The Norml Foundation

Analysis

The Norml Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in October 1997, 29 years ago. Its declared purposes cover civil rights, social action and advocacy, which this site groups under human rights and equality. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, The Norml Foundation reported income of $186k and spending of $269k, spending 145% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2018 to December 2023, income fell from $297k to $186k (-37%), an average of -11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2019, when income dropped by 25%. Over the whole period it spent 128% of the income it received.

Among 9,611 United States charities whose main cause is human rights and equality and that reported income, The Norml Foundation sits at the 43rd percentile: it is larger than about 43% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 52nd percentile, and in the 28th percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Florida Bar Foundation Endowment Trust ($186k), Greater Brockton Center for Dispute Resolutions Inc ($186k) and Civil Grand Jurors Association of California ($185k).

On its Form 990-EZ for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 45% and program service revenue 34% of the total. At year end it held assets of $43k against liabilities of $809k, net assets of -$765k.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.