Fiscal Policy Institute Inc

Overview

Mission

Committed to improving public policies and private practices to better the economic and social conditions of all new yorkers. Founded in 1991, fpi is committed to creating a strong economy in which prosperity is shared by all new yorkers.

What it reported doing in 2025

The fiscal policy institute is a nonpartisan research and education organization that focuses on the tax, budget, and economic issues that affect the quality of life and well-being of New York state residents. Fpi's work is intended to further the development and implementation of public policies that create a strong state economy in which prosperity is broadly shared. Fpi promotes public and governmental understanding of the fiscal and economic issues facing new yorkers by conducting and publishing research and analysis, disseminating its work in print, radio, television, and social media, and holding conferences and informational meetings, among other means of public education.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 94% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
141737256
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025
Headquarters
Albany, NY, USA
Phone
5187494625
Rating
70
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Public Finance, Taxation, Monetary Policy

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of total spending goes to programs and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and few specific pay-setting methods are documented in the filing; unanswered boxes are not proof of absence.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 60
  • Transparency & Controls: 65
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 66
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 43.6%; rating input score 44
  • Program expense ratio: 79.9%; rating input score 80
  • Fundraising efficiency: $94 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
    • Compensation committee: Missing
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Missing
    • Board or committee approval: Missing
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Limited
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 45.4%; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.7; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 21.5%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -2.2% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 1.6% per year; rating input score 100; 17th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 9.8% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 43.6% of revenue deployed · 79.9% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 9 of 9 board members independent · 7 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $620K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $167K · 11 people listed · 0 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Consistency: 27 of 27 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors and executive pay
  • Filing history: 15 annual filings from 2010 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Leadership & pay

11 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • NATHAN GUSDORF (EXEC DIRECTO): $166,604 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2025.