Policy Issues Institute FY2020 filing

Not tax-deductible

Laguna Niguel, CA501(c)(4)Since 2001EIN 33-0973052Revenue $7.7M in FY2020

On file with the IRSpolicyissuesinstitute.com30011 Ivy Glenn Dr Ste 223, 92677-5018 · Laguna Niguel, CATax-exempt since Aug 2001

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Our primary purpose is the study/research of America's public policy, including research on public policy issues and provide information to the public on the importance of such issues, including energy, education, taxes, crime, transportation, natural resources, government management and the environment.

69¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$661K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(4)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
No
Donations are not tax-deductible
Worth a look: the IRS does not list gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $159K a year · 2% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
69%
of spending
Fine: 69% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$661K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.6 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$151K
17% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 17% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$7.7M
Spent
$6.5M
To programs
69%
Net assets
$729K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$7.7M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.7M
FY2021$6.1M
FY2022$9.8M
FY2023$8.5M
FY2024$5.9M
Expenses
$6.5M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$6.5M
FY2021$6.9M
FY2022$8.6M
FY2023$8.8M
FY2024$6.4M
Net assets
$729K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$729K
FY2021$8K
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$795K
FY2024$331K

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Aug 2001.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

69 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 69% · $4.5M Management & general 7% · $480K Fundraising 23% · $1.5M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

7 people listed on the 990; $661K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$323,000Pt VII · Sec A
President
$294,000Pt VII · Sec A
$24,000Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$20,232Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Floyd Brown$409,000$477,000$390,000$411,000$294,000
James Lacy$466,750$473,500$355,000$378,000$323,000
Alexander Tomescu$45,090$38,240$26,339$17,560$20,232
Lori Klein$42,000$500———
Barrett Garcia$25,500$29,000$28,000$26,500$24,000
Martin Matthews$500$500$500——
Robert Cambron$500$500$500——
Randy Goodwin$500$500———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Policy Issues Institute executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Researches and informs the public about critical American public policy issues.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $4.5M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Policy Issues Institute's accomplishments included publishing papers, newsletters and websites that collect and disseminate information on a wide variety of public policy issues and media issues. These published materials also encourage citizen involvement in public affairs.

$4.5Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · this organization's grantmaking
Grants paid · 7 grants · $169K · 2023–2024
Pii Nonprofit 501c4-No on 32FY2024$50,700
Sa Ctzns for Voting-No on DdFY2024$47,250
National Review InstituteNY · FY2024$12,500
United States Justice FndtnFY2023$25,000
National Review InstituteNY · FY2023$17,500
Summit MinistriesFY2023$10,000
Pepperdine UniversityCA · FY2023$5,900

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$7.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.7M
Investment incomeLn 3−$1K
Money outPt IX
$6.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.5M
Managementcol C$480K
Fundraisingcol D$1.5M
Owns and owesPt X
$729K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$874K
Total assetsLn 16$880K
LiabilitiesLn 26$151K
PeoplePt VI, VII
7
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.7M
Investment incomeLn 3−$1K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$7.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$874K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$874K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$880K
LiabilitiesLn 26$151K
Net assetsLn 32$729K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$158K$874K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4K$3K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$162K$880K
LiabilitiesLn 26$627K$151K
Net assetsLn 32−$464K$729K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$3K$3K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$661K$427K$171K$64K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$2K$1K$419$182
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$1K$1K
Accounting feesLn 11c$14K$14K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$407K$407K
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$55K$41K$14K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$40K$20K$20K
Information technologyLn 14$8K$6K$3K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$12K$6K$6K
TravelLn 17$488$439$23$26
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$3K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$5.0M$3.9M$197K$955K
All other expensesLn 24e$276K$140K$88K$49K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.5M$4.5M$480K$1.5M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $5.9M$6.4M−$464K$331K 990 PDF
FY2023 $8.5M$8.8M−$361K$795K 990 PDF
FY2022 $9.8M$8.6M$1.1M$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $6.1M$6.9M−$721K$8K 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $7.7M$6.5M$1.2M$729K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $7,705,067 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $6,262,786$7,706,094
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,623−$1,027
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,265,409$7,705,067
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$2,700
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $652,493$663,053
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $407,890$407,202
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $5,379,773$5,439,235
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,440,156$6,512,190
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$174,747$1,192,877
Part VI · Governance 3 of 5 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members3
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $7,705,067 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$7,706,094
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$7,706,094
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission −$1,027−$1,027
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission −$1,027$7,705,067
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,512,190 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $2,700$2,700
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $426,945 · Management $170,564 · Fundraising $63,723$661,232
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wages$0
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefits$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,220 · Management $419 · Fundraising $182$1,821
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $1,408$1,408
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $13,976$13,976
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $407,202$407,202
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $40,570 · Fundraising $14,255$54,825
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $19,912 · Fundraising $19,912$39,824
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $5,612 · Fundraising $2,763$8,375
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $6,000 · Management $6,000$12,000
IX-17 TravelPrograms $439 · Management $23 · Fundraising $26$488
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $2,697$2,697
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,877,036 · Management $197,286 · Fundraising $955,000$5,029,322
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $139,636 · Management $87,622 · Fundraising $49,062$276,320
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,520,070 · Management $479,995 · Fundraising $1,512,125$6,512,190
Part X · Balance sheet $879,797 assets, 18 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $3,000; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $158,460$873,922
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $4,018$2,875
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $162,478$879,797
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $626,582$151,024
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $626,582$151,024
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$464,104$728,773
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$464,104$728,773
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $162,478$879,797
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $728,773 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$7,705,067
XI-2 Total expenses$6,512,190
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,192,877
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$464,104
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$728,773

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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