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State Policy Network
State Policy Network reported $18.7 million in revenue and $23.6 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.83 went to program services, $9.30 to management and general costs and $13.87 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 92.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $487,953 (PRES & CEO TILL 9/25, CEO EMERITUS). 34 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 10% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $24MFor context, the median across 132 covered civil rights, social action & advocacy charities: $84.11 programs, $11.40 management, $4.49 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 $19MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.8% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 13.9% | 4.4% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.19 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 92.5% | 94.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 4.0% | 0.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $487,953 | $321,771 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.06% | 1.81% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 34 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 9.1 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseCatalyze multi-State Policy solutions: spn empowers a nationwide network of independent think tanks to collaborate on state and community challenges, conduct rigorous research, and promote proven policy solutions nationwide. Through strategic grants, hands-on support, and fostering deep collaboration among state leaders, spn accelerates innovative reforms that strengthen self-governance and expand opportunities for americans
Build and strengthen state-based durable freedom infrastructure: through targeted training, coaching, grants, and peer-to-peer collaboration, spn accelerates the growth and impact of high-performing state-based organizations and leaders. By connecting state leaders and equipping them to defend federalism, advance free-market reforms, and champion community-driven solutions, spn ensures policy changes take root, endure, and ultimately improve the lives of americans
Advance practical federalism: spn equips policymakers with training, information, and practical tools to resist federal overreach and implement solutions tailored to their communities. By empowering states to act as laboratories of democracy, spn ensures policy decisions are shaped by the people closest to the challenges
Highest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRES & CEO TILL 9/25, CEO EMERITUS Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $458,493 | $0 | $29,460 | $487,953 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT UNTIL 12/25 Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $320,136 | $0 | $10,185 | $330,321 |
| SENIOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $310,140 | $0 | $12,406 | $322,546 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $246,168 | $0 | $28,751 | $274,919 |
| EXECUTIVE VP Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $256,131 | $0 | $10,245 | $266,376 |
| V.P. OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $211,165 | $0 | $26,435 | $237,600 |
| M.D. OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $213,965 | $0 | $17,010 | $230,975 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF EVENT STRATEGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $207,105 | $0 | $8,004 | $215,109 |
34 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from State Policy Network (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.6M (Part IX, line 5).
7 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–1b9 · 8 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 11aNo
- 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 568
- Volunteers Part I, line 68
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SHERATON NEW ORLEANS HOTEL Annual conference venue host | $1,021,439 |
| MISSION FIRST OPERATIONS Accounting and finance support | $242,080 |
| ROCKWELL SOLUTIONS LLC Direct mail services/marketing | $217,578 |
| HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INC Exec. Search and leadership consulting s | $194,207 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 15 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
66 private foundations reported grants to State Policy Network totaling $10M 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 State Policy Network's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for State Policy Network, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 State Policy Network spent in 2025, $76.83 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Americans United for Separation of Church and StateWashington, DC · revenue $19M · programs 66.5% · FY2025
- Priorities USA FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $19M · programs 96.2% · 2024
- Arise Child & Family ServiceSyracuse, NY · revenue $18M · programs 87.5% · FY2024
- The Asian American FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $19M · programs 84.3% · 2024
- Students for Life of AmericaFredericksburg, VA · revenue $18M · programs 81.4% · 2025
All civil rights, social action & advocacy charities · Largest charities in Virginia
Questions people ask
How much of State Policy Network's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, State Policy Network reported that 76.8% of its $23.6 million in expenses went to program services, 9.3% to management and general and 13.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does State Policy Network pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation State Policy Network reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $487,953, for the role of PRES & CEO TILL 9/25, CEO EMERITUS (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does State Policy Network get its money?
Of $18.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 92.5% came from contributions and grants and 4.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is State Policy Network a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 57-0952531 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, 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 202612549349300726 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202501959349301335 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202441789349301504 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202321929349300837 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202232039349300043 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202132239349300728 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202002679349300840 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 57-0952531: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.