Washington Monthly Institute

What it reported doing in 2025

While small local newspapers and big digital outlets alike have continued to downsize, the Washington monthly's media outlet is celebrating its 57th year of publication, still doing what fewer and fewer publications do today: telling fascinating, deeply reported groundbreaking stories about the problems preventing us from moving forward as a nation and providing the intellectual tools necessary to reform our government institutions and enhance their performance. No other outlet does a better job of looking at the ideas and characters that animate america's government, politics, and culture. Among the topics covered during 2025 again were: what to do about the increasing dominance of corporate goliaths; saving local journalism; reforming federal bureaucracies; congress and electoral reform; the people and ideas reshaping higher education; and vote-by-mail (a policy we have long advocated and championed);. The Washington monthly institute's work garnered national attention - in the media, on social media, and on capitol hill, where we hand-deliver three copies of each issue of our print magazine. We also continue to publish the widely acclaimed college guide and rankings, featuring deeply reported articles on higher education for undergrads, adult learners, and certificate seeks. The guide's rankings of colleges and universities are based on each institution's ability to enroll and graduate students of modest means while fostering community service and research production. Since these rankings were first published in 2005 they have steadily grown in influence and public awareness. The Washington monthly media outlet is known for having launched the careers of journalists who have risen to the pinnacle of the profession and continues to train young journalists who go on to populate the mainstream media. Featured stories and white papers highlight issues and frame arguments that are often picked up by other media outlets months or even years later, while our website (www.washingtonmonthly.com) provides online commentary and analysis that's informative, unique, and laser-focused on the challenging issues facing our democracy.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 80%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 85.7%; rating input score 86; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -47.4%; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.91; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 17.7%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.2% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.5% per year; rating input score 100; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 11.1% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings