COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

58 E 68TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10065-5953

In care of

% KEITH OLSON

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

MICHAEL FROMAN, 58 EAST 68TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10065

Signed the 990

JENNIFER PEREZ, CFO & TREASURER

Phone

(212) 434-9400

Website

WWW.CFR.ORG

Return prepared by

GRANT THORNTON ADVISORS LLC

Mission

THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS (CFR) IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION, THINK TANK, AND PUBLISHER DEDICATED TO BEING A RESOURCE FOR ITS MEMBERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, BUSINESS EXECUTIVES, JOURNALISTS, EDUCATORS AND (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Program accomplishments

• 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

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

13-1628168

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1927

Accounting year ends

June

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

International, foreign affairs and national security (Q055)

Assets (IRS master file)

$816,713,200

Income (IRS master file)

$265,841,500

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 13-1628168).

Questions about COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC

What is the EIN of COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC?

The employer identification number (EIN) of COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC is 13-1628168.

Is COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1927.

Are donations to COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.

Who is the principal officer of COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names MICHAEL FROMAN.

Who are the officers and directors of COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 59 people; 22 received compensation from the organization, the highest $1,352,711 (MICHAEL FROMAN, PRESIDENT).

How much revenue does COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC have?

On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $99,083,520, expenses of $104,175,520 and total assets of $816,713,200 at year end.

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