Public Knowledge

Analysis

Public Knowledge is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 2002, 24 years ago. Its declared purposes cover public and societal benefit, which this site groups under other charitable purposes. 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, Public Knowledge reported income of $4.0m and spending of $3.2m, spending 80% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $1.8m to $4.0m (+128%), an average of +23% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2020, when income rose by 115%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 72,936 United States charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, Public Knowledge sits at the 90th percentile: it is larger than about 90% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile, and in the 77th percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Friends Boarding Home of Bucks Quarterly Meeting ($4.0m), Holy Cross Catholic High School ($4.0m) and Sistercare Inc ($4.0m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 98% and program service revenue 0.1% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $765k (24% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.3m. At year end it held assets of $7.2m against liabilities of $1.6m, net assets of $5.6m. It reported 23 employees.