Nonprofit · EIN 52-1885088
JUDICIAL WATCH INC
Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20024
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $102,272,691 | $57,429,395 | $44,843,296 | $592,877,324 | $12,868,489 | $580,008,835 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $127,656,836 | $55,292,045 | $72,364,791 | $502,896,231 | $12,641,717 | $490,254,514 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $104,336,382 | $53,230,384 | $51,105,998 | $412,582,707 | $11,270,174 | $401,312,533 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $82,279,727
- Program service revenue
- $56,267
- Investment income
- $19,598,180
- Royalties
- $326,363
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $5,832,924
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $12,154
- Other revenue
- $338,517
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $87,900
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $3,611,947
- Other salaries and wages
- $9,790,662
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $15,472,361
- Professional fundraising fees
- $78,590
- Legal fees
- $1,007,061
- Accounting fees
- $52,530
- Occupancy
- $1,065,147
- Travel
- $405,621
- Depreciation
- $382,792
- Program services (functional)
- $36,930,038
- Management and general (functional)
- $6,885,742
- Fundraising (functional)
- $13,613,615
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $502,896,231
- Total assets, end of year
- $592,877,324
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $12,868,489
- Net assets, end of year
- $580,008,835
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,088,154
- Publicly traded securities
- $540,291,994
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $576,296,355
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $3,712,480
- Gross receipts
- $200,113,511
- Employees
- 66
- Volunteers
- 0
- Year formed
- 1994
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS J FITTON | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $1,157,336 | $50,783 |
| PAUL J ORFANEDES | TREASURER, SECRETARY, DIRE Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $931,891 | $38,104 |
| CHRISTOPHER J FARRELL | DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS Trustee or director | 40 | $889,401 | $45,181 |
| ROBERT PATRICK STICHT | SENIOR ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $456,053 | $44,934 |
| STEVEN ANDERSEN | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Key employee | 40 | $453,436 | $45,815 |
| ROBERT POPPER | SENIOR ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $370,864 | $38,917 |
| TIMOTHY GRAY | CONTROLLER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $323,806 | $37,973 |
| MICHAEL BEKESHA | ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $320,393 | $40,288 |
| THORNTON NOBILE | SENIOR ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $300,474 | $49,490 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS J FITTON | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $1,028,398 | $48,485 |
| PAUL J ORFANEDES | TREASURER, SECRETARY, DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $840,861 | $36,446 |
| CHRISTOPHER J FARRELL | DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS Trustee or director | 40 | $791,940 | $42,855 |
| ROBERT PATRICK STICHT | SENIOR ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $422,055 | $43,298 |
| STEVEN ANDERSEN | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Key employee | 40 | $416,775 | $43,797 |
| JOHN ALBERTELLA | DIRECTOR OF DIRECT MARKETING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $346,411 | $35,815 |
| ROBERT POPPER | SENIOR ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $343,978 | $36,652 |
| MICHAEL BEKESHA | ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $297,739 | $33,440 |
| THORNTON NOBILE | SENIOR ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $275,618 | $46,413 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS J FITTON | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $643,921 | $45,981 |
| PAUL J ORFANEDES | TREASURER, SECRETARY, DIRE Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $598,387 | $34,636 |
| CHRISTOPHER FARRELL | DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS Trustee or director | 40 | $506,281 | $40,671 |
| ROBERT PATRICK STICHT | SENIOR ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $387,383 | $41,114 |
| STEVEN ANDERSEN | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Key employee | 40 | $375,390 | $41,613 |
| ROBERT POPPER | SENIOR ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $318,721 | $33,429 |
| JOHN ALBERTELLA | DIRECTOR OF DIRECT MARKETI Highest-paid employee | 40 | $311,906 | $33,954 |
| MICHAEL BEKESHA | ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $268,290 | $30,907 |
| THORNTON NOBEL | SENIOR ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $252,709 | $43,455 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 425 3RD ST SW STE 800, WASHINGTON, DC 20024-3232
- In care of
- % THOMAS FITTON
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- THOMAS J FITTON, 425 3RD STREET SW 800, WASHINGTON, DC 20024
- Signed the 990
- THOMAS J FITTON, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (202) 646-5172
- Website
- WWW.JUDICIALWATCH.ORG
- Return prepared by
- CALIBRE CPA GROUP PLLC
Mission
TO PROMOTE INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT AND FIDELITY TO THE RULE OF LAW THROUGH PUBLIC ADVOCACY, LITIGATION AND MONITORING AND INVESTIGATING FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND OFFICIALS, AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES.
Program accomplishments
- PUBLIC EDUCATION - JUDICIAL WATCH FULFILLS ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION BY DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ABOUT ITS PUBLIC ADVOCACY, LITIGATION, MONITORING AND INVESTIGATIONS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, AND EMAIL UPDATES AND BLOGS, AS WELL AS REGULAR MAILINGS, PERIODIC SPECIAL REPORTS AND OTHER PUBLIC OUTREACH EFFORTS.Expenses $26,790,794 · grants $87,900
- LEGAL - JUDICIAL WATCH PROSECUTES NUMEROUS LAWSUITS, TYPICALLY ON ITS OWN BEHALF BUT ALSO ON BEHALF OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES, TO PROMOTE INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT AND FIDELITY TO THE RULE OF LAW. JUDICIAL WATCH HAS PROSECUTED OR DEFENDED LAWSUITS IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS PUBLIC INTEREST MISSION AND OBTAINED MANY NOTEWORTHY SUCCESSES.Expenses $7,248,434 · revenue $56,267
- INVESTIGATIONS/RESEARCH - JUDICIAL WATCH MONITORS AND INVESTIGATES THE ACTIONS OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, TYPICALLY USING OPEN RECORDS LAWS SUCH AS THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. JUDICIAL WATCH HAS SERVED OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS AND SECURED THE RELEASE OF PREVIOUSLY UNDISCLOSED GOVERNMENT RECORDS INTO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. JUDICIAL WATCH ALSO MAINTAINS DATABASES OF THE RECORDS IT OBTAINS AND MAKES THESE RECORDS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.Expenses $2,890,810
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
- 52-1885088
- 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
- 1995
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Public and societal benefit (W00M)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $592,877,324
- Income (IRS master file)
- $200,113,511
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $102,272,691 | $57,429,395 | $592,877,324 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $127,656,836 | $55,292,045 | $502,896,231 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $104,336,382 | $53,230,384 | $412,582,707 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $102,787,643 | $57,385,244 | $325,494,421 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | 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 52-1885088).
Questions about JUDICIAL WATCH INC
- What is the EIN of JUDICIAL WATCH INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of JUDICIAL WATCH INC is 52-1885088.
- Is JUDICIAL WATCH INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1995.
- Are donations to JUDICIAL WATCH INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does JUDICIAL WATCH 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 JUDICIAL WATCH 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 JUDICIAL WATCH 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 JUDICIAL WATCH INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names THOMAS J FITTON.
- Who are the officers and directors of JUDICIAL WATCH INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 9 people; 9 received compensation from the organization, the highest $1,157,336 (THOMAS J FITTON, PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does JUDICIAL WATCH INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $102,272,691, expenses of $57,429,395 and total assets of $592,877,324 at year end.
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