Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Foundation for Advancement in Conservation

EIN 23-7424418 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO UNDERTAKE AND UNDERWRITE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES TO ADVANCE THE CONSERVATION PROFESSION IN ALL ITS FACETS, TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND TO APPLY THE EXPERTISE OF THE PROFESSION IN ADDRESSING THE NATION'S ARTISTIC, CULTURAL, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION PRIORITIES.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
0
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$156,298, 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

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 80% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 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 (4)
  1. $843,327 spent. OUTREACH - THE COLLECTIONS ASSESSMENT FOR PRESERVATION (CAP) PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY FAIC UNDER A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES (IMLS). PARTICIPATING MUSEUMS RECEIVE SUPPORT FOR A GENERAL CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT FROM A QUALIFIED COLLECTIONS ASSESSOR AND A BUILDING ASSESSOR. THE TWO ASSESSORS WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO PROVIDE INSTITUTIONS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVED COLLECTIONS CARE. WHILE NO NEW ASSESSMENTS WERE AWARDED IN 2025, MANY OF THE 70+ MUSEUMS IN THE 2024 COHORT COMPLETED THEIR ASSESSMENTS IN 2025.IN 2014, FAIC BEGAN OPERATING CONNECTING TO COLLECTIONS CARE, AN ONLINE COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCE FOR SMALL AND MID-SIZED MUSEUMS, WITH FUNDING FROM IMLS. THIS COMMUNITY OFFERS AN AVERAGE OF 12 FREE WEBINARS AND TWO LOW-COST COURSES PER YEAR. THE PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTS A MODERATED FORUM WITH MORE THAN 3,800 SUBSCRIBERS THAT PROVIDES COLLECTIONS CARE GUIDANCE TO MUSEUM STAFF.FAIC HOSTS THE KNOWLEDGE-SHARING PLATFORM CONSERVATION ONLINE (COOL), INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONALLY GLOBAL CONSERVATION FORUM (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CONSERVATIONDISTLIST) WITH OVER 11,000 SUBSCRIBERS.
  2. $524,047 spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION - WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS ARE A KEY PART OF FAIC'S PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING WORKSHOPS AT THE AIC ANNUAL MEETING, WHICH DRAWS 800+ ATTENDEES EACH YEAR, FAIC PRODUCES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS. THESE EVENTS RANGE FROM WEEKLONG, LAB-BASED WORKSHOPS ON SPECIFIC TREATMENT TECHNIQUES TO ONLINE PROGRAMS ON MENTORING AND PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION TOPICS. FAIC CREATED NEW CURRICULA TO FILL GAPS IN TRAINING, INCLUDING A SERIES OF ONLINE COURSES. IN 2025, FAIC PRESENTED 14 IN-PERSON AND ONLINE EVENTS THAT REACHED 795 INDIVIDUALS. FAIC AWARDED $267,421 IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND POST-GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS IN 2025.
  3. $318,179 spent. RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS - FAIC PUBLISHES INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO THE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION COMMUNITIES ON ITS WEB PAGES, SUCH AS SURVEY RESULTS AND OTHER RESEARCH. FAIC VIDEOS ON DISASTER RESPONSE AND OTHER TOPICS ARE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH FAIC'S LEARNING PORTAL AND ON THE AIC YOUTUBE ACCOUNT. FAIC PUBLISHES THE FIELD GUIDE TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND SALVAGE WHEEL, ESSENTIAL RESOURCES FOR COLLECTING INSTITUTIONS AFTER DISASTERS. FAIC ADMINISTERS THE FAIC/SAMUEL H KRESS CONSERVATION PUBLICATION FELLOWSHIPS, WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN AT LEAST 35 NEW PUBLICATIONS SINCE 1994. FAIC ALSO OPERATES AN ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, WHICH DOCUMENTS THE HISTORY OF CONSERVATION THROUGH INTERVIEWS.CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITYFAIC DEVELOPED CLIMATE RESILIENCE RESOURCES FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE, AN ONLINE TOOLKIT TO HELP CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS ASSESS THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THEIR SITE AND IMPROVE THEIR RESILIENCY. THE STICH LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT PROJECT PROVIDES CARBON IMPACT DATA ON COMMON MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES OF COLLECTING INSTITUTIONS TO HELP THEM REDUCE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
  4. $94,880 spent. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, & RECOVERY - FAIC MANAGES SEVERAL EMERGENCY INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT EFFORTS IN ALL PHASES OF DEALING WITH EMERGENCIES, FROM PREPAREDNESS TO RESPONSE AND RECOVERY. AN ANNUAL MAYDAY CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGES COLLECTING INSTITUTIONS TO UNDERTAKE EMERGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES DURING THE MONTH OF MAY. A TEAM OF MORE THAN 100 TRAINED PROFESSIONALS, CALLED THE NATIONAL HERITAGE RESPONDERS (NHR), PROVIDES EXPERT ASSISTANCE TO INSTITUTIONS THAT EXPERIENCE DAMAGE FROM EMERGENCIES. THE ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSE (AFR) PROGRAM IS A NATIONAL INITIATIVE THAT DEVELOPS AND TRAINS REGIONAL RESPONSE TEAMS THAT INCLUDE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND LOCAL EMERGENCY PROFESSIONALS IN APPROXIMATELY 30 LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. IN 2025, FAIC STAFF WORKED WITH ORGANIZERS IN ARIZONA AND KANSAS TO PLAN NEW REGIONAL AFR NETWORKS. FAIC PROVIDED TRAINING AND NETWORKING WEBINARS AND MICROGRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXISTING NETWORKS.

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 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 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 November 1973.

    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.

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.