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American-Scandinavian Foundation

EIN 13-1623897 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN-SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION IS A PUBLICLY-SUPPORTED NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE NORDIC COUNTRIES (DENMARK, FINLAND, ICELAND, NORWAY AND SWEDEN). ASF OFFERS FELLOWSHIPS, CULTURAL GRANTS, TRAINING/INTERNSHIPS, PUBLICATIONS, EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS REINFORCING THE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE TWO REGIONS, AND HONORING THEIR SHARED VALUES AS WELL AS APPRECIATING THEIR DIFFERENCES.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
42
Volunteers
61
Highest pay
$320,807, 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    61 of 62 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 (4)
  1. $3.5 million spent. TRAINING AND FELLOWSHIP - FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS FROM THE AMERICAN SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION WERE AWARDED ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS TO AMERICANS FOR STUDY OR RESEARCH IN DENMARK, FINLAND, ICELAND, NORWAY, AND SWEDEN AND TO SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U.S. AND RECOMMENDED BY ASF'S COOPERATING ORGANIZATIONS IN EACH OF THE NORDIC COUNTRIES THE RECIPIENTS REPRESENTED A VERY BROAD RANGE OF FIELDS AND UNIVERSITIES AND WERE AT THE GRADUATE, POST-GRADUATE, OR PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. IN ADDITION, THE ASF MADE PUBLIC PROJECT GRANT TO EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS TO BRING SCANDINAVIAN CULTURE AND IDEAS TO VENUES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. OVER THE YEAR, THESE GRANTS SUPPORTED NORDIC PROJECTS IN VARIOUS STATES. THE TRAINING AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM HELPS YOUNG SCANDINAVIANS AND AMERICANS RECEIVE PRACTICAL WORK EXPERIENCE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. (Expenses $ 152,724 including grants of $) Membership.
  2. $2.0 million spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS - SCANDINAVIA HOUSE CONTINUES TO BE A VITAL CENTER FOR CULTURAL PROGRAMS AND EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE U.S. AND THE FIVE NORDIC COUNTRIES. MORE THAN 100 EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS WERE PRESENTED DURING THE YEAR. PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDED WEEKLY SCREENINGS OF SCANDINAVIAN FILMS, MUSICAL PERFORMANCES, LECTURES, PRESENTATIONS, LANGUAGE CLASSES, EXHIBITIONS AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAM.
  3. $118,549 spent. PUBLICATIONS - THE AMERICAN-SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION PUBLISHES VARIOUS CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS BOTH ONLINE AND IN PRINT. (Expenses $ 152,724 including grants of $) Membership.
  4. $152,724 spent. Membership.

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 November 6, 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 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 May 1920.

    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 November 4, 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.