Public Relations Society of America Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PRSA FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS TO FUEL THE PASSION, DREAMS AND FUTURES OF A DIVERSE RANGE OF AMBITIOUS AND PROMISING STUDENTS BY SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT ATTRACT ETHNIC AND RACIAL MINORITIES TO CAREERS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS (PR), AND BY DEVELOPING THEIR CAPACITY TO BRING THE PR PERSPECTIVE TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THEY SERVE AND TO SOCIETY.
- Income
- $359,503
- Spending
- $284,653
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 20.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 22
- Highest pay
- $358,891, cfo
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 73% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $238,851 spent. THE PRSA FOUNDATION SUPPORTS DIVERSE STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS IN THEIR DESIRE TO ENTER THE PROFESSION OF PUBLIC RELATIONS. OUR FOCUS IS ON THE IMPROVEMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION OF THE FIELD THROUGH THE GRANTING OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS AND THE CREATION AND SUPPORT OF RESEARCH. WE AWARD GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO DESERVING SCHOLARS, AND PUBLISH RESEARCH FOCUSED ON BEST-IN-CLASS DIVERSITY RETENTION, RECRUITMENT, AND MENTORSHIP. WE ALSO SEEK AND ACCEPT NEW FUNDS FROM DONORS (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE/AGENCY) THAT FOLLOW CURRENT GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHING SCHOLARSHIPS AND RESEARCH GRANTS AND PURSUE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS ADVANCING THE CAREER SUCCESS OF DIVERSE GRADUATES. IN 2024, THE FOUNDATION HAS GIVEN 39 INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS TOTALING $163,200. ADDITIONAL GRANTS IMPACTING 313 INDIVIDUALS, TOTALING $42,316 WERE ALSO AWARDED.
- $874 spent. DIVERSE VOICES: PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP IS A PUBLICATION DESIGNED TO HELP COMMUNICATIONS LEADERS AND PROFESSIONALS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES FACED BY MINORITIES IN THE FIELD. PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MUSEUM OF PUBLIC RELATIONS, DIVERSE VOICES FEATURES INTERVIEWS WITH MORE THAN 40 MULTICULTURAL CORPORATE AND PR AGENCY LEADERS. THESE EXECUTIVES, WHO HAVE RISEN TO THE VERY TOP OF THIS DYNAMIC AND VITAL FIELD, SHARE CANDID ANECDOTES DETAILING THE SUCCESSES THEY HAVE HAD, THE OBSTACLES THEY HAVE HAD TO OVERCOME AND THE LESSONS THEY HAVE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY. THE BOOK ALSO HAS TIPS AND LESSONS FOR THOSE ENTERING THE FIELD.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1990.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.