Home › Public & societal benefit
The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives
The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives reported $12.0 million in revenue and $8.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $71.96 went to program services, $18.79 to management and general costs and $9.25 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $261,282 (SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 116% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $8.9MFor context, the median across 185 covered public & societal benefit charities: $88.81 programs, $11.18 management, $0.01 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $12MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 72.0% | 84.9% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.8% | 10.7% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.3% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.6% | 83.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $261,282 | $357,133 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.94% | 1.52% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 12 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.3 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 9 | 100.0% |
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 expensePolicy analysis: the Commonwealth Foundation conducts vigorous research to develop data-driven free-market policy solutions, in addition to offering analysis of existing policies and programs, disseminating these resources through our public affairs and government affairs programs
Government affairs: the Commonwealth Foundation works directly with lawmakers, elected officials, and their teams to educate them and advocate for free-market policies through meetings, briefings, and other formats, including email, mail, and hand delivery to the state capitol
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $226,810 | $0 | $34,472 | $261,282 |
| CHIEF POLICY OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $221,195 | $0 | $16,145 | $237,340 |
| DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $122,930 | $0 | $20,585 | $143,515 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF LABOR POLICY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $113,659 | $0 | $29,623 | $143,282 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF POLICY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $125,070 | $0 | $10,777 | $135,847 |
| DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $111,660 | $0 | $14,939 | $126,599 |
| DIGITAL MARKETING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $118,469 | $0 | $4,739 | $123,208 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $108,804 | $0 | $4,352 | $113,156 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (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–1b9 · 9 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 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 544
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RED EDGE LLC Advertising and promotion | $629,952 |
| PYRAMID CONSTRUCTION Buildout and construction services | $339,505 |
| THE BULLFINCH GROUP Polling and research services | $130,955 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
8 private foundations reported grants to The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives totaling $1.8M 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 The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives spent in FY2025, $71.96 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Air & Space Forces Aid SocietyArlington, VA · revenue $12M · programs 82.8% · 2024
- Vts IndustriesSpring Valley, CA · revenue $12M · programs 64.3% · FY2025
- Amvets Department of California Service FoundationGarden Grove, CA · revenue $12M · programs 85.1% · 2024
- EarthworksWashington, DC · revenue $12M · programs 75.2% · 2025
- Murmuration Research InstituteNew York, NY · revenue $12M · programs 84.0% · 2024
All public & societal benefit charities · Largest charities in Pennsylvania
Questions people ask
How much of The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives reported that 72.0% of its $8.9 million in expenses went to program services, 18.8% to management and general and 9.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $261,282, for the role of SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives get its money?
Of $12.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 97.6% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-2473845 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 September 30, 2025, object 202632249349302518 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202532239349300708 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202412049349300041 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202302239349300605 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202222279349300907 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202132229349301868 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-2473845: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.