The Reason Foundation
Only null% goes to programs Strong reserves Growing revenue
The Reason Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Los Angeles, California, registered in 1979, with $22,810,664 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B.
5737 Mesmer Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90230 EIN 95-3298239 Since 1979
Revenue (FY2024)
$22.8M
▼ 2.1% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2024)
$22.0M
Net assets
$22.0M
Employees
—
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
B
★★★★
Rated on 2 of 4 criteria — the rest aren't reported in this filing type.
Held down by its weakest criterion — a strong score on one criterion can't hide a weak one.
How the rating works →—Program efficiency40% of the ratingNo expense breakdown in filings
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. Not scored for The Reason Foundation— this filing type doesn't report it, and the rating simply skips it (never counts it against the organization). See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating12 mo reserves · +4% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For The Reason Foundation: 12 mo reserves · +4% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
—Governance25% of the ratingNot reported in this filing type
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. Not scored for The Reason Foundation— this filing type doesn't report it, and the rating simply skips it (never counts it against the organization). See the exact thresholds →
CTransparency10% of the rating2 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For The Reason Foundation: 2 of 5 disclosure signals earns a C on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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A live seal — it updates automatically when the grade changes and links donors to this verified profile.
Contact & location
- Address
- 5737 Mesmer Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90230
- City
- Los Angeles
- State
- California
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Educational Services
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $11.1M (FY2013) to $22.8M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $7.1MNet assets $22.0M
Operating margin
3.7%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$29.1M
Total liabilities
$7.1M
Net assets
$22.0M
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $22,810,664▼2.1% | $21,964,556▲10.6% | $21,966,537▲13.4% | $29,097,754▲13.5% | 990 |
| 2023 | $23,300,815▲50.7% | $19,863,540▲13.5% | $19,366,778▲44.0% | $25,642,938▲32.2% | 990 |
| 2022 | $15,456,947▲1.5% | $17,507,487▲16.9% | $13,445,246▼8.1% | $19,398,270▲12.6% | 990 |
| 2021 | $15,233,016▼1.9% | $14,980,930▲11.7% | $14,635,071▼12.1% | $17,225,914▼10.7% | 990 |
| 2020 | $15,534,857▼3.9% | $13,413,869▲2.6% | $16,651,262▲27.3% | $19,282,371▲27.0% | 990 |
| 2019 | $16,170,727▲16.3% | $13,074,096▼2.9% | $13,077,081▲39.5% | $15,187,245▲33.5% | 990 |
| 2018 | $13,905,315▲14.9% | $13,467,708▲6.1% | $9,372,200▲5.8% | $11,377,930▲5.6% | 990 |
| 2017 | $12,099,789▼4.8% | $12,690,715▲2.5% | $8,855,312▼0.7% | $10,773,512▲1.6% | 990 |
| 2016 | $12,708,165▲10.6% | $12,379,098▲17.3% | $8,920,845▲8.7% | $10,605,928▲8.4% | 990 |
| 2015 | $11,485,028▲9.7% | $10,553,564▲8.1% | $8,206,713▲15.2% | $9,780,910▲12.6% | 990 |
| 2014 | $10,473,482▼5.7% | $9,760,275▼2.5% | $7,121,580▲10.4% | $8,683,450▲6.3% | 990 |
| 2013 | $11,101,761 | $10,013,738▲11.9% | $6,448,773▲24.7% | $8,172,427▲12.4% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $8,952,656▲1.9% | $5,172,320▲6.0% | $7,273,642▼1.1% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $8,784,862 | $4,878,003 | $7,352,487 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Grants received · $28.5M total
111 grants to The Reason Foundation totaling $28.5M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donors Trust Inc | For general operations | 2024 | $4,987,225 |
| Greater Horizons | Public, societal benefit | 2024 | $152,500 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Community & human services | 2024 | $100,000 |
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation | Community development | 2024 | $50,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $32,617 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $30,000 |
| Jewish Communal Fund | In furtherance of grantee's tax-exempt purpose | 2024 | $25,000 |
| Ayco Charitable Foundation | Medical / public services | 2024 | $11,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $10,780 |
| Ncta-the Internet & Television Association | 2024 general support | 2024 | $10,000 |
| T Rowe Price Program For Charitable Giving Inc | Multiple | 2024 | $6,800 |
| Donors Trust Inc | For general operations | 2023 | $5,209,585 |
| Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2023 | $2,647,850 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $1,437,347 |
| The Chicago Community Trust | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes | 2023 | $200,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is The Reason Foundation a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. The Reason Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 95-3298239, based in Los Angeles, California. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is The Reason Foundation's EIN?
- The Reason Foundation's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 95-3298239.
- How much revenue does The Reason Foundation report?
- The Reason Foundation reported $22,810,664 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- What financial grade does The Reason Foundation have?
- CharityIndex grades The Reason Foundation B, based on financial health (reserves and operating margin).
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Explore more
Data for The Reason Foundation (EIN 95-3298239) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.