Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center reported $46.3 million in revenue and $48.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $92.44 went to program services, $6.21 to management and general costs and $1.35 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $651,772 (Board Member & Pew Charitable Trusts SVP). 91 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 0% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $48MFor context, the median across 54 covered social science charities: $84.80 programs, $13.80 management, $1.40 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $46MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 92.4% | 81.3% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.2% | 13.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.4% | 1.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.9% | 81.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 4.4% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $651,772 | $467,896 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.35% | 2.13% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 91 | 19 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 11.7 | 16.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 7 of 8 | 96.5% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseWe are a non-partisan organization that uses impartial, fact-based public opinion polling and other data-driven research tools to inform the public about the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the world. Below is a listing of the Center's research topics. Data labs research: We use computational methods (big data) to complement and expand on the Center's existing research agenda to further our understanding of the public's views online and their electronic trails of behavior. Global attitudes & trends research: We conduct comparative, international research on an array of subjects, ranging…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board Member & Pew Charitable Trusts SVP Director/trustee, 2.0 hrs/week | $0 | $580,015 | $71,757 | $651,772 |
| President Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $510,158 | $0 | $76,816 | $586,974 |
| Executive Vice President Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $339,256 | $0 | $76,301 | $415,557 |
| Vice President, Methods & Innovation Key employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $285,981 | $0 | $61,385 | $347,366 |
| Vice President, Research Key employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $270,364 | $0 | $64,363 | $334,727 |
| Director, Religion Research Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $265,064 | $0 | $67,034 | $332,098 |
| Vice President, Communications Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $268,898 | $0 | $47,000 | $315,898 |
| Director, Political Research Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $271,892 | $0 | $42,758 | $314,650 |
91 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Pew Research Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.3M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b8 · 7 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5195
- Volunteers Part I, line 67
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| AUS Marketing Research Systems Inc Survey | $4,392,910 |
| Ipsos Public Affairs Inc Survey | $2,131,431 |
| Langer Research Associates LLC Survey | $1,870,964 |
| Gallup Inc Survey | $1,295,324 |
| National Opinion Research Center Survey | $1,011,481 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 17 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to Pew Research Center totaling $100 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Pew Research Center's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Pew Research Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Pew Research Center spent in FY2025, $92.44 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Global Poverty ProjectNew York, NY · revenue $45M · programs 85.8% · 2024
- National Bureau of Economic ResearchCambridge, MA · revenue $47M · programs 70.2% · FY2025
- Rsf Social FinanceSan Francisco, CA · revenue $41M · programs 98.8% · 2024
- Mercatus CenterArlington, VA · revenue $48M · programs 90.3% · FY2025
- African Population & Health Research CenterRockville, MD · revenue $40M · programs 85.5% · 2024
All social science charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Pew Research Center's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Pew Research Center reported that 92.4% of its $48.2 million in expenses went to program services, 6.2% to management and general and 1.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Pew Research Center pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Pew Research Center reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $651,772, for the role of Board Member & Pew Charitable Trusts SVP (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Pew Research Center get its money?
Of $46.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 99.9% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Pew Research Center a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 20-0881724 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202611039349301816 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202510999349301816 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401239349301405 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202301159349301140 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231309349301108 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131059349301598 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 20-0881724: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.