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United States Pharmacopeial Convention Inc

EIN 13-1656692 · Rockville, MD

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

USP'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE GLOBAL HEALTH THROUGH PUBLIC STANDARDS AND RELATED PROGRAMS THAT HELP ENSURE THE QUALITY, SAFETY, AND BENEFIT OF MEDICINES AND FOODS.

Income
$357.7 million
Spending
$333.6 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
17.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
941
Volunteers
657
Highest pay
$1.1 million, chief executive officer & ex-officio

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. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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. $205.7 million spent. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS COMPENDIAL PROGRAMS - USP ESTABLISHES INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PUBLIC STANDARDS (BOTH DOCUMENTARY STANDARDS AND THE PHYSICAL REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT SUPPORT THE APPLICATION AND USE OF THESE DOCUMENTARY STANDARDS) TO HELP ENSURE GOOD QUALITY MEDICINES, DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, FOOD INGREDIENTS, AND RELATED PRODUCTS USED TO MAINTAIN HEALTH AND TREAT DISEASE. THESE STANDARDS ARE DEVELOPED USING AN OPEN, PUBLIC PROCESS AND ARE APPROVED BY INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS. PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES MUST, BY FEDERAL LAW, MEET USP'S PUBLIC STANDARDS, WHERE SUCH STANDARDS EXIST. MANY OTHER COUNTRIES REQUIRE THE USE OF HIGH-QUALITY STANDARDS SUCH AS USP'S TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF MEDICINES, FOOD INGREDIENTS, AND RELATED PRODUCTS. USP DISSEMINATES ITS STANDARDS TO PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS, PHARMACISTS, FOOD MANUFACTURERS, AND OTHER USERS THROUGH ITS USP-NF, FOOD CHEMICALS CODEX (FCC), OTHER COMPENDIA AND PUBLICATIONS, AND OFFICIAL USP REFERENCE STANDARD MATERIALS. THESE STANDARDS ARE SHARED WITH OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD VIA THEIR DRUG REGULATORY AGENCIES AND COMPANIES. INCREASINGLY, DRUG REGULATORY AUTHORITIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES ARE RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM USP IN UNDERSTANDING HOW THEY CAN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MEDICINES PROVIDED TO THEIR CITIZENS BY USING USP STANDARDS. VOLUNTEER EXPERTS FROM THOSE COUNTRIES ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN USP'S STANDARDS-SETTING BODIES. IN ADDITION, USP DEVELOPS STANDARDS THAT ARE VITAL TO ENSURING AND IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS RELATED TO THE APPROPRIATE LABELING, STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF MEDICINES. HEALTH CARE CLINICIANS AS WELL AS PATIENTS RELY ON THESE STANDARDS TO HELP ENSURE THAT MEDICINES ARE DELIVERED AND USED APPROPRIATELY.
  2. $26.8 million spent. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALLIED COMPENDIAL PROGRAMS - USP CONDUCTS VERIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTS, AND FOR DIETARY SUPPLEMENT INGREDIENTS AND PRODUCTS. THESE PROGRAMS INVOLVE INDEPENDENT TESTING AND REVIEW TO VERIFY THE IDENTITY, STRENGTH, QUALITY AND PURITY OF INGREDIENTS AND PRODUCTS FOR MANUFACTURERS WHO CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE. THEY HELP TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MEDICINES AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS THAT ARE MANUFACTURED AND THEN PROVIDED TO PATIENTS AND CONSUMERS THROUGH THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN. USP CONDUCTS EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND PROGRAMS FOR CHEMISTS, SCIENTISTS, AND HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. USP SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVE USE OF ITS STANDARDS THAT AFFECT BEST PRACTICES IN MANUFACTURING AND REGULATION OF PHARMACEUTICALS, DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, AND FOOD INGREDIENTS.
  3. $5.1 million spent. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS NON-COMPENDIAL - USP'S GLOBAL HEALTH DIVISION CONTRIBUTES TO IMPROVED GLOBAL HEALTH BY ENSURING THE AVAILABILITY OF RELEVANT PUBLIC STANDARDS FOR THE WORLD'S MOST ESSENTIAL MEDICINES, SUPPORTING THE GLOBAL MANUFACTURING SECTOR TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF QUALITY ASSURED MEDICINES, AND STRENGTHENING NATIONAL AND REGIONAL REGULATORY SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT IMPROVED QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS, GLOBALLY. USP IMPLEMENTED ITS PROMOTING THE QUALITY OF MEDICINES (PQM PLUS) PROGRAM IN COOPERATION WITH USAID, TO HELP THE QUALITY OF MEDICINES IN MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. THROUGH OUR ADVANCED TRAINING AND LABORATORY FACILITY IN GHANA, USP SUPPORTED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA TO SUPPORT CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL EFFORTS IN THE REGION. THE PQM PLUS PROGRAM WAS EARLY TERMINATED FOLLOWING THE ISSUANCE OF A STOP-WORK ORDER BY USAID IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. USP MAINTAINS FOUR REGIONAL NETWORKS OF OFFICIAL MEDICINES CONTROL LABORATORIES (NOMCOL) WHICH HELP BUILD REGIONAL COOPERATION AND SUSTAINABLE CAPACITY FOR ONGOING EFFORTS TO ASSURE THE QUALITY OF MEDICINES, GLOBALLY. USP STANDARDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO REGULATORS IN LOWER AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES AT NO COST, OR AT SHARPLY DISCOUNTED COST. IN ADDITION, USP PROVIDES DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH A NUMBER OF OTHER GLOBAL HEALTH IMPACT PROGRAMS. USP ENGAGES IN OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES INCLUDING SERVING AS THE SECRETARIAT FOR A MAJOR GROUP OF OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT JOIN TO COORDINATE PATIENT SAFETY/MEDICAL ERROR EFFORTS. UNDER FEDERAL LAW, ONE OF USP'S HEALTH CARE INFORMATION INITIATIVES IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DRUG CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM THAT MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT PLANS MAY USE TO DEVELOP THEIR FORMULARIES.

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 March 1959.

    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.

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