COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

Q055

Classification

2800

Street

58 E 68TH ST

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 · 2024

• THE DAVID ROCKEFELLER STUDIES PROGRAM: CFR'S THINK TANK ANALYZES PRESSING GLOBAL CHALLENGES AND OFFERS ACTIONABLE STEPS THAT POLICYMAKERS AND CITIZENS CAN TAKE TO ADDRESS THEM. THE MORE THAN SEVENTY FULL-TIME AND ADJUNCT FELLOWS IN STUDIES COVER ALL THE WORLD'S MAJOR REGIONS AND SIGNIFICANT FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES. IN ADDITION TO PRODUCING BOOKS, ARTICLES, OP-EDS, BLOGS, PODCASTS, AND INTERACTIVES, THE STUDIES PROGRAM ADMINISTERS ELEVEN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS. CFR STRIVES TO MAINTAIN ROBUST DIVERSITY OF VIEWPOINTS AMONG ITS SCHOLARS AND FELLOWS. CFR TAKES NO INSTITUTIONAL POSITIONS ON MATTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY.

  Expenses $35,382,000 · Grants $2,066,458

• FOR OVER 100 YEARS, FOREIGN AFFAIRS HAS BEEN THE LEADING FORUM FOR SERIOUS DISCUSSION OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS. IT IS NOW A MULTIPLATFORM MEDIA ORGANIZATION WITH A PRINT MAGAZINE, A WEBSITE, A MOBILE SITE, A PODCAST, APPS AND SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS. THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY, FOREIGN AFFAIRS HAS STAYED TRUE TO ITS MISSION PUBLISHED IN THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE MAGAZINE IN 1922: "FOREIGN AFFAIRS WILL DEAL WITH QUESTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL INTEREST TODAY. THEY WILL COVER A BROAD RANGE OF SUBJECTS, NOT ONLY POLITICAL BUT HISTORICAL AND ECONOMIC. IN PURSUANCE OF ITS IDEALS FOREIGN AFFAIRS WILL NOT DEVOTE ITSELF TO THE SUPPORT OF ANY ONE CAUSE, HOWEVER WORTHY. LIKE THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS FROM WHICH IT HAS SPRUNG IT WILL TOLERATE WIDE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) ITS ARTICLES WILL NOT REPRESENT ANY CONSENSUS OF BELIEFS. WHAT IS DEMANDED OF THEM IS THAT THEY SHALL BE COMPETENT AND WELL INFORMED, REPRESENTING HONEST OPINIONS SERIOUSLY HELD AND CONVINCINGLY EXPRESSED."

  Expenses $13,733,100 · Revenue $12,419,100

• PRODUCT, DESIGN, AND ENGINEERING (PDE) DESIGNS, DEVELOPS, AND MAINTAINS PRODUCTS THAT SERVE THE COUNCIL'S MISSION TO IMPART A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AMONG ITS MEMBERS AND OTHER INTERESTED CITIZENS. WE COLLABORATE WITH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNCIL TO SET AND EXECUTE THE DIGITAL VISION FOR CFR.ORG, AS WELL AS A MEMBER SERVICES PORTAL. WE ARE COMMITTED TO USER-CENTRICITY IN OUR APPROACH, ITERATION IN OUR IMPLEMENTATION, AND STABILITY IN OUR SITES AND SERVICES. CFR.ORG CONTINUES TO BE A LEADING SOURCE OF TIMELY ANALYSIS ON CRITICAL FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES. THE WEBSITE'S MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS INCLUDE INCLUDE THE GLOBAL CONFLICT TRACKER (GCT), AN NTERACTIVE DASHBOARD CREATED AND MAINTAINED BY THE CENTER FOR PREVENTIVE ACTION, WHICH TRACKS AND ANALYZES ARMED CONFLICTS (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) AROUND THE WORLD IN REAL TIME, AND CFR BACKGROUNDERS, WHICH PROVIDE AUTHORITATIVE, ACCESSIBLE, AND REGULARLY UPDATED PRIMERS ON HUNDREDS OF FOREIGN POLICY TOPICS.

