Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← BARRY GOLDWATER INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by BARRY GOLDWATER INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH.

Totals

Total revenue
$12,677,478
Total expenses
$8,162,349
Contributions and grants received
$11,437,596
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$379,882
Investment income
$843,246
Other revenue
$16,754
Total assets, end of year
$44,169,498
Total liabilities, end of year
$380,949
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$43,788,549
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,736,317
Management and general expenses
$444,390
Fundraising expenses
$981,642
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,736,317

Program services were 82.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $337,072

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $11,100,524

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $3,420,790

  • 2a · Program service revenue: LITIGATION COST REIMB

    total $379,882 · related or exempt $379,882

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,184,139 · excluded $1,184,139

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $41,263,218

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $41,604,111

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$340,893

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$340,893 · excluded -$340,893

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $75,948

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $337,072

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $61,728

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $14,220 · excluded $14,220

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $1,437

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $1,437 · related or exempt $1,437

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $1,097 · excluded $1,097

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $1,097

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $660,931 · program services $570,076 · management and general $27,405 · fundraising $63,450

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,412,745 · program services $2,945,673 · management and general $140,992 · fundraising $326,080

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $80,841 · program services $69,524 · management and general $3,233 · fundraising $8,084

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $260,363 · program services $222,414 · management and general $11,729 · fundraising $26,220

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $283,683 · program services $244,989 · management and general $11,858 · fundraising $26,836

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $91,621 · program services $80,837 · management and general $10,784

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $42,317 · management and general $42,317

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $530,057 · program services $530,057

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $132,163 · fundraising $132,163

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $10,509 · management and general $10,509

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $555,543 · program services $304,430 · management and general $71,697 · fundraising $179,416

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $774,133 · program services $761,495 · management and general $525 · fundraising $12,113

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $259,907 · program services $240,308 · management and general $980 · fundraising $18,619

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $55,236 · program services $49,149 · management and general $1,520 · fundraising $4,567

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $115,837 · program services $96,600 · management and general $4,803 · fundraising $14,434

  • 17 · Travel

    total $156,693 · program services $129,215 · management and general $1,509 · fundraising $25,969

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $86,303 · program services $86,203 · fundraising $100

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $153,110 · program services $127,683 · management and general $6,349 · fundraising $19,078

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $53,110 · management and general $53,110

  • 24a · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $187,026 · program services $129,284 · management and general $29,458 · fundraising $28,284

  • 24b · Other expenses: LITIGATION CENTER COST

    total $141,613 · program services $141,613

  • 24c · Other expenses: EVENTS

    total $82,071 · program services $6,367 · management and general $81 · fundraising $75,623

  • 24d · Other expenses: BANK & CREDIT CARD FEES

    total $18,647 · management and general $3,295 · fundraising $15,352

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $17,890 · program services $400 · management and general $12,236 · fundraising $5,254

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $493,541 · end of year $460,641

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,229,200 · end of year $1,653,455

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $749,672 · end of year $62,158

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $1,915,805

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $47,991 · end of year $67,849

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $4,389,427

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $3,004,472

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $1,486,837 · end of year $1,384,955

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $34,605,612 · end of year $38,614,171

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $97,059 · end of year $10,464

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $585,576 · end of year $380,949

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $28,043 · end of year $0

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $12,650,393 · end of year $15,248,812

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $25,445,900 · end of year $28,539,737

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THROUGH RESEARCH, INVESTIGATIONS, STRATEGIC LITIGATION, TESTIMONY, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE ADVANCES PUBLIC POLICY AND A RULE OF LAW UNDER WHICH INDIVIDUALS CAN SHAPE THEIR OWN DESTINIES AS FREE MEN AND WOMEN. WE HELP CITIZENS UNDERSTAND AND ADOPT POLICIES THAT SUSTAIN AND RESTORE ECONOMIC LIBERTY, EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS ON GOVERNMENT POWER CONSISTENT WITH THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC. WHEN GOVERNMENT OVERSTEPS ITS PROPER BOUNDS, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE USES PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION TO ENFORCE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND CONSTRAINTS ON GOVERNMENT POWER GUARANTEED BY OUR STATE AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE DRIVES RESULTS BY WORKING DAILY IN COURTS, LEGISLATURES, AND COMMUNITIES... THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE DRIVES RESULTS BY WORKING DAILY IN COURTS, LEGISLATURES, AND COMMUNITIES TO DEFEND AND STRENGTHEN THE FREEDOM GUARANTEED TO ALL AMERICANS IN THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALL FIFTY STATES.

