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Passes our checks

Via Institute on Character

EIN 31-1663243 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 66 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

MISSION: ADVANCE THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF CHARACTER STRENGTHS BY PROVIDING RESOURCES REQURIED TO ACTIVATE HUMAN FLOURISHING THROUGH A DISTRIBUTED GLOBAL NETWORK.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
18.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
17
Highest pay
$406,919, former ceo

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 66 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $2.0 million spent. ADVANCING PRACTICE: -EDUCATION (REVENUE IS RECEIVED FROM REPORTS, COURSES, WORKSHOPS CONSULTING, ETC.) -PRODUCT PARTNERSHIPS: WE PARTNER WITH LEADING ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH ACCESS TO OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SO THAT THEY CAN DELIVER CHARACTER STRENGTHS BASED SOLUTIONS. WE EARN REVENUE FROM LICENSING OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (BRAND, SURVEY), EXAMPLES INCLUDE TWILL AND SMCOV. WE HAVE ALSO CO-DEVELOPED TRAINING PRODUCTS AND LICENSED THOSE PRODUCTS SUCH AS WITH WHOLE BEING INSTITUTE. WE ALSO PROVIDE A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS OUR SURVEY. -THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: WE AIM TO PROVIDE THE FIELD OF CHARACTER SCIENCE THE MOST CURRENT AND INNOVATIVE THINKING. WE DO THIS BY WRITING BOOKS (REVENUE EARNED FROM ROYALTIES), AND OFFERING KEYNOTE AND OTHER PRESENTATIONS TO POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY SOCIETIES, SCHOOLS, COMPANIES, AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. ADVANCING PRACTICE: -EDUCATION (REVENUE IS RECEIVED FROM REPORTS, COURSES, WORKSHOPS CONSULTING, ETC.) -PRODUCT PARTNERSHIPS: WE PARTNER WITH LEADING ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH ACCESS TO OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SO THAT THEY CAN DELIVER CHARACTER STRENGTHS BASED SOLUTIONS. WE EARN REVENUE FROM LICENSING OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (BRAND, SURVEY), EXAMPLES INCLUDE TWILL AND SMCOV. WE HAVE ALSO CO-DEVELOPED TRAINING PRODUCTS AND LICENSED THOSE PRODUCTS SUCH AS WITH WHOLE BEING INSTITUTE. WE ALSO PROVIDE A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS OUR SURVEY. -THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: WE AIM TO PROVIDE THE FIELD OF CHARACTER SCIENCE THE MOST CURRENT AND INNOVATIVE THINKING. WE DO THIS BY WRITING BOOKS (REVENUE EARNED FROM ROYALTIES), AND OFFERING KEYNOTE AND OTHER PRESENTATIONS TO POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY SOCIETIES, SCHOOLS, COMPANIES, AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $116,209 spent. ADVANCING SCIENCE - PROVIDE SUPPORT TO RESEARCHERS DOING RESEARCH WITH THE VIA SURVEY. SUPPORT INCLUDES ALLOWING RESEARCHERS TO UTILIZE OUR WEBSITE TO CONDUCT RESEARCH, GRANT FUNDING FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS RELATED TO CHARACTER STRENGTHS, CONNECTING RESEARCHERS TO OTHERS IN SIMILAR AREAS OF INTEREST AND PROVIDING UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THE LATEST RESEARCH. - DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE CHARACTER STRENGTHS ASSESSMENTS. WE HAVE AN ADULT AND YOUTH ASSESSMENT ON CHARACTER STRENGTHS. WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP NEW MEASUREMENTS AND PROVIDE TRANSLATIONS OF OUR EXISTING ONES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.