with expenses exceeding revenue in most recent years (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2021).
- Significant decline in revenue over the past decade, from $8,000,121 in 2014 to $4,492,381 in 2023.
- Dramatic increase in liabilities from $23,184 in 2021 to $2,143,147 in 2023, indicating new or growing financial obligations.
- Assets have decreased from a high of $4,260,067 in 2015 to $2,686,133 in 2023, potentially due to covering deficits.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Public Policy Fund Inc:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating transparency regarding executive salaries.
- Assets generally exceed liabilities, providing some level of financial stability despite operational deficits.
Frequently Asked Questions about Public Policy Fund Inc
Is Public Policy Fund Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Public Policy Fund Inc (EIN: 205734264) some concerns. Mission Score: 60/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
How does Public Policy Fund Inc spend its money?
Public Policy Fund Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Public Policy Fund Inc tax-deductible?
Public Policy Fund Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 205734264). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Why has Public Policy Fund Inc. consistently operated at a deficit, with expenses exceeding revenue in most recent years?
The provided data shows that expenses have exceeded revenue in 8 out of the last 10 reported periods, including $5,182,017 in expenses vs. $4,492,381 in revenue in 2023, and $5,194,754 vs. $4,952,836 in 2022. This consistent operational deficit suggests a potential reliance on reserves or other funding sources to cover ongoing costs.
What caused the significant increase in liabilities from $23,184 in 2021 to $2,143,147 in 2023?
The dramatic increase in liabilities over a two-year period, from a relatively low amount in 2021 to over $2 million in 2023, is a significant financial shift that warrants investigation into the nature of these new obligations.
How does Public Policy Fund Inc. sustain its operations given the consistent revenue decline from $8,000,121 in 2014 to $4,492,381 in 2023?
The organization has experienced a substantial decrease in revenue over the past decade. Sustaining operations with declining income and persistent deficits suggests either drawing down assets, securing loans, or other undisclosed funding mechanisms.
Is the 0% officer compensation reported across all filings accurate, or is compensation for leadership reported under other expense categories?
While reporting 0% officer compensation is a positive indicator of transparency regarding direct salaries, it's important to understand if leadership is compensated through other means that are not explicitly categorized as 'officer compensation' in the summary data.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Public Policy Fund Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Public Policy Fund Inc's revenue has declined by 9.4%, moving from $5.0M to $4.5M. Total assets increased by 293.9% over the same period, from $682K to $2.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 15.1%, from $4.5M to $5.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Public Policy Fund Inc reported a deficit of $690K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $2.1M in liabilities against $2.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 79.8%), resulting in net assets of $543K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $4.5M | $5.2M | $2.7M | $2.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $5.0M | $5.2M | $3.6M | $2.3M | — | — |
| 2021 | $4.8M | $4.9M | $1.5M | $23K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $4.9M | $5.1M | $1.7M | $89K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $6.0M | $6.1M | $1.9M | $81K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $6.8M | $7.8M | $2.4M | $431K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $7.1M | $7.4M | $3.4M | $515K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $7.4M | $8.1M | $3.8M | $565K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $7.2M | $5.9M | $4.3M | $233K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $8.0M | $6.5M | $2.9M | $221K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $6.7M | $6.3M | $1.5M | $274K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $5.7M | $5.5M | $913K | $106K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $5.0M | $4.5M | $682K | $84K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $4.5M, expenses of $5.2M, and assets of $2.7M (revenue -9.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $5.2M, and assets of $3.6M (revenue +3.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $4.9M, and assets of $1.5M (revenue -2.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $4.9M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $1.7M (revenue -17.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $6.0M, expenses of $6.1M, and assets of $1.9M (revenue -12.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $6.8M, expenses of $7.8M, and assets of $2.4M (revenue -3.2% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $7.1M, expenses of $7.4M, and assets of $3.4M (revenue -4.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $7.4M, expenses of $8.1M, and assets of $3.8M (revenue +2.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $7.2M, expenses of $5.9M, and assets of $4.3M (revenue -9.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $8.0M, expenses of $6.5M, and assets of $2.9M (revenue +19.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $6.7M, expenses of $6.3M, and assets of $1.5M (revenue +17.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $5.7M, expenses of $5.5M, and assets of $913K (revenue +14.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $682K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Public Policy Fund Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Public Policy Fund Inc 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.