Project on Government Oversight Inc
The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) is a nonpartisan, independent watchdog that investigates, exposes, and champions reforms on systemic corruption, abuse of power, and waste.
Project on Government Oversight Inc at a glance
In short: Project on Government Oversight Inc gave $50K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $50K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $50,000
- -80.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $50,000
- -80.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $12,689,381
- -4.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Project on Government Oversight Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Contina Impact ($50K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2025) to $255K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $50K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Contina Impact Berkeley, CA | Funding efforts to mobilize veterans for pro-democracy campaigns, focusing on issues like civil-military relations | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $12,689,381 | $8,142,704 | $9,049,932 | $50,000 | 1 | $498,539 |
| 2024 | $13,244,712 | $8,460,107 | $7,828,619 | $255,377 | 1 | $257,581 |
| 2023 | $11,690,657 | $7,933,632 | $7,959,144 | — | — | $263,198 |
| 2022 | $10,789,223 | $8,536,679 | $7,175,609 | — | — | $164,376 |
| 2021 | $10,347,584 | $8,659,768 | $7,160,867 | $76,792 | 3 | $483,435 |
| 2020 | $8,887,170 | $7,212,289 | $6,733,266 | $100,000 | 3 | $397,561 |
| 2019 | $7,725,825 | $5,952,921 | $5,866,032 | $85,000 | 2 | $150,648 |
About Project on Government Oversight Inc
Based on IRS filings
Project on Government Oversight Inc is a public charity focused on public and societal benefit, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $12.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $50K. Net investment income was $499K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Project on Government Oversight Inc is led by Danielle Brian, President & Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 7 of 23 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Danielle Brian
President & Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$164K (2019) → $214K (2025)
Lisa Baumgartner Bonds
Chair
Board Member → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Brockmyer
Director of Investigations
Director of Investigations & Research → Director of Investigations, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$130K (2023) → $142K (2025)
Keith Rutter
Secretary, Vice President of Administrator & Finance
Secretary, Executive Operating Officer & Executive → Secretary & Executive Operating Officer, 2024
Secretary & Executive Operating Officer → Secretary, Vice President of Administrator & Finance, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$141K (2019) → $167K (2025)
Ryan Alexander
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$70K (2023) → $0 (2025)
Scott Amey
General Counsel
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$135K (2019) → $165K (2025)
Tim Farnsworth
Vice President of Marketing
Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Organizational → Vice President of Marketing & Communications, 2023
Vice President of Marketing & Communications → Vice President of Marketing, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$117K (2019) → $142K (2025)
Miah Ulysse
Vice President of Programs
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$138K (2023) → $147K (2025)
Erica Spitale
Vice President of People & Culture
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$142K (2025)
Andrew Cockburn
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Armando Gomez
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Hunter
Board Member
Board Chair → Chair, 2020
Chair → Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debra Katz
Vice Chair
Board Vice Chair → Vice Chair, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nithi Vivatrat
Board Member
Board Member → Chair, 2021
Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Norm Ornstein
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lia Epperson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Sloan
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hina Shamsi
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeanine Abrams McLean
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Kase Solomon
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wallace Jefferson
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Johns
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Roth
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Chris Pabon (2024) — Director of Development
- Former: Dina Rasor (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Michael Cavallo (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Zoe Reiter (2021–2023) — Director of Strategic Initiatives
- Former: Anne Zill (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Henry Banta (2019–2022) — Board Member -
- Former: Walter Shaub (2021–2022) — Senior Ethics Fellow
- Former: Elizabeth Marx (2022) — Vice President of Policy & Gov't Affairs
- Former: David Hilzenrath (2019–2021) — Lead Enterprise & Investigative Representative
- Former: Sarah Chayes (2019–2021) — Board Member -
- Former: Rebecca Adamson (2021) — Board Member -
- Former: Justin Rood (2019–2020) — Director of Coi
- Former: Mandy Smithberger (2019–2020) — Director of Cdi
- Former: Mickey Edwards (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Liz Hempowicz (2020) — Director of Public Policy
- Former: Dan Olincy (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Ginny Sloan (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Pamela Gilbert (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $214K, to Danielle Brian (President/Exec. Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Project on Government Oversight Inc
How much does Project on Government Oversight Inc give each year?
Project on Government Oversight Inc gave $50K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $255K across 1 grant.
How large is Project on Government Oversight Inc?
Project on Government Oversight Inc reported $12.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.1M.
What is Project on Government Oversight Inc?
Project on Government Oversight Inc is a public charity focused on public and societal benefit, based in Washington, DC. It holds $12.7M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Project on Government Oversight Inc operate?
Project on Government Oversight Inc has awarded grants in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Michigan, Montana.
What is Project on Government Oversight Inc's EIN?
Project on Government Oversight Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1739443. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 8, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Project on Government Oversight Inc funds
Public, Societal Benefit Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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