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Sae International

EIN 25-1494402 · Warrendale, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE MOBILITY KNOWLEDGE AND SOLUTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANITY.

Income
$95.1 million
Spending
$90.2 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
7.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
391
Volunteers
47,658
Highest pay
$968,728, ceo/act evp/coo (thru 05/2024)

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 42% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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 (5)
  1. $70.6 million spent. ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES - NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS, CONFERENCES & EXHIBITS, STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS, COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM AND PURCHASE OF REFERENCE MATERIALS.
  2. $3.5 million spent. PUBLICATIONS - PUBLICATION OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING, AEROSPACE ENGINEERING, AND OFF-HIGHWAY DOCUMENTS WITH VARIOUS SUPPLEMENTS, AS WELL AS PUBLICATION OF BOOKS, TECHNICAL PAPERS, AND STANDARDS FOR THE FIELD OF MOBILITY ENGINEERING.
  3. $2.5 million spent. SAE FOUNDATION - ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS, INCLUDING RESTRICTED FUNDS, DONATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECOGNIZING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO MOBILITY TECHNOLOGY AND PROMOTING ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE EDUCATION FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL.
  4. $2.2 million spent. MEMBER RELATIONS - ADMINISTRATION OF SECTION ACTIVITIES, LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FOR SECTION OFFICERS, PROCESSING AND EVALUATING MEMBER APPLICATIONS.
  5. (Expenses $ 2,163,572 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) MEMBER RELATIONS - ADMINISTRATION OF SECTION ACTIVITIES, LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FOR SECTION OFFICERS, PROCESSING AND EVALUATING MEMBER APPLICATIONS.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 June 1985.

    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.