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Flight Safety Foundation Inc

EIN 13-5656187 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

1. PROMOTE AND FACILITATE THE GLOBAL APPLICATION OF LEADING AVIATION SAFETY ASSESSMENTS, STANDARDS AND PRACTICES.2. DEVELOP GLOBAL SOLUTIONS TO KEY AVIATION SAFETY CHALLENGES.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
20
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$428,437, president/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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% 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 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.9 million spent. TECHNICAL, RESEARCH, LIBRARY, AND OTHER: FSF'S TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT ENGAGES WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND WORK GROUPS AND FOCUSES ITS EFFORTS ON SAFETY-RELATED RESEARCH VIA FUNDED PROGRAMS. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE AUSTRALIA SUBSIDIARY, WHICH PROVIDES AVIATION SAFETY TRAINING AND THE SINGAPORE BRANCH, ESTABLISHED IN 2023, WHICH OPERATES THE FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION ASIA PACIFIC CENTRE FOR AVIATION SAFETY (AP-CAS) PRINCIPALLY TO CARRY OUT RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF AVIATION SAFETY ISSUES IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION. SOME OF THE FUNDED PROGRAMS ARE DETAILED IN THE NEXT FEW BULLET POINTS:- SKYBRARY: FSF PROVIDES CONTENT REVIEW AND EDITORIAL SUPPORT THAT ENHANCES THE CONTENT AND ACCURACY OF SAFETY INFORMATION.- INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY AND PROCESSES FOR CAST/ASIAS TRANSFORMATION: FSF IS PERFORMING RESEARCH ON COLLABORATIVE SAFETY PROCESSES AND TOOLS, INCLUDING THOSE EMPLOYING ADVANCED COMPUTING. - INTEGRATED SAFETY ASSURANCE RESEARCH STRATEGY ALIGNMENT: FSF ASSESSED AVIATION COMMUNITY PRIORITIES THAT CAN INFORM RESEARCH EFFORTS ENABLING THE SKY FOR ALL CONCEPT, INCLUDING THE ASSESSMENT OF THE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE CURRENT SKY FOR ALL ROADMAP AND THE ROADMAP FOR THE IN-TIME AVIATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.- ASSESSMENT OF AVIATION STAKEHOLDER PRIORITIES AND NEEDS FOR THE EVOLUTION TO IN-TIME AVIATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT: FSF EXPLORED THE POTENTIAL OPERATOR BENEFITS POOL ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE IN-TIME AVIATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IASMS) AND ASSESS KEY DEPENDENCIES ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF IASMS.- DEVELOPMENT OF A CONCEPT AND PATH FORWARD FOR FUTURE AVIATION OPERATIONS: THIS PROJECT PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKY FOR ALL, A CONCEPT FOR THE FUTURE OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM.- INITIAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT FOR DIGITAL FLIGHT: THIS PROJECT INVOLVES 1) A QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE SAFETY RISKS/BENEFITS OF A DIGITAL FLIGHT AND 2) A QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF HOW DIGITAL FLIGHT RELATES TO THE IN-TIME AVIATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CONCEPT AND ROADMAP.- DUAL REGISTRATION STUDY: FSF STUDIED THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SANCTIONS ON THE ABILITY TO SUSTAIN AND VERIFY THE SAFETY OF WESTERN-BUILT AIRCRAFT OPERATED BY AIR OPERATORS FROM COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY SANCTIONS. A SERIES OF REPORTS WERE PRODUCED THAT ADDRESSED REGULATORY NONCOMPLIANCE MATTERS AND PROVIDED EXPERT ASSESSMENT OF SAFETY CONCERNS.- SAFETY 2: FSF DEVELOPED A NEW FRAMEWORK TO LEVERAGE OPERATIONAL INFORMATION TO ENHANCE SAFETY THROUGH APPLYING BEST PRACTICES FROM POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN NORMAL OPERATIONS.- ASIA PACIFIC SAFETY DATA SHARING DEMONSTRATION PROJECT: FSF, IN COLLABORATION WITH MITRE AND SEVERAL PARTICIPATING CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITIES IN ASIA PACIFIC IDENTIFIED SAFETY HAZARDS AND RISKS IN AIR SAFETY AND PROVIDED LISTS OF POTENTIAL MITIGATION APPROACHES.- ASIA PACIFIC CENTRE FOR AVIATION SAFETY: THE FSF ASIA PACIFIC CENTRE FOR AVIATION SAFETY CONDUCTS STUDIES ON REGIONAL SAFETY ISSUES THAT INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN SAFETY AND ASSISTS REGULATORS AND INDUSTRY TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS.- UNIVERSAL SAFETY OVERSIGHT AUDIT PROGRAM: FSF IS COLLABORATING WITH SELECTED CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITIES TO DELIVER TRAINING THAT PREPARES THEM FOR AUDITS UNDER ICAO'S USOAP.
  2. $1.1 million spent. FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION HOSTED FIVE EVENTS IN 2024: AP SAS IN CHINA, BASS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, SAFETY FORUM, IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, THE NETWORKING DINNER IN WASHINGTON DC, AND IASS IN BRAZIL. FSF'S EVENTS ARE GATHERINGS OF AVIATION PROFESSIONALS, DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY IN DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATIONS. LEADING AVIATION SPECIALISTS EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND OFFER DIRECTIONS FOR FURTHER RISK REDUCTION.
  3. $406,881 spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION IS THE LEADING VOICE OF SAFETY FOR THE GLOBAL AVIATION COMMUNITY. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY DEVELOPING GLOBAL SOLUTIONS TO KEY AVIATION SAFETY CHALLENGES, BEING THE CONSTANT AND FORCEFUL "JUST CULTURE" ADVOCATE FOR ALL GLOBAL AVIATION COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, INTERACT AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. THESE EFFORTS ARE CARRIED OUT THROUGH SEVERAL SIGNATURE PROGRAMS INCLUDING OUR BASIC AVIATION RISK STANDARD (BARS) PROGRAM, OUR PREMIER MEMBERS-ONLY DIGITAL MAGAZINE, AEROSAFETY WORLD, AND OUR AVIATION SAFETY EVENTS WHICH ARE HELD WORLDWIDE.
  4. $390,669 spent. COMMUNICATIONS: THE FSF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT DISSEMINATES INFORMATION ABOUT AVIATION SAFETY, INCLUDING THE SAFETY INITIATIVES DEVELOPED BY THE FOUNDATION AT ITS MAIN OFFICE IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, AND A REGIONAL OFFICE IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. THE DEPARTMENT PRODUCES AEROSAFETY WORLD, THE FOUNDATION'S ONLINE MAGAZINE, AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE, SPECIAL REPORTS, NEWS RELEASES, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1949.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.