American Compass: mission, leadership and finances
Think tank founded in 2020 that argues for a conservative economics centered on workers, families and industrial policy.
Organization
| Founded | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Washington, DC |
| EIN | 84-4031579 |
| Tax status | 501(c)(3) |
| Website | americancompass.org |
Finances (IRS Form 990)
| Total revenue | $2.5 million |
|---|---|
| Total expenses | $1.8 million |
| Total assets | $1.5 million |
| Tax year | 2023 |
What it does
American Compass is a Washington think tank that describes itself as restoring an economic consensus that emphasizes family, community and industry. It publishes essays, research and a regular commentary on labor, trade, industrial policy and the economy.
American Compass is listed here in the category "Think tanks". A listing on 4conservative.com describes an organization; it is not an endorsement of it or of its positions.
History
It was founded in 2020 by Oren Cass, a former policy director for a presidential campaign and an author who has written about the limits of market-centered conservatism. It has been prominent in debates over tariffs and worker-focused policy.
American Compass is a think tank. It is headquartered in Washington, DC. Its IRS tax status is 501(c)(3). Like other organizations in this collection, it is described here from its own published material and from public records, and the facts on this page are limited to what those sources state.
Leadership and funding
American Compass is funded by donors and files a Form 990, shown here. Its website lists its staff and advisers.
The IRS figures on this page come from the latest Form 990 filing that ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer lists for the organization, for tax year 2023: total revenue of $2.5 million, total expenses of $1.8 million and total assets of $1.5 million at year end. ProPublica lists the filer as American Compass Inc. The figures describe a single tax year and can differ sharply from year to year; check the filing itself and the organization's own site for the current picture.
Where it stands
American Compass argues that markets should serve the common good, and supports policies such as wage supplements, tariffs and industrial investment. These views differ from the free-trade orthodoxy of many older conservative groups.
These summaries reflect the organization's own stated mission and publicly known activities as of the date below; they are neutral descriptions, not evaluations. Related organizations on this site include The Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute, Manhattan Institute.
Sources
Profile last reviewed November 8, 2026