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Federation of American Scientists

EIN 23-7185827 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SCIENTISTS (FAS) IS A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. FAS EMBEDS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND EXPERIENCE INTO GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE IN ORDER TO BUILD A HEALTHY, SAFE, PROSPEROUS, AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY.

Income
$35.6 million
Spending
$36.4 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
116
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$779,473, chief executive officer

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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 35% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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

    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 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 (4)
  1. $13.2 million spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS (FORMERLY KNOWN AS SPECIAL PROJECTS): A HOME FOR INITIATIVES THAT BRING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO BEAR ON CRITICAL POLICY CHALLENGES. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS A CONTINUING LONG-TERM CHALLENGE: ENSURING THAT HIGH IMPACT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD HAVE THE OPERATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT THEY NEED TO LAUNCH QUICKLY, OPERATE RESPONSIBLY, AND DEMONSTRATE MEASURABLE PUBLIC BENEFIT. IN FY2025, FAS ACCEPTED TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS ON BEHALF OF SPONSORED NINE PROJECTS AND PROVIDED FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, COMPLIANCE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING SUPPORTING THE ALLIANCE FOR LEARNING INNOVATION (ALI) AS IT DEVELOPED AN INDEPENDENT OPERATING MODEL, SUPPORTED BY SIX PHILANTHROPIES.
  2. $11.2 million spent. TALENT INITIATIVES: FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS THAT CULTIVATE POLICY ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS AMONG SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL (S&T) TALENT AND DEPLOY EXPERTS INTO PUBLIC SERVICE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THE MOST IMPORTANT S&T CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME. IN FY2025, FAS CONTINUED TO MANAGE FELLOWSHIPS ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING AT THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WHERE FELLOWS BRIDGED THE GAPS BETWEEN POLICY DESIGN AND PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION, PARTICULARLY FOR RURAL AND TRIBAL FARMING COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, FAS EXPANDED THE TALENT INITIATIVES PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FELLOWSHIPS INTO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING 10 FELLOWS WORKING ON ENERGY AFFORDABILITY, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE, AND MORE.
  3. $2.4 million spent. SCIENCE POLICY ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND DAY ONE PROJECT: A PLATFORM FOR SHAPING PUBLIC POLICY THAT DEMOCRATIZES THE POLICY PROCESS BY SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM WITH PROMISING IDEAS AND TURNING THEM INTO ACTIONABLE POLICY. IN FY2025, FAS HOSTED THE DAY ONE 2025 SUMMIT, A CULMINATION OF A YEAR-LONG POLICY SPRINT THAT CREATED MORE THAN 200 NONPARTISAN, IMPLEMENTATION READY POLICY PROPOSALS FOR A NEW ADMINISTRATION SPANNING A BROAD RANGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DOMAINS. THIS SUMMIT SHOWCASED THE PROPOSALS, CONVENING MORE THAN 130 PARTICIPANTS, AND LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE NEWLY-LAUNCHED THE CENTER FOR REGULATORY INGENUITY (CRI), A NEW HUB DEDICATED TO APPLYING THE INSIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT CAPACITY MOVEMENT TO SPECIFIC, THORNY PROBLEMS THAT REQUIRE A FUNDAMENTAL REIMAGINING OF REGULATION AND GOVERNANCE.
  4. $5.4 million spent. RESEARCH, POLICY, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF POLICY DOMAINS WITH A SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIMENSION, FAS A) PRODUCES RIGOROUS, NONPARTISAN RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS THAT INFORM BOTH POLICYMAKERS AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE, B) GENERATES POLICY PROPOSALS TO INFORM GOVERNMENT AGENDA-SETTING, AND C) PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO POLICYMAKERS SEEKING TO ACT ON OUR INSIGHTS AND IDEAS.ADDITIONALLY IN FY2025, FAS EXPANDED BEYOND FEDERAL RESEARCH AND POLICY ANALYSIS BY ACQUIRING METROLAB NETWORK, AN ORGANIZATION WITH SIGNIFICANT REACH AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, GIVING FAS THE CAPABILITY TO PROVIDE RESEARCH, POLICY ANALYSIS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

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? 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 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 July 1972.

    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.

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