Middle East Studies Assoc of North
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MIDDLE EAST STUDIES ASSOCIATION (MESA) IS A NON-PROFIT ASSOCIATION THAT FOSTERS THE STUDY OF THE MIDDLE EAST, PROMOTES HIGH STANDARDS OF SCHOLARSHIP AND TEACHING, AND ENCOURAGES PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE REGION AND ITS PEOPLES THROUGH PROGRAMS, PUBLICATIONS AND SERVICES THAT ENHANCE EDUCATION, FURTHER INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE, RECOGNIZE PROFESSIONAL DISTINCTION, AND DEFEND ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS STATUS AS A 501(C)(3) SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, LITERARY, AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.
- Income
- $916,467
- Spending
- $792,956
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 43.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 50%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $180,776, executive director & treasurer
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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 43.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $685,896 spent. FROM ITS INCEPTION IN 1966 WITH 51 FOUNDING MEMBERS, MESA HAS INCREASED ITS MEMBERSHIP INTO THE THOUSANDS AND NOW SERVES AS AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR DOZENS OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS AND AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS. THE ASSOCIATION IS A CONSTITUENT SOCIETY OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LEARNED SOCIETIES, AND A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HUMANITIES ALLIANCE AND THE COALITION FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION. AS PART OF ITS GOAL TO ADVANCE LEARNING, FACILITATE COMMUNICATION AND PROMOTE COOPERATION, MESA SPONSORS AN ANNUAL MEETING THAT IS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR SCHOLARSHIP, INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE AND PEDAGOGICAL INNOVATION. THE 58TH ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD VIRTUALLY IN 2024. MESA IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THREE PUBLICATIONS: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MIDDLE EAST STUDIES, WHICH IS THE FLAGSHIP JOURNAL OF THE FIELD; THE REVIEW OF MIDDLE EAST STUDIES; AND A BIANNUAL NEWSLETTER, ISSUES IN MIDDLE EAST STUDIES. FINALLY, MESA HAS AN AWARDS PROGRAM RECOGNIZES SCHOLARLY ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH A RANGE OF BOOK AND DISSERTATION AWARDS AS WELL AS SERVICE TO THE PROFESSION, EXEMPLARY UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION, AND GRADUATE STUDENT MENTORING.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1967.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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