  Expenses $11,966,700

• ALL OTHER PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIESCFR'S WEBSITE, CFR.ORG, IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS TO ITS VARIOUS AUDIENCES. THE SITE PUBLISHES A RICH VARIETY OF TYPES OF CONTENT, INCLUDING THE DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS, BACKGROUNDERS, INTERVIEWS, PODCASTS, OPINION PIECES, FULL TEXT OF PUBLICATIONS FROM THE THINK TANK, RESOURCES IN SUPPORT OF THE VARIOUS OUTREACH INITIATIVES, VIDEOS AND TRANSCRIPTS OF ON-THE-RECORD MEETINGS AND SEMINARS AND MORE. THE SITE ALSO PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY AND ACTIVITIES OF CFR IN NEW YORK AND AT ITS WASHINGTON D.C. OFFICE. THE STEPHEN M. KELLEN TERM MEMBER PROGRAM ENCOURAGES PROMISING YOUNG LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT, MEDIA, NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, LAW, BUSINESS, FINANCE, AND ACADEMIA TO ENGAGE IN A SUSTAINED CONVERSATION ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS THESE YOUNGER MEMBERS TO INTERACT WITH SEASONED FOREIGN-POLICY EXPERTS AND PARTICIPATE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF EVENTS DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR THEM. EACH YEAR A NEW CLASS OF TERM MEMBERS, BETWEEN THE AGES OF 30 AND 36, IS ELECTED TO A FIVE-YEAR MEMBERSHIP TERM. THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS SPONSORS INDEPENDENT TASK FORCES TO ASSESS ISSUES OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO U.S. FOREIGN POLICY. DIVERSE IN BACKGROUNDS AND PERSPECTIVES, TASK FORCE MEMBERS WORK TO REACH MEANINGFUL CONSENSUS ACROSS PARTISAN LINES ON MATTERS OF POLICY. SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN 1995, TASK FORCES HAVE BECOME A TRADEMARK OF THE COUNCIL.STUDENTS TODAY LIVE IN A WORLD MORE CONNECTED THAN AT ANY POINT IN HISTORY, WHERE COMPLEX FOREIGN POLICY MATTERS AND TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES SUCH AS TRADE, PANDEMICS, AND SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS REQUIRE YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP GLOBAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS LITERACY CAPABILITIES. THE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND PERSPECTIVE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR COMPLICATED AND FASCINATING WORLD WORKS IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. TO ADDRESS THIS CURRICULAR GAP, SINCE 2015, CFR EDUCATION HAS DEVOTED ITSELF TO THIS VITAL WORK, DEVELOPING AWARD-WINNING CLASSROOM PRODUCTS DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM.IN REGARDS TO OUTREACH INITIATIVES, THE COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO REACHING OUT TO DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES SO THAT THEY BETTER UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AND THE FOREIGN POLICY CHOICES FACING THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS. CFR IS DEVOTING MORE TIME AND ENERGY TO CONNECTING WITH AND SERVING AS A RESOURCE FOR GROUPS OF INTERESTED CITIZENS WHOSE VOICES ARE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL FOREIGN POLICY DEBATE. THESE CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDE HIGHER EDUCATION EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS; RELIGIOUS AND CONGREGATIONAL LEADERS; AND STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS; AND LOCAL JOURNALISTS. CFR'S ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS ARE A NATIONAL PROGRAM, A CORPORATE MEMBER PROGRAM AND A GLOBAL BOARD OF ADVISORS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE, WWW.CFR.ORG.TOTAL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:MEETINGS PROGRAM - $4,847,000EDUCATION - $4,017,700MEMBERSHIP - $2,444,300OUTREACH - $2,304,600NATIONAL PROGRAM - $1,900,300TERM MEMBER PROGRAM - $848,800 GLOBAL BOARD OF ADVISORS - $114,600TOTAL REVENUE ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:MEMBERSHIP DUES (NON-CONTRIBUTION) - $17,831,800

  Expenses $16,477,300 · Revenue $11,942,240

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

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

The first 25 listed. 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

• 2024

  Revenue

  $99,083,520

  Expenses

  $104,175,520

  Contributions

  $54,022,860

  Grants paid

  $2,066,458

• 2023

  Revenue

  $79,154,300

  Expenses

  $94,313,900

  Contributions

  $48,522,049

  Grants paid

  $1,983,150

• 2022

  Revenue

  $106,930,600

  Expenses

  $83,166,400

  Contributions

  $63,113,857

  Grants paid

  $1,482,882

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

• 2023 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2022 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $102,605,000

  Expenses

  $79,073,100

  Assets (EOY)

  $674,171,200

• 2021 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $105,317,000

  Expenses

  $71,871,100

  Assets (EOY)

  $732,861,700

• 2020 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $82,005,700

  Expenses

  $76,901,700

  Assets (EOY)

  $624,235,700

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $140,136,300

  Expenses

  $76,407,300

  Assets (EOY)

  $626,323,700

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $94,192,500

  Expenses

  $73,694,100

  Assets (EOY)

  $597,246,200

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

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $8,578,955

  2024 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

  $2,605,250

  2023 · International Development

• SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

  $2,600,200

  2024 · International Development

• NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR

  $2,134,500

  2024 · INTERNATIONAL

• JEWISH COMMUNAL FUND

  $1,898,500

  2022 · IN FURTHERANCE OF GRANTEE'S TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE

• SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

  $1,505,250

  2022 · International Development

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $1,078,950

  2022 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• FORGOOD INC

  $1,065,164

  2022 · UNRESTRICTED

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $1,026,550

  2023 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• FORGOOD INC

  $945,547

  2024 · UNRESTRICTED

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

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