THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC
2300 N ST NW STE 700, WASHINGTON, DC · IRS data through FY2024
Revenue, expenses and net assets
Revenue Expenses Net assets
| Tax year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | $443,841,184 | $234,264,178 | $647,073,118 |
| FY2023 | $232,109,335 | $225,738,675 | $408,226,171 |
| FY2022 | $189,761,926 | $192,935,305 | $372,126,339 |
| FY2021 | $171,246,686 | $143,773,765 | $412,433,435 |
| FY2020 | $151,262,821 | $129,125,686 | $352,230,552 |
| FY2019 | $152,108,136 | $145,905,329 | $308,313,120 |
| FY2018 | $134,132,712 | $143,100,716 | $278,760,839 |
| FY2017 | $129,329,186 | $136,995,834 | $288,875,450 |
| FY2016 | $120,298,699 | $114,454,026 | $272,912,151 |
| FY2015 | $142,854,526 | $101,379,117 | $258,977,577 |
| FY2014 | $96,464,217 | $91,362,830 | $215,411,267 |
| FY2013 | $93,242,479 | $82,126,112 | $206,501,203 |
| FY2012 | $95,477,286 | $72,751,605 | $186,003,930 |
| FY2011 | $73,292,367 | $73,880,949 | $157,727,639 |
Where the revenue came from
| Source | Amount | % of revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Contributions & grants | $381,262,788 | 89% |
| Program service revenue | $48,218,970 | 11% |
Where the money was spent
| Category | Amount | % of expenses |
|---|---|---|
| Program services | $185,499,114 | 79% |
| Management & general | $43,743,115 | 19% |
| Fundraising | $5,021,949 | 2% |
What the numbers show
- Contributions & grants made up 89% of total revenue in FY2024.
- Program services accounted for 79% of functional expenses, management & general 19%, and fundraising 2%.
- 79% of functional expenses went to program services in FY2024. That is higher than 40.8% of 49 Social Science organizations nationwide (too few in DC for a state comparison).
- Net assets covered about 33.1 months of expenses at the end of the reporting year. That puts it in the 77th percentile among 66 Social Science organizations in DC.
- Total revenue was higher than 101.5% of 66 Social Science organizations in DC.
- Total revenue rose from $73,292,367 in FY2011 to $443,841,184 in FY2024, Revenue increased in 10 and decreased in 3 of 13 year-over-year comparisons.
- Expenses exceeded revenue in 4 of 14 reported years (FY2011, FY2017, FY2018, FY2022).
- Net assets grew from $157,727,639 to $647,073,118 between FY2011 and FY2024.
- Contributions and grants made up 68% of revenue in FY2011 and 86% in FY2024.
- Donations are generally tax-deductible (public charity).
Figures compared against other organizations of the same NTEE program area in the same state. See the methodology page for how these are calculated and the guide to reading nonprofit financials for their limits.
About this organization
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE IGNITES HUMAN POTENTIAL TO BUILD UNDERSTANDING AND CREATE NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR A BETTER WORLD. WE DRIVE CHANGE THROUGH DIALOGUE, LEADERSHIP, AND ACTION TO HELP SOLVE THE GREATEST CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME IN SERVICE OF A MORE FREE, JUST, AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY.
IRS status
| Ruling year | 1951 |
| Subsection | 501(c)(3) |
| Classification | Public charity |
| Program area (NTEE) | V200 — Social Science |
| Donations | Donations are generally tax-deductible (public charity). |
Source: Internal Revenue Service — Exempt Organizations Business Master File (downloaded September 20, 2026), Statistics of Income extracts, Form 990 e-file data, Publication 78 and the Automatic Revocation list. Figures are as reported by the organization; IRS processing may adjust them. This is not a charity rating and not tax advice. Confirm deductibility in IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
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