Natural Refrigeration Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NATURAL REFRIGERATION FOUNDATION PROMOTES THE CLIMATE-POSITIVE, SAFE, RELIABLE, AND EFFICIENT USE OF THE MOST EARTH-FRIENDLY NATURAL REFRIGERANTS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, DELIVERY OF TRAINING PROGRAMS, PROVIDING RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO DEVELOP INDUSTRY TALENT, ACADEMIC ALLIANCES, AND OUTREACH WITHIN THE NATURAL REFRIGERATION COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $482,152
- Spending
- $349,708
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $365,313, iiar president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 96% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 June 30, 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 (2)
- $112,269 spent. THE NATURAL REFRIGERATION FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST EDUCATION THROUGH GRANTING SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL. THE PROGRAM ALSO SERVES THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY AIDING THE EDUCATION OF MEN AND WOMEN TO BECOME QUALIFIED ENGINEERS. THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS, TRUSTS, AND CORPORATIONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION THROUGH CONTRIBUTIONS, GRANTS, BEQUESTS, AND OTHER LEGAL MEANS.
- $215,048 spent. THE NRF PARTICIPATES IN THE ANNUAL IIAR CONFERENCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS. FIRST THE FOUNDATION OPERATES FUNDRAISING EVENTS WHICH TYPICALLY INCLUDE THE GOLF TOURNAMENT AND MAY INCLUDE OTHER EVENTS - FOLLOWED BY AN NRF VIP RECEPTION. THESE EVENTS ACT AS BOTH A FUNDRAISER FOR THE NRF AS WELL AS A THANK-YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE. SECONDLY, THE NRF HOSTS ALL ITS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS AND PAYS FOR THEIR TRAVEL, LIVING, AND ATTENDANCE. AT THE CONFERENCE, THESE SCHOLARS ARE PROVIDED WITH DETAILS ABOUT THE NATURAL REFRIGERANT INDUSTRY, EXPOSED TO ALL ASPECTS OF THE INDUSTRY, ABLE TO MEET AND NETWORK WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS, AND ABLE TO ATTEND ALL THE AVAILABLE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS. DURING THE CONFERENCE, NRF-FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS ARE PRESENTED THROUGH TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS INCLUDING THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT, THE PROJECT RESULTS, AND HOW THOSE RESULTS WILL BENEFIT THE NATURAL REFRIGERANT INDUSTRY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 February 2008.
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 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.