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National Governors Association Center for Best Practices

EIN 23-7391796 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE TAILORED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHALLENGES FACING THE STATES, IDENTIFY AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES, AND SERVE AS AN INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE ON GUBERNATORIAL INITIATIVES.

Income
$15.7 million
Spending
$16.7 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
21.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$480,131, executive director

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

Good: 80 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% 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

Fair: 60 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    1 of 1 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (1)
  1. $15.2 million spent. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, THE NGA CENTER ADVANCED ITS MISSION OF PROVIDING INNOVATIVE, BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS TO CRITICAL POLICY CHALLENGES THROUGH TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, POLICY ACADEMIES, LEARNING COLLABORATIVES, RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS, AND NATIONAL CONVENINGS.THE NGA CENTER LED TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION POLICY WORK UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF COLORADO GOVERNOR JARED POLIS' LET'S GET READY INITIATIVE. THIS WORK INVOLVED HOSTING A SERIES OF NATIONAL CONVENINGS AND GATHERING RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES FROM ACROSS NORTH AMERICA TO BETTER ALIGN EDUCATION SYSTEMS WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR THE JOBS OF TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. IN THE WORKFORCE SECTOR, THE NGA CENTER CONTINUED TO CONVENE GOVERNORS TEAMS FOCUSED ON REMOVING DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FROM PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS AND MOVING TOWARDS SKILLS BASED HIRING. ADDITIONALLY, THE NGA CENTER CONTINUED TO CONVENE GOVERNORS WORKFORCE ADVISORS AND WORKFORCE BOARD LEADERS FOR BIANNUAL CONVENINGS, INCLUDING IN OCTOBER 2024 IN CONNECTICUT AND MARCH 2025 IN WASHINGTON, DC.THE NGA CENTER CONTINUED TO SUPPORT GOVERNORS WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WORK, INCLUDING SUPPORTING GOVERNORS AROUND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH, AND HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE POLICY. THIS INCLUDED SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS AND CONVENINGS WITH GOVERNORS ADVISORS. THE NGA CENTER FACILITATED THE GOVERNORS HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORS COUNCIL (GHSAC), BRINGING TOGETHER MORE THAN 50 HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORS FROM STATES AND TERRITORIES FOR THE SUMMER MEETING IN AUGUST 2024. TOPICS INCLUDED CYBERSECURITY, AI, SCHOOL SAFETY, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION, SAFETY AT MAJOR EVENTS, INFORMATION SHARING, AND POST-INCIDENT COORDINATION.ADDITIONALLY, IN THE FALL OF 2024 THE NGA CENTER HOSTED AN INAUGURAL CONVENING ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) POLICY, BRINGING TOGETHER AI ADVISORS AND NATIONAL EXPERTS FOR A MULTI-DAY DISCUSSION ON HOW STATES ARE ADDRESSING RELEVANT QUESTIONS IN AI POLICY AND USAGE. FINALLY, ACROSS THE ENTIRE NGA CENTER, POLICY ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO OUR NATION'S GOVERNORS THROUGH ROUTINE VIRTUAL BRIEFINGS, ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS AND CALLS, AND HUNDREDS OF RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REQUESTS.

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 October 13, 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 August 1974.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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