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National Academy of Engineering Fund

EIN 23-7284092 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NAEF SUPPORTS THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING (NAE). NAE OPERATES WITHIN THE CHARTER AND FRAMEWORK OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (NAS) AND ADVISES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON MATTERS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. NAE ALSO SPONSORS ENGINEERING PROGRAMS AIMED AT MEETING NATIONAL NEEDS, ENCOURAGES EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, AND RECOGNIZES ENGINEERS' SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENTS.

Income
$10.1 million
Spending
$10.3 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
40.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
0
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$1.2 million, president of nae

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 40.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% 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 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 18 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, 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 (4)
  1. $4.0 million spent. NAE PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS RELEVANT ISSUES IN ENGINEERING FIELD INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, EDUCATION, ENGINEERING PRACTICE, AND THE ENGINEERING WORKFORCE, ENGINEERING AND THE ENVIRONMENT, ENGINEERING, THE ECONOMY, AND SOCIETY, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY, ENGINEERING ETHICS, FRONTIERS OF ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING, DIVERSITY, AND PUBLIC POLICY AND PROGRAM REVIEWS.
  2. $1.2 million spent. NAE MEMBER PROGRAMS: ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE ANNUAL MEETING AND PUBLICATION OF NAE MEMORIAL TRIBUTES.
  3. $726,632 spent. THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING (NAE) PRESENTS SEVEN AWARDS: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER PRIZE FOR ENGINEERING, FRITZ J. AND DOLORES H. RUSS PRIZE, BERNARD M. GORDON PRIZE FOR INNOVATION IN ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, ARTHUR M. BUECHE AWARD, SIMON RAMO FOUNDERS AWARD, GIBBS BROTHERS MEDAL, AND J.C. HUNSAKER AWARD IN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SOLICITING NOMINATIONS, SELECTING RECIPIENTS, ANNOUNCING AWARDEES, AND PRESENTING THE PRIZES. IN 2024, ONLY ONE AWARDTHE CHARLES STARK DRAPER PRIZE FOR ENGINEERINGWAS PRESENTED.
  4. $357,598 spent. SUPPORT FOR NRC AND NAS

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1973.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.

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