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Student Veterans of America

EIN 26-1971279 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF STUDENT VETERANS OF AMERICA (SVA) IS TO ACT AS A CATALYST FOR STUDENT VETERAN SUCCESS BY PROVIDING RESOURCES, NETWORK SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY TO, THROUGH, AND BEYOND HIGHER EDUCATION.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$8.1 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
32
Volunteers
3,282
Highest pay
$426,417, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 163% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $4.1 million spent. PROGRAMS AND CHAPTER SERVICESSTUDENT VETERANS OF AMERICA SUPPORTS A NETWORK OF OVER 1,600 CHAPTERS NATIONWIDE, IMPACTING THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 750,000 STUDENT VETERANS EACH YEAR. THESE STUDENT-LED CHAPTERS OFFER A VITAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT, FOSTERING ACADEMIC SUCCESS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND PERSONAL GROWTH. TO EMPOWER THESE CHAPTERS, SVA OFFERS ROBUST PROGRAMMING AT THE LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL LEVELS. LOCALLY, CHAPTERS RECEIVE TAILORED GUIDANCE THROUGH CONSULTATION SESSIONS TO HELP DEVELOP STRATEGIC PLANS AND IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES THAT MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THEIR CAMPUS COMMUNITIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.)THESE EFFORTS EMPOWER CHAPTERS TO BUILD VIBRANT, ENGAGED GROUPS THAT FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND FACILITATE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS. REGIONALLY, SVA HOSTS SUMMITS THAT BRING TOGETHER CHAPTERS WITHIN GEOGRAPHIC AREAS TO SHARE INSIGHTS, COLLABORATE, AND PARTICIPATE IN LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS. THESE EVENTS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING AND BUILD STRONGER NETWORKS AMONG CHAPTERS. NATIONALLY, SVA PROVIDES ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND TRAINING THAT AMPLIFY CHAPTER IMPACT, INCLUDING VIRTUAL WEBINARS, TOOLKITS, AND CONNECTIONS TO NATIONAL ADVOCACY EFFORTS. THIS MULTI-TIERED APPROACH ENSURES THAT CHAPTERS ARE SUPPORTED AT EVERY LEVEL, ENABLING THEM TO CREATE MEANINGFUL AND LASTING CHANGE FOR THE STUDENT VETERANS THEY SERVE.
  2. $2.4 million spent. SVA NATIONAL CONFERENCE (NATCON) NATCON IS THE LARGEST ANNUAL CONVENING OF STUDENT VETERANS IN THE COUNTRY, BRINGING TOGETHER SVA'S CHAPTER LEADERS, STAKEHOLDERS, ADVOCATES, AND SUPPORTERS WHO WORK ON BEHALF OF STUDENT VETERANS, MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, CAREGIVERS, AND SURVIVORS IN HIGHER EDUCATION. THE PURPOSE IS TO CONVENE STUDENT VETERANS WITH THOSE BEST EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER THEM, TRAIN THEM ON CHAPTER MANAGEMENT AND SALIENT TOPICS PERTINENT TO SUCCESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND BEYOND, AND REFRAME THE POSSIBLE FOR THESE DIVERSE STUDENTS. STUDENT VETERANS ATTEND NATCON TO LEARN HOW TO MANAGE SOME OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, AND TO NETWORK WITH THEIR PEERS AS TOMORROW'S LEADERS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.)NOTABLE SPEAKERS IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 INCLUDED SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, DENIS MCDONOUGH, AND PAST SPEAKERS INCLUDE PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, FIRST LADY DR. JILL BIDEN, (THEN) VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY BOB MCDONALD, AND MANY OTHERS. EACH NATCON FEATURES GROUNDBREAKING KEYNOTES AND BREAKOUT SESSIONS IN ALL AREAS OF ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING THE LATEST RESEARCH FINDINGS ON STUDENT VETERAN SUCCESS AND ADVOCACY STRATEGIES. THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES AND MORE THAN 100 EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS ATTEND NATCON.
  3. $475,504 spent. LEADERSHIP INSTITUTETHE SVA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE IS AN IMMERSIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHANGEMAKERS. THIS PROGRAM BRINGS TOGETHER NEARLY 100 CHAPTER LEADERS THROUGH A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR INTENSIVE TRAINING THAT EMPHASIZES PERSONAL GROWTH, STRATEGIC THINKING, AND TEAM LEADERSHIP. FACILITATED BY EXPERIENCED MENTORS, MANY OF WHOM ARE SVA ALUMNI, THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WITH PRACTICAL TOOLS AND INSIGHTS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CHAPTERS AND ENGAGE THEIR CAMPUS COMMUNITIES. ATTENDEES EXPLORE THEIR LEADERSHIP STYLES, LEARN TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGES, AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO IMPLEMENT MEANINGFUL INITIATIVES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.)GRADUATES OF THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE RETURN TO THEIR CAMPUSES EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THEIR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. BY EQUIPPING THESE RISING LEADERS WITH COMPREHENSIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING, SVA EXTENDS ITS IMPACT FAR BEYOND THE PROGRAM'S IMMEDIATE PARTICIPANTS, ULTIMATELY FOSTERING HEALTHIER, MORE SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR THOUSANDS OF FELLOW STUDENT VETERANS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 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 March 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 2008.

    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.