NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROJECT INC
Cite this
Plain text NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROJECT INC. Strategy Studio, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2021–2023. https://strategystudio.org/org/843676773. Retrieved 2026-10-20.
APA Strategy Studio. (n.d.). NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROJECT INC [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2021–2023]. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://strategystudio.org/org/843676773
MLA “NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROJECT INC.” Strategy Studio, tax years 2021–2023, https://strategystudio.org/org/843676773. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.
Retrieved 2026-10-20; covers tax years 2021–2023. Data: Strategy Studio, CC BY 4.0.
2023 · Form 990 · revenue $100K · expenses $1.3M · assets $63K
- EIN
- 84-3676773
- Address
- 554 ELM ST, GLEN ELLYN, IL 60137-3848
- NTEE code
- W05
- Subsection
- 501(c)(3)
- Ruling year
- 2022
- Cross-check
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Mission
THE NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT POLICY THAT IS DRIVEN BY THE PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY AND FREE ENTERPRISE. THE NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROJECT CONDUCTS RESEARCH AND POLICY REVIEWS ON VARIOUS LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ISSUES, INCLUDING EDUCATION POLICY, PERFORMANCE AND FUNDING, JUDICIAL AND GOVERNMENT REFORM, AND FISCAL MATTERS.
Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).
People paid by the organization
3 people paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Latest year pay | Total pay from here | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Hughes | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 2021-2023 | $481,084 | $1,073,834 | 7 |
| Matthew Besler | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 2021-2023 | $345,937 | $1,006,805 | 4 |
| Mark Cavers | DIRECTOR | 2021-2023 | $153,350 | $563,379 | 3 |
Officers and directors, no compensation reported
2 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Hrs/wk (latest) | Compensation | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Jagoe | DIRECTOR | 2022-2023 | 1 | $0 reported | 2 |
| Dan Leary | DIRECTOR | 2022-2023 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
People by year
2023 · 5 people listed · 3 paid, $980K · 8 employees · 0 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICK HUGHES | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 30 | $289,084 | $192,000 | $0 | $481,084 | 7 |
| MATTHEW BESLER | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 10 | $120,832 | $225,105 | $0 | $345,937 | 4 |
| MARK CAVERS | DIRECTOR | 10 | $0 | $153,350 | $0 | $153,350 | 3 |
| DAN LEARY | DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| BEN JAGOE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 2 |
2022 · 5 people listed · 3 paid, $1.0M · 3 employees · 0 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICK HUGHES | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 30 | $263,750 | $197,000 | $0 | $460,750 | 7 |
| MATTHEW BESLER | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 10 | $54,158 | $300,105 | $0 | $354,263 | 4 |
| MARK CAVERS | DIRECTOR | 10 | $4,329 | $203,600 | $0 | $207,929 | 3 |
| DAN LEARY | DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| BEN JAGOE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 2 |
2021 · 3 people listed · 3 paid, $641K · 4 employees · 0 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MATTHEW BESLER | CHAIRMAN | 10 | $78,481 | $228,124 | $0 | $306,605 | 4 |
| MARK CAVERS | TREASURER | 10 | $53,300 | $148,800 | $0 | $202,100 | 3 |
| PATRICK HUGHES | SECRETARY | 1 | $0 | $132,000 | $0 | $132,000 | 7 |
Highest-paid independent contractors
No independent contractors reported.
Who gave
Contributor names are not public for this form type.
Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.
Finances
Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.
| Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Contributions | Program revenue | Officer pay | Employees | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $100,000 | $1,252,146 | $63,066 | $63,066 | $100,000 | $0 | $409,916 | 8 | 0 |
| 2022 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $1,933,331 | $509,073 | $1,231,881 | $1,215,212 | $1,933,331 | $0 | $263,750 | 3 | 0 |
| 2021 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $250,100 | $209,146 | $44,995 | $40,954 | $250,100 | $0 | $134,550 | 4 | 0 |
Funders of this organization
1 grantor reported grants to this organization, $10,000 in all, tax years 2024 to 2024. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV
| Grantor | Type | Match | Years given | Grants | Total | Latest year | Latest year's amount | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN F CUNEO JR FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROJECT INC” | 2024 | 1 | $10,000 | 2024 | $10,000 | show |
Similar organizations
Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)
| Organization | State | NTEE | Latest revenue | Latest expenses | Top-paid title | Top pay | Why similar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT INSTITUTE | OH | W05 | $86,249 | $98,751 | DIRECTOR | $4,000 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| TEXAS INDEPENDENT VOTER PROJECT | TX | W05 | $109,923 | $108,257 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| TEXAS POLICY RESEARCH INITIATIVE | TX | W05 | $60,433 | $84,828 | Director | $67,383 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x, similar mission |
| DEMOCRACY CORPS INC | DC | W05 | $111,777 | $108,870 | PRESIDENT/DI | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| GOVERN FOR CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION | CA | W05 | $69,833 | $61,963 | Pres/Director | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| OMEGA LABS INC | NC | W05 | $170,000 | $0 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| WISCONSIN PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP INC | WI | W05 | $189,498 | $45,287 | Director | $101,120 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| NC GO INC | NC | W05 | $97,962 | $121,671 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| NATIONAL SECURITY FORUM OF NORTHERN NEVADA INC | NV | W05 | $54,126 | $70,564 | Program Director and Board member | $22,913 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| FORWARD MOTION SOCIAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE | CA | W05 | $197,712 | $236,860 | Chairman | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| NEW MAJORITY FOUNDATION | CA | W05 | $110,552 | $91,772 | Chairman | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| FLORIDA CENTER FOR FISCAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY INC | FL | W05 | $124,877 | $138,062 | Director | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| METRO JUSTICE INC | NY | W05 | $62,617 | $60,989 | Lead Organizer | $14,117 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| MISSISSIPPI CIVIL DEFENSE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION INC | MS | W05 | $139,965 | $133,111 | ASSOC SEC/TREASURER | $2,400 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| IAM FOUNDATION | AZ | W05 | $176,430 | $93,426 | Director, Vice President | $36,000 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| EXPAND DEMOCRACY INC | MD | W05 | $79,162 | $70,247 | Senior Fellow | $58,000 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| ASIAN AMERICAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION | WA | W05 | $106,978 | $109,658 | President, Director of Board | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT INC | MA | W05 | $55,760 | $62,723 | President | $1,000 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| A BETTER CONNECTICUT INSTITUTE | CT | W05 | $51,006 | $67,860 | Executive Dir. | $40,338 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| CITIZENS AGAINST EXPANDED GAMBLING INC | WI | W05 | $59,241 | $155,728 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON INITIATIVE INC | DC | W05 | $192,686 | $172,342 | Director President Treasurer | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEATING REFRIGERATING & A-C ENGINEERS | FL | W05 | $87,507 | $70,141 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| ADVANCE OAKLAND | MI | W05 | $69,175 | $63,475 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| SOPHIA OXFORD INC | MA | W05 | $90,227 | $64,577 | MEMBER | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
| AMERICAN RESEARCH AND POLICY INSITUTE | DC | W05 | $130,946 | $127,701 | Executive Director | $0 | Same NTEE code W05, revenue within 2x |
Who funds organizations like this
Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).
The full list · all similar organizations
Where the money went
Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.
2023 · Form 990 · $1,252,146 spent · pay $922,916 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other salaries and wages | $800,027 | $416,794 | $96,300 | $286,933 | 63.9% | |
| Other (as described) | OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY | $208,893 | $208,893 | - | - | 16.7% |
| Other employee benefits | $61,842 | $32,219 | $7,444 | $22,179 | 4.9% | |
| Advertising and promotion | $58,662 | $58,662 | - | - | 4.7% | |
| Payroll taxes | $55,847 | $29,095 | $6,722 | $20,030 | 4.5% | |
| Fees: accounting | $19,025 | - | $19,025 | - | 1.5% | |
| Fees: legal | $13,263 | $13,263 | - | - | 1.1% | |
| Other (as described) | RENT, PARKING, UTILITIE | $8,863 | - | $8,863 | - | 0.7% |
| Travel | $7,226 | $7,226 | - | - | 0.6% | |
| Pension plan contributions | $5,200 | $2,709 | $626 | $1,865 | 0.4% | |
| Other (as described) | OFFICE SUPPLIES | $4,635 | $4,635 | - | - | 0.4% |
| Insurance | $4,548 | - | $4,548 | - | 0.4% | |
| All other expenses | $2,666 | $2,106 | $560 | - | 0.2% | |
| Other (as described) | MEALS AND ENTERTAINMENT | $1,449 | $1,449 | - | - | 0.1% |
| Total | $1,252,146 | 100% |
2022 · Form 990 · $509,073 spent · pay $308,947 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $263,750 | $79,125 | $26,375 | $158,250 | 51.8% | |
| Other (as described) | OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY | $163,979 | $163,979 | - | - | 32.2% |
| Other salaries and wages | $27,084 | $12,084 | - | $15,000 | 5.3% | |
| Fees: legal | $21,905 | $21,905 | - | - | 4.3% | |
| Payroll taxes | $16,290 | $5,109 | $1,477 | $9,704 | 3.2% | |
| Travel | $4,647 | $4,647 | - | - | 0.9% | |
| Other (as described) | INSURANCE | $3,168 | - | $3,168 | - | 0.6% |
| Fees: accounting | $2,375 | - | $2,375 | - | 0.5% | |
| Other (as described) | WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT | $2,143 | $2,143 | - | - | 0.4% |
| Other employee benefits | $1,823 | $572 | $165 | $1,086 | 0.4% | |
| Office expenses | $1,558 | $1,046 | $512 | - | 0.3% | |
| Other (as described) | SERVICE FEES | $280 | - | $280 | - | 0.1% |
| All other expenses | $71 | $71 | - | - | 0.0% | |
| Total | $509,073 | 100% |
2021 · Form 990 · $209,146 spent · pay $192,371 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $134,550 | $96,840 | $37,710 | - | 64.3% | |
| Other salaries and wages | $25,691 | $22,347 | $3,344 | - | 12.3% | |
| Payroll taxes | $14,050 | $10,450 | $3,600 | - | 6.7% | |
| Other employee benefits | $13,174 | $9,799 | $3,375 | - | 6.3% | |
| Occupancy | $12,000 | $10,800 | $1,200 | - | 5.7% | |
| Pension plan contributions | $4,906 | $3,649 | $1,257 | - | 2.3% | |
| Other (as described) | WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT | $1,797 | $1,797 | - | - | 0.9% |
| Fees: accounting | $1,295 | - | $1,295 | - | 0.6% | |
| Other (as described) | TRAVEL | $1,292 | $1,292 | - | - | 0.6% |
| Other (as described) | SERVICE FEES | $176 | - | $176 | - | 0.1% |
| Other (as described) | DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS | $150 | - | $150 | - | 0.1% |
| Office expenses | $48 | $40 | $8 | - | 0.0% | |
| Fees: legal | $17 | $17 | - | - | 0.0% | |
| Total | $209,146 | 100% |