  • POLICY ANALYSIS, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE CONDUCTS SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF STATE-LEVEL PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AND COMMUNICATES THAT RESEARCH TO THE PUBLIC. OUR PRIMARY AREAS OF RESEARCH INCLUDE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, EDUCATION REFORM, AND HEALTHCARE POLICY. IN 2024, WE DELIVERED 80 PUBLIC SPEECHES, DISTRIBUTED 8 POLICY REPORTS, AND TESTIFIED REGULARLY BEFORE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES. IN 2024, WE HAD 50 VICTORIES, WHICH INCLUDED POLICIES ADOPTED BY STATE LEGISLATURES NATIONWIDE AND FINAL DIRECT LITIGATION VICTORIES. GOLDWATER'S WORK SAFEGUARDS PATIENTS' RIGHT TO TRY CUTTING-EDGE, INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENTS (THE INSTITUTE'S ORIGINAL RIGHT TO TRY BECAME LAW IN 41 STATES BEFORE BEING SIGNED INTO FEDERAL LAW, AND 15 STATES HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED THE INSTITUTE'S EXPANSION). OTHER VICTORIES INCLUDE STATE LAWS THAT: ALLOW WORKERS LICENSED IN ONE STATE TO CONTINUE WORKING WHEN THEY MOVE TO A NEW STATE, WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY GETTING ANOTHER LICENSE TO DO THE SAME JOB (THIS REFORM IS LAW IN OVER HALF THE STATES AND IN WASHINGTON, D.C.); EMPOWER FAMILIES WITH GREATER EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS THAT FIT THEIR CHILDREN'S UNIQUE NEEDS (22 STATES HAVE APPROVED PROGRAMS BASED ON GOLDWATER'S EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS); RESTORE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES TO THEIR ORIGINAL PURPOSE WHILE CRACKING DOWN ON IDEOLOGICAL DOGMATISM AND RACE-BASED PREFERENCES; END JUDICIAL DEFERENCE TO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES AND BUREAUCRACIES AND PROVIDE MORE PROTECTIONS FOR THE RIGHT TO EARN A LIVING. THIS WORK WAS SUPPORTED IN PART THROUGH OUR RONALD REAGAN FELLOWS PROGRAM, WHICH DEVELOPS YOUNG TALENT BY TEACHING AND EMPLOYING 15 INTERNS AND LAW CLERKS.

    Expenses $3,436,394 · Revenue $1,437

  • PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION: THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE LITIGATES CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS, ON BEHALF OF AMERICANS WHO WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO DEFEND AGAINST THE HEAVY HAND OF GOVERNMENT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE OR EXPERTISE. WE DEFEND TAXPAYER AND PROPERTY RIGHTS, FREE SPEECH AND FREE ENTERPRISE, AND EDUCATIONAL CHOICE. WE ENFORCE CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS ON GOVERNMENT POWER. OUR CASES SEEK TO SET BROAD LEGAL PRECEDENTS TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS OF OUR CLIENTS AND ALL AMERICANS. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE ALSO MANAGES A SUCCESSFUL "LITIGATION BY LETTERHEAD" EFFORT, WHERE WE INDUCE GOVERNMENT TO CEASE UNLAWFUL ACTIONS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH INFORMATION BY LETTER, WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO COURT. IN 2024, WE HAD 41 ACTIVE LAWSUITS, AND WE ADVANCED CUTTING-EDGE LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP IN THE COURTS BY PARTICIPATING AS AMICUS CURIAE ("FRIEND OF THE COURT") IN 45 CASES. WE WON 21 LEGAL VICTORIES THROUGH DIRECT LITIGATION AND BY FILING AMICUS BRIEFS.

