THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1946

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

PAUL SALEM

Phone

2027851141

Tax Period

2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE, founded in 1946, is a community nonprofit in the International Affairs sector that reported $6.7M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue decreased 12% compared to the prior year. Expenses of $8.4M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 26% operating deficit.

Mission

TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MIDDLE EAST AMONG CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND TO PROMOTE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF THESE TWO AREAS.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $4,325,980

CENTER FOR POLICY STUDIES: MEI EXPERTS RESEARCH AND EXPLORE FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES RELATED TO THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY PUBLISH AND COMMUNICATE THEIR FINDINGS THROUGH MEI'S COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AND THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA. THEY REGULARLY BRIEF POLICYMAKERS, US AND FOREIGN DIPLOMATS, AND THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON ISSUES IMPACTING THE MIDDLE EAST, AND HAVE ADVISED THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT INCLUDING CABINET SECRETARIES AND THE WHITE HOUSE. MEI'S POLICY PROGRAM HAS GROWN ALONG WITH ITS OVERALL FORWARD TRAJECTORY. IN RECENT YEARS, MEI HAS ADDED TRACK II DIPLOMACY, COUNTER TERRORISM, AND OTHER SPECIAL FOCUS AREAS THAT MONITOR ONGOING DEVELOPMENTS IN CRITICAL AREAS. MEI'S TELEVISION STUDIO ENABLES SCHOLARS TO JOIN BROADCAST PROGRAMS FASTER AND MORE FREQUENTLY, ALLOWING MEI TO PROVIDE REAL-TIME COMMENTARY ON BREAKING NEWS, AND TO ENSURE THAT MEI'S BALANCED ANALYSIS REACHES POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC.

Program 2

Expenses: $705,821

CENTER FOR ARTS AND CULTURE: SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2014, MEI'S ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON, D.C. HAS BECOME A DESTINATION FOR AUDIENCES INTERESTED IN THE MIDDLE EAST'S DYNAMIC ARTS SCENE. MEI PROMOTES THE WORK OF ARTISTS, WRITERS AND FILMMAKERS FROM THE REGION, CONNECTING DC AUDIENCES WITH THE MIDDLE EAST'S VIBRANT ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR.

Program 3

Expenses: $656,512 Revenue: $238,404

CENTER FOR EDUCATION: MEI PROVIDES ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF MIDDLE EAST ANALYSTS AND ENTHUSIASTS. MEI'S LANGUAGE PROGRAM PROVIDES INSTRUCTION IN ARABIC, TURKISH, HEBREW, FARSI, AND OTHER LANGUAGES, AND ITS REGIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM PROVIDES AN IN-DEPTH EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO THOSE SEEKING A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MIDDLE EAST.MEI'S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES HANDS-ON TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS TO TOP UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES WHO WORK ALONGSIDE MEI'S STAFF AND SCHOLARS ON RESEARCH PROJECTS, PUBLIC PROGRAMS, DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, AND EVENTS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $5,507,714

Program Service Revenue $347,998

Investment Income $926,079

Other Revenue $-114,665

TOTAL REVENUE $6,667,126

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $4,572,278

Fundraising Expenses $869,868

Program Expenses $6,120,420

Other Expenses $3,761,949

TOTAL EXPENSES $8,389,227

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2023	2022	Change
Revenue	$6,667,126	$7,537,295	-0.1%
Expenses	$8,389,227	$7,570,231	+0.1%
Net Income	$-1,722,101	$-32,936	+51.3%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

⚠ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✓ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$1,068,521

Total Directors

$346,748

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
PAUL ERNEST SALEM	PRESIDENT AND CEO	40.00	Officer Director	$296,117	$50,631	$346,748
JOHN ABIZAID	CHAIRMAN	3.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
MARJORIE ADAMS	VICE-CHAIRMAN	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
BRIAN HENDERSON	VICE-CHAIRMAN	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
ROBERT JORDAN	VICE-CHAIRMAN	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
HUDA ALKHAMIS-KANOO	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PATRICK BARRY	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
THOMAS CAMPBELL	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
GAIL DADY	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PAULA DOBRIANSKY	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ROBERT FARDI	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
NIJAD FARES	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SAMIA FAROUKI	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JEFFREY FELTMAN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
FADI GHANDOUR	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
GEORGE HOGUET	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JAMES HOLMAN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KARL HOPKINS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
LOUIS HUGHES	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
HUNTER HUNT	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ROBERT KAPLA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ANNE KEISER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DEBORAH LEHR	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MICHAEL LEVY	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
WALEED AL MUHAIRI	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN PEARSON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JAMES QUIGLEY	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
GEORGE SALEM	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MAGNUS SCHOLDTZ	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
TONI VERSTANDIG	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DAVID WELCH	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ROCHDI YOUNSI	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SUSAN ZIADEH	DIRECTOR UNTIL 04/2023	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN K HURLEY	DIRECTOR AS OF 10/2023	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KEVIN TAWEEL	DIRECTOR AS OF 10/2023	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
NADA HAMADEH	DIRECTOR AS OF 10/2023	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOE GEAGEA	DIRECTOR AS OF 10/2023	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOUMANA R AL RASHID	DIRECTOR AS OF 10/2023	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
TAMARA KALANDIYA	CFO/COO	40.00	Officer	$36,943	$9,746	$46,689
KATE SEELYE	SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT	40.00	Officer	$228,000	$13,291	$241,291
COURTNEY LOBEL	CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER	40.00	Officer	$239,080	$8,711	$247,791
THOMAS HALVORSEN	SECRETARY	40.00	Officer	$67,344	$3,672	$71,016
BAINDU CONTE-HARVEY	VP OF FINANCE	40.00	Officer	$102,820	$12,166	$114,986
BILAL SAAB	PROGRAM DIRECTOR	40.00	Highest	$189,203	$16,972	$206,175
BRIAN KATULIS	VICE PRESIDENT, POLICY CENTER	40.00	Highest	$196,650	$6,018	$202,668
MIRETTE F MABROUK	PROGRAM DIRECTOR	40.00	Highest	$158,830	$22,435	$181,265
CHARLES LISTER	SENIOR FELLOW/PROGRAM DIRECTOR	40.00	Highest	$142,785	$30,889	$173,674
GONUL TOL	SENIOR FELLOW/PROGRAM DIRECTOR	40.00	Highest	$144,808	$9,525	$154,333

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2024	No data	No data	No data	No data
2023	$6,667,126	$8,389,227	$33,393,990	$-1,722,101
2022	$7,537,295	$7,570,231	$32,481,084	$-32,936
2021	$7,193,589	$7,224,195	$35,038,211	$-30,606
2020	$5,723,487	$6,213,840	$33,862,595	$-490,353
2019	$4,616,349	$5,529,822	$32,735,340	$-913,473
2018	$4,201,501	$5,473,713	$31,517,676	$-1,272,212