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Bbb Institute for Marketplace Trust

EIN 20-8814392 · Suite, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BBB INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE MARKETPLACE TRUST THROUGH EDUCATION, INNOVATION, AND COLLABORATION WITH OUR NETWORK OF BBBS AND PARTNERS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH RESEARCH THAT CHALLENGES ASSUMPTIONS AND DELIVERS NEW INSIGHTS ABOUT SCAMS, FRAUD, AND OTHER MARKETPLACE THREATS; CONSUMER EDUCATION RESOURCES, PROGRAMS, AND CAMPAIGNS THAT EMPOWER THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, TO CHOOSE BETTER BUSINESSES AND AVOID SCAMS; PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO CREATE INNOVATIVE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS.

Income
$948,152
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$183,521, executive director

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $628,214 spent. BBB SCAM TRACKER & BBB SCAM SURVIVAL TOOLKIT: BBB SCAM TRACKER IS AN ONLINE TOOL THAT ENABLES CONSUMERS TO REPORT SCAM ACTIVITY. FOLLOWING THE UPGRADE IN 2022, BBB INSTITUTE CONTINUES TO EXPAND THE FEATURES OF THE PLATFORM TO HELP PROTECT THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IN 2024, WE LAUNCHED THE BBB SCAM SURVIVAL TOOLKIT (BBB.ORG/SCAMSURVIVALKIT) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AMAZON AND CAPITAL ONE. THIS TOOLKIT CONNECTS SCAM SURVIVORS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO RESTORE THEIR FINANCIAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. BBB INSTITUTE HOSTED THE SECOND ANNUAL SCAM SURVIVOR DAY IN 2025 WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING THE STIGMA OF SCAMS AND TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF SCAM SURVIVORS.
  2. $127,332 spent. FIGHTING FINANCIAL FRAUD: BBB INSTITUTE PARTNERED WITH THE FINRA INVESTOR EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO DELIVER THE FIGHTING FINANCIAL FRAUD PROGRAM, A TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM FOR BBBS WHO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO SPOT THE SIGNS OF A FINANCIAL SCAM, RECOGNIZE SCAMMER BEHAVIORS, AND KNOW WHERE TO GO TO VERIFY LEGITIMATE INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS/BROKERS.
  3. $98,464 spent. RESEARCH: IN 2025, BBB INSTITUTE PUBLISHED THE ANNUAL BBB SCAM TRACKER RISK REPORT FOR THE NINTH YEAR IN A ROW. THE REPORT ANALYZES SCAM REPORTS PUBLISHED ON THE BBB SCAM TRACKER, HIGHLIGHTING HOW SCAMS ARE PERPETRATED, WHO IS BEING TARGETED, WHICH SCAMS HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT, AND MORE. FINDINGS ARE SHARED WITH OTHER FRAUD-FIGHTING ORGANIZATIONS AND USED TO CREATED TIMELY CONSUMER EDUCATION RESOURCES.

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 December 2007.

    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.