    Expenses $1,926,796 · Revenue $379,882

  • COMMUNICATIONS: IN 2024, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE CONTINUED TO CAPTURE NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION WITH INTERVIEWS AND NEWS REPORTS ABOUT ITS SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO DEFEND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE'S MEDIA RELATIONS EFFORTS ARE BUILT ON A MULTI-LEVEL STRATEGIC APPROACH THAT HARNESSES THE POWER OF ITS IN-HOUSE DIGITAL PLATFORMS, THE REACH OF TRADITIONAL MEDIA, AND THE VIRALITY OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO REACH AUDIENCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE RESULTS ARE SEEN BY COUNTLESS AMERICANS ON THE PAGES OF THE NATION'S MOST NOTABLE NEWSPAPERS AND MOST-WATCHED NEWS NETWORKS. GOLDWATER INSTITUTE EXPERTS AND CLIENTS PUBLISHED 87 OP-EDS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR IN 2024, IN OUTLETS THAT INCLUDED THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, FOX NEWS, NATIONAL REVIEW, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER, THE HILL, USA TODAY, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, THE TENNESSEAN, THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC, AND THE ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES, WHOSE COMBINED ONLINE CIRCULATION EXCEEDS 180 MILLION READERS PER MONTH. OUR EXPERTS WERE ALSO A REGULAR PRESENCE ON NATIONAL CABLE TV NEWS NETWORKS, NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO SHOWS, AND LOCAL BROADCAST TV AND RADIO, SHARING GOLDWATER'S WORK WITH AN EVEN WIDER AUDIENCE. ALL TOLD, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE MORE THAN DOUBLED ITS APPEARANCES ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, APPEARING 51 TIMES ON PROGRAMS INCLUDING FOX & FRIENDS, NEWSMAX SATURDAY AGENDA, NEWSNATION MORNING IN AMERICA, REAL AMERICA'S VOICE SPECIAL REPORT, SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP'S NATIONAL DESK, ABC 15 ARIZONA, TELEMUNDO ARIZONA, WLKY-TV IN KENTUCKY, AND WILKOW! ON SALEM NEWS CHANNEL. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE GARNERED MORE THAN 6,800 MENTIONS IN TRADITIONAL (PRINT, RADIO, TELEVISION, AND ONLINE) AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE DOES NOT JUST RELY ON OUTSIDE MEDIA OUTLETS TO DISSEMINATE ITS MESSAGE. IN 2024, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE LEVERAGED THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENGAGE AUDIENCES AND COMMUNICATE ITS MESSAGE, INCLUDING ON FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, X, INSTAGRAM, AND YOUTUBE. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE SHARED ORIGINAL ARTICLES, BLOG POSTS, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS, LEGAL AND POLICY RESEARCH, GRAPHICS, AND GOLDWATER INSTITUTE-PRODUCED VIDEOS ON ALL PLATFORMS. THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE'S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT RECEIVED OVER 600,000 IMPRESSIONS, AND ITS X ACCOUNT SURPASSED 520,000 IMPRESSIONS. ON YOUTUBE, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE'S VIDEOS RECEIVED OVER 85,000 VIEWS IN 2024, INCLUDING VIDEOS DISCUSSING TOPICS LIKE PROPERTY RIGHTS, FREE SPEECH, PARENTS' RIGHTS, AND EQUALITY.

    Expenses $1,373,127

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • ERIC CROWN

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • BARRY GOLDWATER JR

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • RANDY P KENDRICK

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • JOHN COTTON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • CHRISTOPHER GLEASON

    VICE CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • GROVER NORQUIST

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • CHARLES LAWRENCE

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • TOM HATTEN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • DOUGLAS DUCEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • VICTOR RICHES

    PRESIDENT/CEO

    Total calculated
    $299,338
    From this org
    $287,311
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,027
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $287,311
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,027
    Filer's total
    $299,338

  • ROGER ZETAH

    CFO/CORP SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $131,995
    From this org
    $104,829
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,166
    Hours/week
    40

  • CHRISTINA SANDEFUR

    EXECUTIVE VP

    Total calculated
    $229,598
    From this org
    $207,136
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,462
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $192,136
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,388
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,074
    Filer's total
    $229,598

  • TIMOTHY SANDEFUR

    VP FOR LITIGATION

    Total calculated
    $236,004
    From this org
    $213,428
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,576
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $205,428
    Bonus
    $8,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,628
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,948
    Filer's total
    $236,004

  • JONATHAN RICHES

    VP FOR LITIGATION & GENERAL COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $194,753
    From this org
    $186,766
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,987
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $186,766
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,477
    Nontaxable benefits
    $510
    Filer's total
    $194,753

  • MICHAEL BROWNFIELD

    DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $184,030
    From this org
    $163,386
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,644
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $158,386
    Bonus
    $5,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,638
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,006
    Filer's total
    $184,030

  • MATTHEW BEIENBURG

    DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION POLICY

    Total calculated
    $195,156
    From this org
    $166,987
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,169
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $156,987
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,646
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,523
    Filer's total
    $195,156

  • CHRISTOPHER THOMAS

    DIRECTOR OF LEGAL STRATEGY

    Total calculated
    $171,847
    From this org
    $165,231
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,616
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $159,231
    Bonus
    $6,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,106
    Nontaxable benefits
    $510
    Filer's total
    $171,847

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 7
THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED BONUS PAYMENTS BASED ON MEETING ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
21 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202532959349301033

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.