Project On Government Oversight
Meets Standards
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Project On Government Oversight meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
"to investigate and expose waste, corruption, abuse of power, and when the government fails to serve the public or silences those who report wrongdoing."
Year, State Incorporated:
1991, DC
Project On Government Oversight (POGO) reports that it works to achieve a more effective, ethical, and accountable federal government that safeguards constitutional principles. The organization's public policy advocacy explores and pushes for policy reforms in federal oversight, the defense sector, and the government’s national security and domestic policing powers. POGO's investigations and research team seeks to uncover systemic problems within the federal government through collecting information from whistleblowers, insiders, documents, and datasets to bring corruption and abuse of power to light. In addition, the organization's Congressional Oversight Initiative provides congressional staff with resources and knowledge to perform their oversight responsibilities more effectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, Project On Government Oversight's program expenses were:
Lobbying: $39,730
General program and policy: $2,406,966
General investigations and research: $539,779
Center for Defense Information: $473,883
Pentagon Accountability: $473,560
The Constitution Project: $412,241
Customs and Border Protection Oversight: $387,040
Congressional Oversight Initiative: $335,406
Program Integrity Alliance: $255,377
Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion: $252,480
Transparency in Federal Spending: $243,124
Census Project: $233,361
Civic engagement: $84,088
Surveillance Oversight: $72,375
Freedom of Information Act litigation: $38,749
Total Program Expenses: $6,248,159
Chief Executive
Danielle Brian, President and Executive Director
Compensation*
$251,440
Chair of the Board
Lisa Baumgartner Bonds
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Vice President, Advancement and Communications, First Peoples Fund
Board Size
14
Paid Staff Size
58
*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Radio
POGO incurred joint costs of $95,036 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $85,782 was allocated to program expenses and $9,254 was allocated to fundraising expenses.
Fundraising costs were 10% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $8,230,837, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Project On Government Oversight's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Source of Funds
| Foundation grants | $5,938,670 |
| Contributions | $2,247,862 |
| Realized and unrealized gain on investments, net | $945,625 |
| Interest and dividend income, net | $257,581 |
| In-kind contributions | $44,305 |
| Other income | $15,994 |
| Total Income | $9,450,037 |
Programs: 79% Fundraising: 11% Administrative: 10%
| Total Income | $9,450,037 |
| Total expenses: | $7,872,924 |
| Program expenses | $6,248,159 |
| Fundraising expenses | $849,969 |
| Administrative expenses | $774,796 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $1,577,113 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $11,280,955 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $12,858,068 |
| Total Liabilities | $386,644 |
| Total Assets | $13,244,712 |
Note: According to POGO's 2024 audited financial statements, the organization received $44,305 in donated legal services.
An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
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Standards Not Met
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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance