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English Speaking Union of the United States

EIN 13-1623995 · New York, NY

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO UTILIZE ENGLISH AS A CATALYST TO FOSTER GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING AND GOOD WILL BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND RECENT IMMIGRANTS.IN A SHRINKING WORLD DOMINATED BY DOLLARS AND DIGITS, UNPRECEDENTED NUMBERS OF DISPLACED PERSONS, THE ESU BELIEVES IN BUILDING A BETTER WORLD THROUGH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE. WE WORK TO INSPIRE COMMON BONDS, PERSON-TO-PERSON, ONE CONVERSATION, ONE PRESENTATION AND ONE EXCHANGE AT A TIME. BY PROMOTING CREATIVE AND CONFIDENT CIVIL DISCOURSE, WE ENABLE PARTICIPANTS TO RISE TO THEIR POTENTIAL AS INDIVIDUALS, THRIVE AS GLOBAL CITIZENS, AND JOIN WORLDWIDE IN PURSUING CONDITIONS FOR PEACE.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
55 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 57%
Employees
17
Volunteers
2,000
Highest pay
$107,283, controller

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: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 55.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $1.8 million spent. THE ANDREW ROMAY NEW IMMIGRANT CENTER (ARNIC):ANDREW ROMAY NEW IMMIGRANT CENTER (ARNIC) - IS A NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM EMPOWERS RECENT IMMIGRANTS WITH THE SKILLS, RESOURCES AND NETWORKS TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL LIVES IN THE U.S. IT OFFERS ENGLISH CLASSES, WEEKLY CONVERSATION PRACTICE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION.
  2. $514,702 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS - TRAVEL AND LEARN ABROAD: EDUCATORS AND LIFELONG LEARNERS: STUDY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE! LIVE AND LEARN ON THE FAMED CAMPUSES OF OXFORD AND EDINBURGH OR DISCOVER SHAKESPEARE IN THE CONTEXT THAT BROUGHT HIS WORKS TO LIFE - EXPLORING HIS HOMETOWN IN STRATFORD OR PERFORMING ON THE STAGE OF THE GLOBE THEATRE IN LONDON.SECONDARY SCHOOL EXCHANGE PROGRAM: SECONDARY SCHOOL EXCHANGE IS ONE OF THE ESU'S OLDEST EDUCATION PROGRAMS. FOUNDED IN 1928, THOUSANDS OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN STUDENTS HAVE ENJOYED ESU FELLOWSHIP AND STUDY ABROAD.LUARD MORSE SCHOLARSHIPS: SINCE 1969, THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION HAS PROVIDED LUARD MORSE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS ATTENDING HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS) TO STUDY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
  3. $190,503 spent. NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION - THE ESU NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION IS A PERFORMANCE-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAM. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DEVELOP ANALYTICAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS BY PERFORMING SHAKESPEARE AT THE SCHOOL, COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL LEVELS. SINCE 1983 MORE THAN 360,000 STUDENTS HAVE BROUGHT THE TIMELESS WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE TO LIFE.
  4. $269,128 spent. ENGLISH IN ACTION - HELPS LANGUAGE LEARNERS MASTER CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH. STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS MEET WEEKLY TO IMPROVE FLUENCY AND BUILD CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING. A HALLMARK OF THE PROGRAM IS THE COMPREHENSIVE TUTOR TRAINING AND SUPPORT.

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? 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 October 1967.

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

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

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 31, 1990. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    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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