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American Society of Civil Engineers

EIN 04-2103915 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong97 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS SECTION/ASCE (BSCES) IS THE OLDEST ENGINEERING ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES. FOUNDED IN 1848, BSCES IS A MEMBER-BASED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION FOCUSING ON TECHNICAL PROGRAMS, EVENTS AND INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS AND BENEFIT THE CIVIL ENGINEERING PROFESSION. BSCES ENHANCES THE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF ITS MEMBERS, NURTURES FUTURE ENGINEERS, ADVANCES ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE, AND SERVES AS AN ADVOCATE, TRUSTED ADVISOR, AND STEWARD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT INVESTMENT IN SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.

Income
$715,976
Spending
$703,528
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
24.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
0
Volunteers
200

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $488,698 spent. THIS PAST YEAR BSCES HELD 25 EVENT WEBINARS, TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS, SOCIAL/NETWORKING ACTIVITIES, SPECIAL FUND EVENTS, STUDENT COMPETITION/MAJOR OUTREACH EVENTS, MULTI DAY TRAINING COURSES, STUDENT CHAPTER MEETINGS, SINGLE DAY WORKSHOPS, YOUNGER MEMBER GROUP SPONSORED COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES, AWARDS DINNERS, STUDENT DINNERS, AND A FALL AND SPRING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER REFRESHER COURSE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  2. $31,112 spent. ISSUED 100 BROADCAST EMAILS IN SUPPORT OF BSCES PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.
  3. $21,330 spent. BSCES MEMBERS ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN EFFORTS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AND THE PROJECTS THEY UNDERTAKE. MEMBERS HOST ANNUAL STUDENT CONTESTS, CONDUCT BRIDGE TOURS AND MAKE CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF K-12 STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1975.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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