The Third Way Foundation
Also known as Progressive Policy Institute
The Third Way Foundation reported $11.3 million in revenue and $9.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $97.65 went to program services, $2.35 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 83.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $421,742 (Executive Director). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 18% between 2020 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $9.5MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $11MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 97.6% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.4% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 83.2% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $421,742 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.44% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 24.8 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 12 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseHighest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Director Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $387,000 | $0 | $34,742 | $421,742 |
| President Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $330,000 | $0 | $31,277 | $361,277 |
| Senior Advisor Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $293,843 | $0 | $29,168 | $323,011 |
| Chief Economist Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $240,000 | $0 | $26,027 | $266,027 |
| Vice President Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $240,000 | $0 | $26,027 | $266,027 |
| VP of Trade & Global Markets Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,000 | $0 | $27,357 | $246,357 |
| VP of Policy Development Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $193,333 | $0 | $25,560 | $218,893 |
| Senior Fellow Director/trustee, officer, 2.00 hrs/week | $59,000 | $0 | $0 | $59,000 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Third Way Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $776K (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
2025 · 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–1b12 · 9 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bNo
- 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 552
- Volunteers Part I, line 69
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Wuzzy Enterprises LLC Public Relations | $156,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
2 private foundations reported grants to The Third Way Foundation totaling $265K 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 Third Way Foundation'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 Third Way Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Third Way Foundation spent in 2025, $97.65 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Childrens Arts & Sciences WorkshopNew York, NY · revenue $11M · programs 90.6% · FY2025
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- TangramIndianapolis, IN · revenue $11M · programs 87.0% · FY2025
- Access Living of Metropolitan ChicagoChicago, IL · revenue $11M · programs 77.7% · FY2025
- Bucks County Free LibraryDoylestown, PA · revenue $11M · programs 90.9% · 2025
All unclassified charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of The Third Way Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The Third Way Foundation reported that 97.6% of its $9.5 million in expenses went to program services, 2.4% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Third Way Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Third Way Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $421,742, for the role of Executive Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Third Way Foundation get its money?
Of $11.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 83.2% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Third Way Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1629221 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 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202641179349300619 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202513029349302656 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202402819349301605 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302269349302075 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202241309349302269 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202131329349302708 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1629221: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.