Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Nafsa Association of International Educators

EIN 13-1878953 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.NAFSA LEADS THE WAY IN ADVOCATING FOR A BETTER WORLD THROUGH INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION BY SERVING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS, THEIR INSTITUTIONS, AND THE PROFESSION, ADVANCING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE POLICIES THAT SUSTAIN IT IN THE PUBLIC ARENA. THE ASSOCIATION HELPS DEFINE THE PROFESSION OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION BY ESTABLISHING PRINCIPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE AND PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. NAFSA ENCOURAGES NETWORKING AMONG PROFESSIONALS BY CONVENING PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL CONFERENCES AND COLLABORATIVE DIALOGUES AND PROMOTES RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE CREATION TO STRENGTHEN AND SERVE THE FIELD. NAFSA SEEKS TO CONDUCT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION IN SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE WAYS.

Income
$20.4 million
Spending
$18.3 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
80
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$479,636, executive director & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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, 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 (5)
  1. $5.8 million spent. CONFERENCES - THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES VARIOUS WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS THAT SERVE AS A FORUM FOR THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE. THESE MEETINGS OFFER A CONCENTRATED OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND OFFER A NETWORK FOR SHARING INFORMATION AS IT SEEKS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF AND SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION. SINCE RETURNING TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS IN 2022 FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND FALL REGIONAL EVENTS, NAFSA HAS SEEN ATTENDANCE LEVELS INCREASE FROM 60% OF PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS TO OVER 80% OF PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.
  2. $5.1 million spent. MEMBER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES - REPRESENTS EXPENSES RELATED TO THE PROVISION OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE SUPPORT INFORMATION TO MEMBERS, THE COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION OF MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS TO THE MEMBERS AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS, AND THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BY PROMOTING CORE COMPETENCIES, MID-LEVEL TRAINING NEEDS, AND LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM PROGRAMMING TO THE FIELD.
  3. $1.3 million spent. REGIONAL PROGRAMS - REGIONAL PROGRAMS ARE COMPRISED PRIMARILY OF MEETING RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR SPECIFIC MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AS WELL AS TRAVEL ASSISTANCE FOR THE NEEDS OF NAFSA MEMBERS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.
  4. $1.1 million spent. PUBLIC POLICY - REPRESENTS EXPENSES INCURRED TO LINK ASSOCIATION MEMBERS WITH CONGRESS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, ADVOCATING FOR SUPPORT FOR THE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, REMOVING BARRIERS TO EXCHANGE, AND INFORMING MEMBERSHIP OF GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AFFECTING EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE.
  5. $773,756 spent. PUBLICATIONS - THE ASSOCIATION MAINTAINS A WEBSITE AND PRODUCES VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS, MAGAZINES, AND NEWSLETTERS. THESE PUBLICATIONS REPRESENT THE ASSOCIATION'S COMMITMENT TO THE ONGOING ENHANCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 July 1990.

    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.