Charity Navigator

The Institute for Free Speech earned its 5th consecutive 4-star rating in February 2020 from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. Four stars is the highest possible rating. Just 15% of the charities evaluated by Charity Navigator have received at least 4-stars 5 consecutive times.

The rating demonstrates the Institute for Free Speech’s “strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.” In 2020, the Institute for Free Speech matched its highest rating to date, 97.23 out of a possible 100 points. Charity Navigator’s coveted 4-star rating indicates that the Institute for Free Speech adheres to sector best practices and executes its mission in a financially efficient way.

Charity Navigator began its evaluation of the Institute for Free Speech in 2015 and we have earned the top ranking in every year since.

According to a February 1, 2020 letter we received from Michael Thatcher, President and CEO of Charity Navigator, “Attaining a 4-star rating verifies that the Institute for Free Speech exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in your area of work. Only 15% of the charities we evaluate have received at least 5 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Institute for Free Speech outperforms most other charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets the Institute for Free Speech apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness.”

While your evaluation of our impact is most important to us, this external rating from Charity Navigator shows that we work every day to run an effective organization and to put your contributions to good use in promoting and defending the First Amendment right to political free speech.

Charity Navigator’s report on the Institute for Free Speech is available here.

Below are links to copies of recent annual reports, audited financial statements, and IRS Form 990s. In 2017, the Institute for Free Speech changed its name from the Center for Competitive Politics. All reports and forms prior to 2016 were filed under that name.

To read any of the documents, simply click on the link and a PDF file of the document can be downloaded and viewed on your computer and printed. Free software to view the files is available from Adobe here.

2024 Audit Report
2024 IRS 990
2024 Annual Report
2023 IRS 990
2023 Audit Report
2023 Annual Report
2022 IRS 990
2022 Audit Report