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National Association of Independent Schools Inc

EIN 04-2104741 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS THE LARGEST ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, NAIS CO-CREATES THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION BY UNITING AND EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO THIS THROUGH THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, RESEARCH, CREATION AND CURATION OF RESOURCES, AND DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH EDUCATION LEADERS.

Income
$27.3 million
Spending
$25.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
27.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
64
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$687,212, president

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: 96 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $8.2 million spent. INFORMATION, DATA AND RESEARCH: NAIS ADVANCES THE EFFECTIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS BY PROVIDING DATA, RESEARCH, AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP THAT INFORM INSTITUTIONAL AND SECTOR WIDE DECISION MAKING. THROUGH SURVEYS, RESEARCH REPORTS, BENCHMARKS, AND CURATED INSIGHTS, NAIS HELPS SCHOOL LEADERS UNDERSTAND TRENDS RELATED TO ENROLLMENT, STAFFING, GOVERNANCE, FINANCES, AND SCHOOL CLIMATE. THESE RESOURCES SUPPORT EVIDENCE BASED PLANNING AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND ARE USED BY THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL LEADERS, BOARDS, AND ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS NAIS'S MEMBERSHIP OF MORE THAN 2,000 SCHOOLS.
  2. $6.4 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, INCLUSION, AND THRIVING SCHOOLS: NAIS SUPPORTS INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS IN CULTIVATING HEALTHY, INCLUSIVE, AND CONNECTED COMMUNITIES THAT ENABLE STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND SCHOOL LEADERS TO THRIVE. THROUGH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES, CONFERENCES, INSTITUTES, AND DIAGNOSTIC RESOURCES, NAIS HELPS SCHOOLS STRENGTHEN BELONGING, FOSTER MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ASSESS SCHOOL CLIMATE AND WELL BEING ACROSS STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT SCHOOL LEADERS AND BOARDS IN UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES AND STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE. DURING THE RELEVANT PERIOD, COMMUNITY FOCUSED PROGRAMMING ENGAGED THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS NATIONWIDE. IN ADDITION, DIAGNOSTIC RESOURCES SUPPORTING SCHOOL CLIMATE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WERE USED BY NINE NAIS MEMBER SCHOOLS, GENERATING MORE THAN 3,000 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES FROM STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND OTHER SCHOOL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS WORK SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL THINKING AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS STUDENTS NEED FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL, WORK AND LIFE.
  3. $6.3 million spent. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING: THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (NAIS) ADVANCES EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP ACROSS INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRUSTEES, HEADS OF SCHOOL, ADMINISTRATORS, EDUCATORS, AND STAFF. THROUGH LARGE NATIONAL CONFERENCES, LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES, AND COHORT BASED PROGRAMS, NAIS STRENGTHENS GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP. DURING THE RELEVANT PERIOD, NAIS'S LARGEST MULTI DAY CONFERENCES SERVED THOUSANDS OF EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL LEADERS NATIONWIDE, WITH INDIVIDUAL EVENTS DRAWING MORE THAN 2,000 AND MORE THAN 6,000 PARTICIPANTS. IN ADDITION, HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL LEADERS PARTICIPATED IN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES AND COHORT BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT SUPPORT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS ROLES, CAREER STAGES, AND INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXTS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1963.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.