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Illuminating Engineering Society

EIN 13-1767038 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ILLUMINATING ENGINEERING SOCIETY ("IES") SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE LIGHTING ENVIRONMENT BY BRINGING TOGETHER THOSE WITH LIGHTING KNOWLEDGE AND BY TRANSLATING THAT KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTIONS THAT BENEFIT THE PUBLIC.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$8.1 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 59%
Employees
20
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$322,930, executive director & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $2.5 million spent. CONFERENCES: IES ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS A RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES, TOURS, NETWORKING, AND PAPER AND POSTER PRESENTATION ON THE ART, DESIGN, SCIENCE, AND RESEARCH OF LIGHTING RELEVANT TO LIGHTING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS, AND RELATED DESIGN DISCIPLINES. STREET AND AREA LIGHTING CONFERENCE (SALC) IS AN EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD ONCE A YEAR WHICH IS WEIGHTED TOWARDS ROADWAY LIGHTING ISSUES. ILLUMINATING AWARDS (IA) EVENT RECOGNIZES INDIVIDUALS FOR PROFESSIONALISM, INGENUITY, AND ORIGINALITY IN LIGHTING DESIGN BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL MERIT OF EACH ENTRY. JUDGES ARE SELECTED FROM A BROAD PROFESSIONAL SPECTRUM, REPRESENTING KNOWLEDGE OF LIGHTING AND DESIGN EXCELLENCE.
  2. $1.7 million spent. STANDARDS, RESEARCH, LEUKOS & TECHNICAL COMMITTEES: THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP LIGHTING STANDARDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC. VOLUNTEER TECHNICAL COMMITTEES OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND INTERESTED PARTIES WORK DILIGENTLY TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN IES LIGHTING LIBRARY, CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 70 PUBLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VETTED THOUGH ANSI ACCREDITED STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (SDO) PROCESS. OUR DOCUMENTS INCLUDE RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR MANY LIGHTING APPLICATIONS, INDUSTRY STANDARDS ON LIGHT SOURCE AND LUMINAIRE MEASUREMENT AND TESTING, AND A VARIETY OF TECHNICAL MEMORANDA AND DESIGN GUIDE DOCUMENTS COVERING A WIDE EXPANSE OF ILLUMINATION TOPICS. LEUKOS IS AN ONLINE, QUARTERLY JOURNAL WHICH IS AN INTERNATIONAL VENUE FOR TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENTS, SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES, AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS OF CURRENT INTEREST OR LASTING IMPORTANCE IN THE APPLIED USE OF LIGHT.
  3. $1.9 million spent. MEMBERSHIP: THE ILLUMINATING ENGINEERING SOCIETY IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION OF MORE THAN 6,000 ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, CONTRACTORS, DISTRIBUTORS, UTILITY PERSONNEL, MANUFACTURERS AND SCIENTISTS IN NEARLY 60 COUNTRIES. IES IS THE PREMIER SOURCE OF LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE FOR THE LIGHTING PROFESSION, AND PROVIDES RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND STANDARDS TO ENHANCE THE EFFICACY OF THOSE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE LIGHTED ENVIRONMENT. THE IES MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT MANAGES AND CULTIVATES RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEMBERS; FOCUSES ON MEMBER SATISFACTION, ENGAGEMENT, RETENTION, AND ACQUISITION; COORDINATES WITH LOCAL MEMBER GROUPS; EVALUATES AND ENHANCES MEMBER BENEFITS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 February 1991.

    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 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.