Nonprofit · EIN 52-1739443
THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC
Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20005
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $8,142,704 | $9,049,932 | -$907,228 | $12,689,381 | $542,934 | $12,146,447 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $8,460,107 | $7,828,619 | $631,488 | $13,244,712 | $386,644 | $12,858,068 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $7,933,632 | $7,959,144 | -$25,512 | $11,690,657 | $409,702 | $11,280,955 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $7,533,772
- Program service revenue
- $105,352
- Investment income
- $498,539
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $896
- Other revenue
- $5,041
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $50,000
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $443,669
- Other salaries and wages
- $4,914,062
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $6,574,124
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $21,538
- Accounting fees
- $39,755
- Occupancy
- $48,664
- Travel
- $31,354
- Depreciation
- $63,250
- Program services (functional)
- $6,929,856
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,197,771
- Fundraising (functional)
- $922,305
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $13,244,712
- Total assets, end of year
- $12,689,381
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $542,934
- Net assets, end of year
- $12,146,447
- Publicly traded securities
- $3,822,463
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $9,838,888
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $2,307,559
- Gross unrelated business income
- $896
- Gross receipts
- $8,144,408
- Employees
- 54
- Volunteers
- 16
- Year formed
- 1991
- State of legal domicile
- DC
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DANIELLE BRIAN | PRESIDENT/EXEC. DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $214,049 | $32,518 |
| KEITH RUTTER | SECRETARY/VP OF ADMIN AND FINANCE Officer | 40 | $167,190 | $29,912 |
| SCOTT AMEY | GENERAL COUNSEL Highest-paid employee | 40 | $164,836 | $25,389 |
| TIM FARNSWORTH | VP OF MARKETING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $142,157 | $28,038 |
| MIAH ULYSSE | VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $146,964 | $18,282 |
| BRANDON BROCKMYER | DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $142,346 | $13,762 |
| ERICA SPITALE | VP OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $141,866 | $13,872 |
| LISA BAUMGARTNER BONDS | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DEBRA KATZ | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VIRGINIA KASE SOLOMON | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RYAN ALEXANDER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREW COCKBURN | BOARD MEMBER UNTIL 01/25 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LIA EPPERSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ARMANDO GOMEZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WALLACE JEFFERSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
8 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOE JOHNS | BOARD MEMBER AS OF 01/25 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JEANINE ABRAMS MCLEAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| NORM ORNSTEIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN ROTH | BOARD MEMBER AS OF 01/25 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| HINA SHAMSI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| VIRGINIA SLOAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| NITHI VIVATRAT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DAVID HUNTER | BOARD MEMBER AS OF 09/25 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 20 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DANIELLE BRIAN | PRESIDENT/EXEC. DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $221,482 | $29,958 |
| KEITH RUTTER | SECRETARY/EXEC OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 40 | $163,475 | $26,409 |
| SCOTT AMEY | GENERAL COUNSEL Highest-paid employee | 40 | $160,107 | $22,115 |
| MIAH ULYSSE | VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $152,222 | $16,599 |
| TIM FARNSWORTH | VP OF MARKETING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $138,885 | $26,370 |
| BRANDON BROCKMYER | DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS AND RESEARCH Highest-paid employee | 40 | $147,266 | $11,799 |
| CHRIS PABON | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $124,740 | $21,155 |
| VIRGINIA SLOAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ARMANDO GOMEZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HINA SHAMSI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEANINE ABRAMS MCLEAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LIA EPPERSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA BAUMGARTNER BONDS | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NORM ORNSTEIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VIRGINIA CASE SOLOMON | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WALLACE JEFFERSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREW COCKBURN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NITHI VIVATRAT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DEBRA KATZ | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RYAN ALEXANDER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 23 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DANIELLE BRIAN | PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $221,152 | $30,226 |
