Population Reference Bureau
Population Reference Bureau reported $11.4 million in revenue and $8.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $66.84 went to program services, $30.02 to management and general costs and $3.14 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was investment income: 47.9% of the total. Government grants made up 21.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $304,791 (President & CEO). 19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 18% 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 $8.1MFor 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 September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $11MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 66.8% | 81.3% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 30.0% | 13.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.1% | 1.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 38.2% | 81.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 21.3% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 13.9% | 4.4% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $304,791 | $467,896 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.77% | 2.13% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 19 | 19 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.9 | 16.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 14 | 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 expenseInternational Programs: PRB has a diverse portfolio of international work contributing to our goal of transforming population data into clear insight, credible evidence, and decisions that improve lives. Under the Momentum Knowledge Accelerator (MKA) project, PRB enhanced measurement of complex health topics and knowledge sharing among implementing partners and staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve maternal, child, and primary health outcomes in nearly 40 countries. Under the USAID PROPEL Health project, PRB produced the 2024 World Population Data Sheet, a…
U.S. Programs: Domestically, PRB works similarly as a bridge between data and decisions. PRB's KidsData program informs policymakers, advocates, public agencies, and nonprofits about the toughest issues impacting California's children and communities through more than 900 indicators including safety, health, education, and the economic security of California's children and youth. For the U.S. Census Bureau, PRB produced resources, maintained an online user community, and organized conferences and events that support American Community Survey data users. For the KIDS COUNT Data Book produced…
Communications Programs: By getting PRB's work in the hands of policymakers, advocates, educators, and the public, our communications efforts are a crucial element in transforming population insights to impact. PRB produces research bulletins, articles, infographics, and data-driven analyses on demographic trends and policy-relevant topics, making complex research accessible to broad audiences in the U.S. and around the world. PRB's website offers a wide range of freely available resources, including interactive data tools, and draws users seeking timely, objective population information. PRB…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $274,633 | $0 | $30,158 | $304,791 |
| Former Key Employee (Until 7/24) Former, 0.00 hrs/week | $231,630 | $0 | $12,386 | $244,016 |
| SVP Programs Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $220,886 | $0 | $15,242 | $236,128 |
| Sr Dir, Strategic Comms (Until 3/25) Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $173,642 | $0 | $40,947 | $214,589 |
| Sr Program Dir (Until 12/24) Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $188,157 | $0 | $23,526 | $211,683 |
| VP, Finance Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $181,082 | $0 | $19,618 | $200,700 |
| AVP US Programs Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $182,132 | $0 | $12,795 | $194,927 |
| Former Officer (Until 5/24) Former, 0.00 hrs/week | $143,079 | $0 | $19,902 | $162,981 |
19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Population Reference Bureau (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $797K (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–1b14 · 13 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 550
- Volunteers Part I, line 616
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses onlyIndividuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to Population Reference Bureau totaling $1.5M 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 Population Reference Bureau's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Population Reference Bureau, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Population Reference Bureau spent in FY2025, $66.84 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Grupo NexosSan Juan, PR · revenue $11M · programs 90.1% · 2024
- Institute for Family DevelopmentFederal Way, WA · revenue $11M · programs 89.5% · FY2025
- Midwestern Higher Education CompactMinneapolis, MN · revenue $11M · programs 82.2% · FY2025
- The Uli FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $11M · programs 79.3% · FY2025
- Behavioral Ideas LabWashington, DC · revenue $11M · programs 77.2% · 2024
All social science charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Population Reference Bureau's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Population Reference Bureau reported that 66.8% of its $8.1 million in expenses went to program services, 30.0% to management and general and 3.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Population Reference Bureau pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Population Reference Bureau reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $304,791, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Population Reference Bureau get its money?
Of $11.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 38.2% came from contributions and grants (including 21.3% from government grants) and 13.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Population Reference Bureau a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 53-0214030 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 202641669349301084 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202501789349301305 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202441649349300619 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202322269349303367 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202222279349301007 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202112249349300601 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 53-0214030: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.