How Nonprofits Spend Money in Washington DC

Nonprofit spending analysis for Washington DC: 79% goes to programs, 14% to administration, 7% to fundraising. Based on 685 organizations.

9,994Total Nonprofits
685Report Spending
79%Avg Programs
14%Avg Admin
7%Avg Fundraising
$200.8BTotal Revenue
79% Programs
14% Admin
7% Fund

Spending Analysis

Among 9,994 nonprofits in Washington DC, 685 report detailed spending breakdowns. On average, 79% of expenses go directly to charitable programs, 14% to administrative costs, and 7% to fundraising activities.

Washington DC nonprofits demonstrate strong program efficiency, with the average organization directing 79% of spending to programs — above the widely-cited 75% benchmark used by charity watchdog organizations.

The 685 organizations collectively manage $200.8B in revenue and $182.5B in assets, making spending efficiency a critical metric for the charitable sector in Washington DC.

Most Efficient Nonprofits in Washington DC

#OrganizationProgram %RevenueScore
1Czechoslovak Society Of Arts And Sciences Inc100%$060/100
2Brian P & Janet S Hehir Family Foundation100%$93K95/100
3American Council For Jean Monnet Studies Inc100%$15065/100
4Rose Harper Leadership Academy100%$70340/100
5Cbp Office Of Border Patrol Morale Welfare And Recreation Association100%$020/100
6Clark And Hinman Foundation100%$070/100
7Lentchner Family Foundation100%$3K60/100
8Patient Access Network Foundation99%$225.9M95/100
9International Research And Exchanges Board Inc99%$153.5M85/100
10United Palestinian Appeal Inc98%$121.1M90/100
11David Raymond Price Foundation98%$56K95/100
12Resolve Uganda Incorporated95%$34.5M85/100
13Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation95%$4.8M90/100
14Carter & Melissa Cafritz Charitable Tr95%$1.3M85/100
15Franciscan Sisters Of Washington Dc95%$370K90/100
16Mark And Anne Hansen Foundation95%$7.0M90/100
17Catholic Charities Foundation Of The Archdiocese Of Washington95%$1.6M90/100
18Frank R Williams Scholarship Fund95%$16K92/100
19Peace Corps Foundation90%$2.9M95/100
20Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Convocation & Alumni Federation90%$146K85/100
21Charitable Foundation Of The Energy Bar Association90%$253K95/100
22The British Players Inc90%$168K92/100
23Medicine For Peace90%$115K92/100
24Ethiopian Community Services And Development Council Inc90%$437K85/100
25Westley Family Foundation Inc90%$251K95/100
26Gamba Family Foundation Inc90%$226K85/100
27The Chatham House Foundation Inc90%$506K85/100
28Transport Workers Union Of America90%$44.0M92/100
29Center For Spiritual And Ethical Education Inc90%$1.1M85/100
30International Bar Association90%$31.6M92/100
31Corporation For Public Broadcasting90%$1.0B85/100
32The Bhutan Foundation90%$4.3M85/100
33Washington Gas Light Company Union Veba Trust90%$63.3M95/100
34Swedish American Chamber Of Commerce Of The Usa Inc90%$691K85/100
35Afl Cio Mutual Benefit Plan90%$15.0M90/100
36Human Rights Law Project90%$258K92/100
37Friends Of The National World War Ii Memorial Inc90%$9.1M95/100
38Richard Lounsbery Foundation Inc90%$13.7M85/100
39The Greenwall Foundation90%$4.8M90/100
40Joseph P Kennedy Jr Foundation90%$14.0M95/100
41American Society Of Interior Designers Benevolent Fund Inc90%$030/100
42Counterpart International Inc90%$65.2M85/100
43Washington Gas Light Company Management Veba Tr90%$236.3M85/100
44Elva And Lawrence Obrien Fam Tr90%$3.2M95/100
45Hope Rising For Children Inc90%$35K85/100
46The Global Development Incubator Inc90%$21.5M85/100
47Calvary Bible Institute Inc90%$318K85/100
48Cushman Foundation For Foraminiferal Research Inc90%$398K95/100
49Home Roots Foundation90%$44K95/100
50Robert Brent Parent Teacher Association90%$465K95/100

Least Efficient Nonprofits in Washington DC

#OrganizationProgram %Revenue
1The Nonprofit Alliance Foundation45%$1.0M
2Bac Disaster Relief Fund Inc50%$222K
3Kamal Foundation Inc50%$216K
4Industrial Energy Consumers Of America50%$1.3M
5Alliance Of Community Health Plans Foundation Inc50%$1.3M
6Association Of Securities And Exchange Commission Alumni Inc50%$527K
7American Society Of Interior Designers Inc60%$7.6M
8National Council For Public Private Partnerships60%$130K
9Institute Of Management Consultants Usa Inc60%$119K
10Corlette Glorney Foundation Inc60%$919K
11National Action And Response Program60%$24K
12Future Teaching Institute60%$100K
13Sky Dragon Foundation Inc60%$3K
14Securing Americas Future Energy Alliance Inc60%$1.0M
15Us Libya Business Council60%$115K
16International Brotherhood Of Teamsters60%$105K
17The One Campaign70%$29.5M
18United For Dc Inc70%$0
19Universities Allied For Essential Medicines Corp70%$367K
20Us Central Asia Education Foundation70%$34K

Related Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Washington DC nonprofits spend their money?

On average, Washington DC nonprofits spend 79% on programs, 14% on administration, and 7% on fundraising. This is based on IRS 990 data from 685 organizations.

What is a good program expense ratio?

Most charity evaluators consider 75% or higher to be a strong program expense ratio. In Washington DC, the average is 79%.

How can I find the most efficient nonprofits?

The table above ranks Washington DC nonprofits by program spending percentage. You can also use our Rankings page to find the most efficient organizations nationally or by state.