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Comparative and International Education Society

EIN 34-1414606 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COMPARATIVE AND INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION SOCIETY, INC. WAS FOUNDED IN 1956 TO FOSTER CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, SCHOLARSHIP, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL STUDY OF EDUCATIONAL IDEAS, SYSTEMS, AND PRACTICES.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
15.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
0
Volunteers
100

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

Fair: 62 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $724,019 spent. CONFERENCE - THE SOCIETY ORGANIZES AND HOLDS AN ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE DEVOTED TO PROVIDING SCHOLARLY AND PRACTICAL EXCHANGE, DEBATE, AND A PLATFORM FOR NETWORKING FOR THE SOCIETY'S MEMBERS. THE CONFERENCE FEATURES KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS BY EMINENT SCHOLARS AND OFFICIALS, WORKSHOPS FOR POST-GRADUATE STUDENTS, AND APPROXIMATELY 1,000 PRESENTATIONS AS INDIVIDUAL PAPERS OR IN ORGANIZED SYMPOSIA. THE CONFERENCE ATTRACTS MORE THAN 1,500 PARTICIPANTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. IN ADDITION, THE SOCIETY ENDORSES AND PROVIDES IN-KIND AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OTHER SMALLER REGIONAL OR THEMATIC CONVENINGS OF MEMBERS.
  2. $27,852 spent. MEMBERSHIP & PUBLICATIONS - THE SOCIETY PUBLISHES THE "COMPARATIVE EDUCATION REVIEW", THE LEADING JOURNAL IN THE FIELD. EACH YEAR THE JOURNAL RECEIVES ABOUT 200 SUBMISSIONS FROM SCHOLARS AROUND THE GLOBE, UNDERTAKES FURTHER REVIEW OF ABOUT HALF THE SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPTS, AND PUBLISHES APPROXIMATELY TWENTY ARTICLES AND 20-30 BOOK REVIEWS IN ITS FOUR QUARTERLY ISSUES. THE JOURNAL'S STANDING IS CONFIRMED BY HIGH CITATION RATES AND A GOOD IMPACT FACTOR. IN ADDITION, A NEWSLETTER IS PRODUCED FOR ELECTRONIC CIRCULATION SEVERAL TIMES EACH YEAR. THE NEWSLETTER HAS AT ITS PURPOSE THE DISSEMINATION OF NEWS ABOUT THE SOCIETY'S WORK AND THE WORK OF ITS MEMBERS, FOSTERING EXCHANGE ON ISSUES INTERNAL TO THE SOCIETY AND FOR THE FIELD AT LARGE.

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 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 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 January 1992.

    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.