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National Council for History Education Inc

EIN 34-1651020 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR HISTORY EDUCATION IS A NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT ELEVATES THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF HISTORY THROUGH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND ADVOCACY.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
9
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$116,502, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 June 30, 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. $2.5 million spent. NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR HISTORY EDUCATION (NCHE) CHAMPIONS HISTORY EDUCATION AND UPLIFTS HISTORY EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS. AS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, NCHE ELEVATES THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF HISTORY THROUGH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND ADVOCACY. SINCE 2019, NCHE HAS BEEN AWARDED FIVE GRANTS FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS ACADEMIES) TO SUPPORT TEACHERS IN FLORIDA, MICHIGAN, MISSOURI, AND KANSAS. NCHE HAS ALSO RECEIVED SEVERAL NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES GRANTS, WHICH ARE OPEN TO TEACHER PARTICIPANTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF RECEIVING GRANTS FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS TEACHING WITH PRIMARY SOURCES PROGRAM, IN 2025 NCHE WAS NAMED ONE OF THE TPS'S SIX REGIONAL PROGRAMS; THIS GRANT ALLOWS NCHE TO SUBGRANT FUNDS TO EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN FIVE GREAT PLAINS STATES (MONTANA, WYOMING, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, AND OKLAHOMA). NCHE CONTINUES TO SERVE TEACHERS FROM PRIOR TPS GRANTS, INCLUDING TEACHERS IN RURAL MAINE.
  2. $217,264 spent. NCHE FOSTERS COMMUNITY AND CONNECTEDNESS AT OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WHICH CONVENES MORE THAN 500 TEACHERS, SCHOLARS, PUBLIC HISTORIANS, EDUCATION PROFESSORS, AND OTHERS ENGAGED IN HISTORY EDUCATION SPACES. AT THE CONFERENCE, TEACHERS LEARN FROM EACH OTHER IN BREAKOUT SESSIONS, EXHIBITORS CONNECT WITH TEACHERS IN A VIBRANT EXHIBIT HALL, AND KEYNOTES ENGAGE ATTENDEES IN DISCUSSIONS OF HISTORICAL TOPICS AND FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS OF THE PAST. THE CONFERENCE'S HOST CITY VARIES ANNUALLY, ENABLING NCHE TO DRAW UPON AND HIGHLIGHT THE RICH LOCAL HISTORY IN VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. IN 2025, THE CONFERENCE TOOK PLACE IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.
  3. $45,983 spent. AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT STRIVES TO SUPPORT HISTORY EDUCATORS AT ALL LEVELS OF INSTRUCTION, NCHE PROVIDES A VARIETY OF RESOURCES. ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS RECEIVE OUR DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, HISTORY MATTERS!, 10 TIMES A YEAR. MEMBERS ALSO RECEIVE ACCESS TO THE TIME TRAVELERS NETWORK, DISCOUNTS ON EVENT REGISTRATION, THE NCHE CAREER CENTER, AND THE MEMBERS ONLY SECTION OF THE WEBSITE. NCHE ALSO OFFERS FREE WEBINARS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHICH ARE OPEN TO ANYONE. THE HISTORY'S HABITS OF MIND, PART OF NCHE'S FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORK, IS A GROWING RESOURCE ON OUR WEBSITE. THE FRIDAY LIVESTREAM WITH DR. JOANNE FREEMAN FROM YALE (HISTORY MATTERS ... AND SO DOES COFFEE!), CONTINUED THROUGH THE END OF 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 October 1990.

    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.