| KEITH RUTTER | SECRETARY/EXEC OPERATING OFF. AND EX Officer | 40 | $168,676 | $26,823 |
| SCOTT AMEY | GENERAL COUNSEL Highest-paid employee | 40 | $153,676 | $21,772 |
| TIM FARNSWORTH | VP OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND Highest-paid employee | 40 | $137,918 | $17,991 |
| ZOE REITER | DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $127,494 | $20,256 |
| BRANDON BROCKMYER | DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS AND RESEARCH Highest-paid employee | 40 | $130,035 | $11,434 |
| MIAH ULYSSE | VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $137,710 | $3,567 |
| RYAN ALEXANDER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $70,000 | $0 |
| NITHI VIVATRAT | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DEBRA KATZ | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DINA RASOR | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA BAUMGARTNER BONDS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL CAVALLO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREW COCKBURN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LIA EPPERSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ARMANDO GOMEZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID HUNTER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NORM ORNSTEIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VIRGINIA SLOAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEANINE ABRAMS MCLEAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VIRGINIA CASE SOLOMON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HINA SHAMSI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WALLACE JEFFERSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1100 13TH ST NW STE 800, WASHINGTON, DC 20005-4281
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- KEITH RUTTER, 1100 13TH STREET NW 800, WASHINGTON, DC 20005
- Signed the 990
- KEITH RUTTER, SECRETARY/VP OF ADMIN AND FIN
- Phone
- (202) 347-1122
- Website
- WWW.POGO.ORG
- Return prepared by
- CBIZ ADVISORS LLC
Mission
THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT (POGO) IS A NONPARTISAN, INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG THAT INVESTIGATES, EXPOSES, AND CHAMPIONS REFORMS ON SYSTEMIC CORRUPTION, ABUSE OF POWER, AND WASTE.
Program accomplishments
- GENERAL PROGRAM AND POLICY: POGO'S GENERAL PROGRAM AND POLICY WORK IS DIRECTED TOWARD PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING ANTI-CORRUPTION AND GOOD GOVERNMENT MECHANISMS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. A GOVERNMENT THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IT SERVES HELPS STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY OVER THE LONG TERM. OUR WORK INCLUDES ENSURING THAT OUR GOVERNMENT'S INSTITUTIONAL CHECKS AND BALANCES FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THAT GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICES REMAIN INDEPENDENT.Expenses $1,707,200 · revenue $105,352
- THE CONSTITUTION PROJECT AT POGO SEEKS TO SAFEGUARD OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT EXERCISES POWER IN THE NAME OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND DOMESTIC POLICING, INCLUDING ENSURING OUR INSTITUTIONS SERVE AS A CHECK ON THAT POWER.Expenses $821,515
- POGO INVESTIGATES: POGO'S INVESTIGATIONS EXPOSE WASTE, FRAUD, INJUSTICE, AND ABUSE OF POWER IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. OUR JOURNALISTS AND RESEARCHERS WORK INDEPENDENTLY FROM OUR POLICY AND ADVOCACY TEAMS.Expenses $900,712
- OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING: PROGRAM INTEGRITY ALLIANCE, CENTER FOR DEFENSE INFORMATION, PENTAGON ACCOUNTABILITY.Expenses $3,500,429 · grants $50,000
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 52-1739443
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1991
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Public and societal benefit (W20Z)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $12,689,381
- Income (IRS master file)
- $8,144,408
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $8,142,704 | $9,049,932 | $12,689,381 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $8,460,107 | $7,828,619 | $13,244,712 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $7,933,632 | $7,959,144 | $11,690,657 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $8,536,679 | $7,175,609 | $10,789,223 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 52-1739443).
Questions about THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC
- What is the EIN of THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC is 52-1739443.
- Is THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1991.
- Are donations to THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names KEITH RUTTER.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 23 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $214,049 (DANIELLE BRIAN, PRESIDENT/EXEC. DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $8,142,704, expenses of $9,049,932 and total assets of $12,689,381 at year end.
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