Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NORTHEASTERN OHIO SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR'S (NEOSEF) GOAL IS TO GET YOUNG ADULTS INTERESTED IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING BY ENCOURAGING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN A SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING COMPETITION. THE LOCAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR HAS BEEN HELD EVERY YEAR SINCE 1954, AND IS AFFILIATED WITH THE INTEL INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR (ISEF). OUR ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION ALLOWS THE STUDENTS TO ENTER OUR FAIR WITHOUT AN ENTRY FEE. EXHIBITS IN ANY SCIENTIFIC SUBJECT MAY BE MADE. STUDENTS IN GRADE 7 THROUGH GRADE 12 IN ANY PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL IN CUYAHOGA, GEAUGA, LAKE, LORAIN, SUMMIT, PORTAGE AND MEDINA (OHIO) COUNTIES ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER THE FAIR.
- Income
- $141,110
- Spending
- $76,208
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 52%
- Employees
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 30 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 (2)
- $35,550 spent. LOCAL FAIR OPERATIONS: THE NEOSEF IS HELD EVERY YEAR IN MARCH AT EITHER CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY OR JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY (UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OHIO). IN THE 2025 FAIR, THERE WERE ENTRIES FROM 248 STUDENTS FROM 49 SCHOOLS. EACH STUDENT IN THE FAIR WAS JUDGED BY AT LEAST TWO OF THE 80+ SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS WHO DONATED AN AFTERNOON OF THEIR TIME TO THIS EVENT. AWARDS ARE PROVIDED AS FOLLOWS: - FIRST PLACE 100 - SECOND PLACE 25 - THIRD PLACE RECEIVE A MEDAL AND A RIBBON - 7TH AND 8TH GRADE GRAND PRIZES 250 - TEACHER AWARDS 500 LOCAL FAIR OPERATIONS: THE NEOSEF IS HELD EVERY YEAR IN MARCH AT EITHER CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY OR JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY (UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OHIO). IN THE 2025 FAIR, THERE WERE ENTRIES FROM 248 STUDENTS FROM 49 SCHOOLS. EACH STUDENT IN THE FAIR WAS JUDGED BY AT LEAST TWO OF THE 80+ SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS WHO DONATED AN AFTERNOON OF THEIR TIME TO THIS EVENT. AWARDS ARE PROVIDED AS FOLLOWS: - FIRST PLACE 100 - SECOND PLACE 25 - THIRD PLACE RECEIVE A MEDAL AND A RIBBON - 7TH AND 8TH GRADE GRAND PRIZES 250 - TEACHER AWARDS 500
- $24,089 spent. INTERNATIONAL FAIR: EACH OF OUR 9TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE GRAND PRIZE WINNERS IS AWARDED AN ALL- EXPENSE PAID TRIP, ALONG WITH A CHAPERONE, TO REPRESENT NEOSEF AT THE INTEL INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR. NEOSEF GRAND PRIZE WINNERS WILL COMPETE WITH OVER 1,200 STUDENTS FROM ALL 50 STATES AND MORE THAN 40 COUNTRIES FOR OVER 3,000,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND PRIZES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending July 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.