American Petroleum Institute
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE (API) IS TO PROMOTE SAFETY ACROSS THE INDUSTRY GLOBALLY AND TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICY IN SUPPORT OF A STRONG, VIABLE U.S. OIL AND NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY.
- Income
- $252.3 million
- Spending
- $255.4 million
- Employees
- 372
- Volunteers
- 20,000
- Highest pay
- $6.2 million, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (6)
- ADVOCACY - API SPEAKS FOR THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY TO THE PUBLIC, CONGRESS, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, STATE GOVERNMENTS AND THE MEDIA. API NEGOTIATES WITH REGULATORY AGENCIES, REPRESENTS THE INDUSTRY IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, PARTICIPATES IN COALITIONS AND WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ASSOCIATIONS TO ACHIEVE OUR MEMBERS' PUBLIC POLICY GOALS.
- RESEARCH & STATISTICS - API CONDUCTS OR SPONSORS ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH IN SUPPORT OF FREE MARKETS, INFORMS COST-EFFECTIVE REGULATION, AND PROMOTES ECONOMIC GROWTH. WE COLLECT, MAINTAIN AND PUBLISH STATISTICS AND DATA ON ALL ASPECTS OF U.S. INDUSTRY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR VARIOUS PRODUCTS, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS, DRILLING ACTIVITIES AND COSTS, AND WELL COMPLETIONS. THIS DATA PROVIDES TIMELY INDICATORS OF INDUSTRY TRENDS. API'S WEEKLY STATISTICAL BULLETIN IS THE MOST RECOGNIZED PUBLICATION, WIDELY REPORTED BY THE MEDIA.
- STANDARDS - SINCE 1924, API HAS LED THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE THAN 800 PETROLEUM, NATURAL GAS AND PETROCHEMICAL EQUIPMENT AND OPERATING STANDARDS. THESE REFLECT THE INDUSTRY'S COLLECTIVE EXPERTISE AND ACCEPTED GOOD PRACTICES. ADDRESSING EVERYTHING FROM DRILL BITS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, THEY ADVANCE SAFETY, EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. API STANDARDS ARE RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE FOR THEIR TECHNICAL RIGOR AND GLOBAL IMPACT, WITH MANY INCORPORATED INTO FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS. DEVELOPED THROUGH A CONSENSUS-DRIVEN PROCESS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ANSI), THEY ARE THE MOST WIDELY CITED STANDARDS BY THE INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY COMMUNITY.
- CERTIFICATION - EACH DAY, THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY DEPENDS ON EQUIPMENT TO PRODUCE, REFINE AND DISTRIBUTE ITS PRODUCTS. THE EQUIPMENT USES ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, ALLOWING THE INDUSTRY TO OPERATE IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE AND EFFICIENT MANNER. API'S STANDARDS SUPPORT THAT EFFORT, PROVIDING TECHNICAL GUIDANCE THAT ALIGNS WITH INDUSTRY GOOD PRACTICES, BUT API'S ROLE EXTENDS BEYOND PUBLISHING TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS. THROUGH ITS CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, API PROVIDES A STRUCTURED, VERIFIABLE WAY FOR COMPANIES TO DEMONSTRATE CONFORMANCE TO THOSE STANDARDSAND TO BUILD CREDIBILITY IN A HIGH-STAKES, HIGHLY SCRUTINIZED INDUSTRY.
- EVENTS AND TRAINING - API ORGANIZES SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIA ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES. THROUGH API-U, WE PROVIDE TRAINING MATERIALS TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS BUSINESS MEET REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS.
- SAFETY - THE CENTER FOR OFFSHORE SAFETY IS AN INDUSTRY SPONSORED PROGRAM THAT WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE TOOLS, PEER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, GOOD PRACTICES AND SUPPORT FOR COMPANIES OPERATING ON THE U.S. OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF. API'S SYSTEM PROGRAMS SAFETY ASSESSMENTS, INCLUDING THE PROCESS SAFETY SITE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (PSSAP) AND THE PIPELINE SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SMS) ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, PROVIDE FOR INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT BY CREDIBLE, THIRD-PARTY SAFETY EXPERTS OF A REFINERY'S (PSSAP) OR AN OPERATOR'S (PIPELINE SMS) SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS BASED UPON API'S STANDARDS AND RECOMMENDED PRACTICES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1938.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.