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JUDICIAL WATCH INC

EIN 52-1885088 WASHINGTON, DC

Browse the largest nonprofits in District of Columbia

Revenue 2025
$102,272,691
Expenses 2025
$57,429,395

Program services were 64.3% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
W00M
Classification
2000
Street
425 3RD ST SW STE 800

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

TO PROMOTE INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT AND FIDELITY TO THE RULE OF LAW THROUGH PUBLIC ADVOCACY, LITIGATION AND MONITORING AND INVESTIGATING FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND OFFICIALS, AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO PROMOTE INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT AND FIDELITY TO THE RULE OF LAW THROUGH PUBLIC ADVOCACY, LITIGATION, AND MONITORING AND INVESTIGATING FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND OFFICIALS, AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES.

  • PUBLIC EDUCATION - JUDICIAL WATCH FULFILLS ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION BY DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ABOUT ITS PUBLIC ADVOCACY, LITIGATION, MONITORING AND INVESTIGATIONS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, AND EMAIL UPDATES AND BLOGS, AS WELL AS REGULAR MAILINGS, PERIODIC SPECIAL REPORTS AND OTHER PUBLIC OUTREACH EFFORTS.

    Expenses $26,790,794 · Grants $87,900

  • LEGAL - JUDICIAL WATCH PROSECUTES NUMEROUS LAWSUITS, TYPICALLY ON ITS OWN BEHALF BUT ALSO ON BEHALF OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES, TO PROMOTE INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT AND FIDELITY TO THE RULE OF LAW. JUDICIAL WATCH HAS PROSECUTED OR DEFENDED LAWSUITS IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS PUBLIC INTEREST MISSION AND OBTAINED MANY NOTEWORTHY SUCCESSES.

    Expenses $7,248,434 · Revenue $56,267

  • INVESTIGATIONS/RESEARCH - JUDICIAL WATCH MONITORS AND INVESTIGATES THE ACTIONS OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, TYPICALLY USING OPEN RECORDS LAWS SUCH AS THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. JUDICIAL WATCH HAS SERVED OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS AND SECURED THE RELEASE OF PREVIOUSLY UNDISCLOSED GOVERNMENT RECORDS INTO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. JUDICIAL WATCH ALSO MAINTAINS DATABASES OF THE RECORDS IT OBTAINS AND MAKES THESE RECORDS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

    Expenses $2,890,810

As filed on the 2025 return.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Thomas J Fitton

    PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $1,208,119
    From this org
    $1,157,336
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,783
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $1,105,511
    Bonus
    $50,695
    Other
    $1,130
    Deferred
    $17,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,283
    Filer's total
    $1,208,119

  • Paul J Orfanedes

    TREASURER, SECRETARY, DIRE

    Total calculated
    $969,995
    From this org
    $931,891
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,104
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $890,677
    Bonus
    $40,084
    Other
    $1,130
    Deferred
    $17,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,604
    Filer's total
    $969,995

  • Christopher J Farrell

    DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS

    Total calculated
    $934,582
    From this org
    $889,401
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $45,181
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $849,274
    Bonus
    $38,997
    Other
    $1,130
    Deferred
    $17,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $27,681
    Filer's total
    $934,582

  • Steven Andersen

    DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $499,251
    From this org
    $453,436
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $45,815
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $432,094
    Bonus
    $20,212
    Other
    $1,130
    Deferred
    $17,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,315
    Filer's total
    $499,251

  • Robert Patrick Sticht

    SENIOR ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $500,987
    From this org
    $456,053
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $44,934
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $434,607
    Bonus
    $20,325
    Other
    $1,121
    Deferred
    $17,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $27,434
    Filer's total
    $500,987

  • Robert Popper

    SENIOR ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $409,781
    From this org
    $370,864
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,917
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $353,813
    Bonus
    $15,925
    Other
    $1,126
    Deferred
    $17,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,417
    Filer's total
    $409,781

  • Timothy Gray

    CONTROLLER

    Total calculated
    $361,779
    From this org
    $323,806
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $37,973
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $308,477
    Bonus
    $14,203
    Other
    $1,126
    Deferred
    $16,487
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,486
    Filer's total
    $361,779

  • Thornton Nobile

    SENIOR ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $349,964
    From this org
    $300,474
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $49,490
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $285,548
    Bonus
    $13,796
    Other
    $1,130
    Deferred
    $16,015
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,475
    Filer's total
    $349,964

  • Michael Bekesha

    ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $360,681
    From this org
    $320,393
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,288
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $305,209
    Bonus
    $14,054
    Other
    $1,130
    Deferred
    $16,314
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,974
    Filer's total
    $360,681

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2025
    Revenue
    $102,272,691
    Expenses
    $57,429,395
    Contributions
    $82,279,727
    Grants paid
    $87,900
  • 2024
    Revenue
    $127,656,836
    Expenses
    $55,292,045
    Contributions
    $98,265,048
    Grants paid
    $56,500
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $104,336,382
    Expenses
    $53,230,384
    Contributions
    $95,625,471
    Grants paid
    $60,500
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $102,787,643
    Expenses
    $57,385,244
    Contributions
    $102,070,631
    Grants paid
    $53,000
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $102,787,643
    Expenses
    $57,385,244
    Contributions
    $102,070,631
    Grants paid
    $53,000

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2024 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $124,212,420
    Expenses
    $57,474,581
    Assets (EOY)
    $318,633,562

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $109,973,904
    Expenses
    $60,400,307
    Assets (EOY)
    $244,810,790

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $91,200,569
    Expenses
    $49,144,797
    Assets (EOY)
    $172,039,252

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $71,740,368
    Expenses
    $40,431,062
    Assets (EOY)
    $113,273,603

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $53,061,725
    Expenses
    $32,128,134
    Assets (EOY)
    $92,365,593

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $45,391,916
    Expenses
    $30,901,051
    Assets (EOY)
    $66,658,790

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $37,863,937
    Expenses
    $24,486,270
    Assets (EOY)
    $49,452,511

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $30,811,460
    Expenses
    $21,638,212
    Assets (EOY)
    $38,432,915

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $20,622,935
    Expenses
    $17,657,173
    Assets (EOY)
    $29,494,983

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 9 November 2026 and read 9 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2025, the newest we have parsed for this organization.