The Mitre Corporation
Overview
Mission
MITRE acts in the public interest by delivering objective, cost-effective solutions to many of the world's biggest challenges, operating federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) and providing technical expertise, stability, and continuity to government agency sponsors. MITRE was established to advance national security in new ways and serve the public interest as an independent adviser. We continue to deliver on that promise every day, applying our systems-thinking approach to provide solutions that enhance our national security and way of life. Our mission-driven people come to work at MITRE to make a difference. We give them that opportunity by fostering a vibrant and diverse community of thought that drives a culture of innovation. Our non-profit status sets us apart. Motivated by impact, our people discover new possibilities, create unexpected opportunities, and...
What it reported doing in 2024
Mitre national security (mns) bridges applied science and mission-specific needs to advance the nation's security. Mns operates in the public interest by helping the u.s. Government advance the national security and national defense strategies, and address the most pressing security challenges facing our country. Mns includes the national security engineering center (nsec) federally funded research and development center which mitre has operated on behalf of the department of war (dow) for over 65 years. Mns delivers mission-critical capabilities, accelerates commercial solutions, promotes enterprise-level outcomes, and enhances system interoperability within the dow and the nation's intelligence community.
Operating model
- Revenue model
- Donor-supported. 99% of the money available for current operations came from contributions.
- Distribution model
- Direct operator. The nonprofit carried out 100% of its reported program work directly.
- Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 042239742
- IRS 990 coverage
- 2009–2024
- Website reviewed
- Jun 2026
- Forms available
- Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
- Headquarters
- Mclean, VA, USA
- Rating
- 74
- Verdict
- SUPPORTED
- Rating confidence
- Moderate
- Sector
- Public, Societal Benefit
The verdict
SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and most voting board members are independent. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and the filing does not identify recipients for some grant dollars.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: 88
- Transparency & Controls: 51
- Accountability: 81
- Sustainability: 42
- Growth: 100
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: 86.7%; rating input score 87
- Program expense ratio: 89.3%; rating input score 89
- Fundraising efficiency: Limited
Transparency & Controls
- Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 19th percentile among comparable filings
- Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
- Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
- Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
- Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
- Related-party transparency: Limited
- Public monitoring controls: 0 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 0
- Public policy transparency: 1 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 14
- Public financial transparency: 0 of 5 controls in place; rating input score 0
- Impact reporting controls: 0 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 0
- Public relationship transparency: No; rating input score 0
Accountability
- Independent voting board: 78.6%; rating input score 79; 25th percentile among comparable filings
- Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
- Public governance controls: 1 of 4 controls in place; rating input score 25
- Zakat policy transparency: Limited
Sustainability
- Operating margin: 3%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
- Operating reserve ratio: 0.49; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.31; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
- Officer compensation ratio: 1.4%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: 4% per year; rating input score 100; 31st percentile among comparable filings
- Revenue growth: 3.5% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings
- Asset growth: 5.1% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
Details
- What they do: 1 operating location identified
- Where the money goes: 86.7% of revenue deployed · 89.3% of spending went to programs
- Governance: 11 of 14 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
- Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $2.1B in reported program spending
- Leadership: top reported pay $6M · 47 people listed · 5 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
- Consistency: 32 of 33 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
- Schedules: 9 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, and executive pay
- Filing history: 16 annual filings from 2009 to 2024
- Money network: 47 filed money-flow records
- Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.