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Institute of Semitic Studies Inc

EIN 22-2664354 · Princeton, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INSTITUTE WAS ORGANIZED ON JULY 30, 1985 TO PROMOTE RESEARCH AND STUDY IN THE AREA OF SEMITIC LANGUAGES AND CIVILIZATIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE WORK OF THE OF THE INSTITUTE THE SEMITIC LANGUAGES ARE GROUPED INTO FOUR CATEGORIES: NORTHEAST SEMITIC (OLD AKKADIAN, BABYLONIAN, ASSYRIAN); NORTHWEST SEMITIC(AMORITE, UGARITIC, HEBREW, PHOENICIAN, MOA-BITE, AND VARIOUS ARAMAIC DIALECTS); SOUTHWEST SEMITIC (ARABIC AND ITS DIALECTS); AND SOUTHEAST SEMITIC (SABEEN, GE'EZ OR CLASSICAL ETHIOPIC, TEGRENYA, TEGRE, AMHARIC, GURAGE AND ITS DIALECTS AND OTHER ETHIOPIAN LANGUAGES). THE INSTITUTE WILL SUPPORT AT LEAST ONE SCHOLAR FROM EACH OF THE FOUR BRANCHES OF THE SEMITIC LANGUAGES WHO WILL DO FULL-TIME RESEARCH WITHOUT ANY OTHER OBLIGATIONS FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEARS IN AN AREA OF THEIR FIELD OF STUDY. THE INSTITUTE WILL ESTABLISH A LIBRARY WHICH WILL INCLUDE MICROFILMS AND MICROFICHE OF ALL KNOWN SEMITIC LANGUAGE INSCRIPTIONS AND MANUSCRIPTS; A COMPUTER INDEX; ARCHEOLOGICAL OBJECT

Income
$56,440
Spending
$62,803
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0

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

Fair: 59 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% 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

Weak: 41 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $47,458 spent. CONDUCT RESEARCH ON SEMITIC LANGUAGES AND CULTURES TO EDUCATE THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY AND GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH PUBLICATION OF JOURNALS AND RESEARCH PAPERS.
  2. $6,284 spent. DEPRECIATION

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

  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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2016 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    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 June 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 2020.

    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.