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Nsf International

EIN 38-1428955 · Ann Arbor, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NSF INTERNATIONAL IS A GLOBAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO IMPROVE HUMAN AND PLANET HEALTH.

Income
$203.1 million
Spending
$176.8 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
23.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
756
Highest pay
$3.1 million, president ceobod member

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

Strong: 96 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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 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 (7)
  1. $59.6 million spent. THE NSF WATER DIVISION CERTIFIES PRODUCTS THAT COME INTO CONTACT WITH DRINKING WATER; SUCH PRODUCTS INCLUDE PLUMBING COMPONENTS, WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS, DRINKING WATER FILTERS, AND POOL & SPA EQUIPMENT. NSF PIONEERED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR ALL MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS WHICH TREAT (OR COME IN CONTACT WITH) DRINKING WATER, TO HELP PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND MINIMIZE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS. IN 1990, THE U.S. EPA REPLACED ITS OWN DRINKING WATER PRODUCT ADVISORY PROGRAM WITH THESE NSF STANDARDS. TODAY, MOST PLUMBING CODES REQUIRE CERTIFICATION TO NSF STANDARDS FOR PIPES AND PLUMBING COMPONENTS IN COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
  2. $33.1 million spent. THE NSF GLOBAL LABS DIVISION PROVIDES ENGINEERING, CHEMISTRY, MICROBIOLOGY, AND TOXICOLOGY LAB AND TESTING SERVICES ACROSS ALL MAJOR INDUSTRIES IMPACTING PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, INCLUDING PLASTIC AND PLUMBING TESTING SERVICES. TESTING REVENUE GENERALLY CONSIST OF TESTING AND CERTIFYING PRODUCTS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE SAFETY STANDARDS, EACH OF WHICH CONTAIN TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OR OTHER PRECISE CRITERIA THAT PRODUCTS MUST MEET IN ORDER TO BE CERTIFIED AS COMPLIANT WITH REQUIREMENTS DESIGNED TO MITIGATE RISK, INJURY, OR HAZARDS TO THE PUBLIC. IF THE PRODUCT PASSES TESTING TO THE STANDARD, THEN CERTIFICATION IS GRANTED BASED ON SAID STANDARD. IF THE PRODUCT FAILS TESTING TO THE STANDARD, THE CUSTOMER MAY AGREE TO RETESTING OF THE PRODUCT OR RECEIVE A REPORT OF FAILURE. THE CUSTOMER MAY USE THE REPORT TO REMEDIATE PRODUCT FOR FUTURE TESTING TO THE STANDARD.
  3. $25.1 million spent. THE NSF LIFE SCIENCES DIVISION OFFERS REFERENCE STANDARDS, CERTIFICATION, AND TESTING SERVICES FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS ACROSS THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT AND COSMETICS, AND FUNCTIONAL FOOD INDUSTRIES TO HELP PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT AND MINIMIZE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS FROM SUCH PRODUCTS AND INDUSTRIES.
  4. $9.2 million spent. THE FOOD RETAIL & ASSURANCE DIVISION INCLUDES BOTH FOOD EQUIPMENT AND NONFOOD COMPOUNDS CERTIFICATION. THE FOOD EQUIPMENT PROGRAM TESTS AND CERTIFIES FOOD EQUIPMENT PRODUCTS FOR ACCEPTANCE ACROSS THE US, EUROPE, AND OTHER GLOBAL MARKETS. THE NONFOOD COMPOUNDS PROGRAM OFFERS RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS FOR NONFOOD COMPOUNDS AND PROPRIETARY SUBSTANCES (I.E., LUBRICANTS, CLEANERS, AND WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS USED IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROCESSING).
  5. $3.1 million spent. FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTIONS INCLUDES BOTH FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN AND FOOD PRODUCT CLAIMS BUSINESS WHICH FOCUSES ON ENSURING SAFETY ACROSS THE SUPPLY CHAIN. SERVICES INCLUDE INDEPENDENT TESTING, AUDITING, AND CERTIFICATION SERVICES TO ASSURE SUPPLIERS, RETAILER, REGULATORS, AND CONSUMERS THAT A PRODUCT OR SYSTEM HAS BEEN REVIEWED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS FOR SAFETY, QUALITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY OR PERFORMANCE.
  6. $1.4 million spent. THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESS INCLUDES BOTH STANDARDS AND TOXICOLOGY. UNDER THE STANDARDS PROGRAM, NSF FACILITATES THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING NEW STANDARDS AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR EXISTING STANDARDS, WHICH IS OVER 80 PUBLISHED DOCUMENTS. OUR TEAM WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE FOLLOWED AND THAT OUR STAKEHOLDERS ARE EQUIPPED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS LEADING TO CONSENSUS; THIS INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO SCHEDULE/COORDINATION OF MEETINGS, SHARING ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTATION (REFERENCE STANDARDS, DATA, MEETING SUMMARIES, ETC.), COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT AND LEADING THE BALLOTING PROCESS FOR NEW STANDARDS AND REVISIONS TO PUBLISHED STANDARDS. THE NSF TOXICOLOGY BUSINESS PROVIDES CHEMICAL HAZARD AND RISK CHARACTERIZATION IN THE WATER, FOOD, PESTICIDES AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS SPACES. SERVICES INCLUDE EVALUATION OF PRODUCT RISK OR SAFETY, EXPERT EVALUATION OF EXPOSURE BASED ON INTENDED USE OF PRODUCT, AS WELL AS ASSOCIATED RISK CHARACTERIZATION BASED ON CHEMICAL HAZARDS INCLUDING PRODUCT INGREDIENTS AND CONTAMINANTS.
  7. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4D, OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: THE FOOD RETAIL & ASSURANCE DIVISION INCLUDES BOTH FOOD EQUIPMENT AND NON-FOOD COMPOUNDS CERTIFICATION. THE FOOD EQUIPMENT PROGRAM TESTS AND CERTIFIES THE SAFETY OF FOOD EQUIPMENT THAT IS USED IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RESTAURANT SETTINGS WHERE FOOD IS PREPARED FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION FOR ACCEPTANCE ACROSS THE US, EUROPE, AND OTHER GLOBAL MARKETS. THE NON-FOOD COMPOUNDS PROGRAM OFFERS RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS TO HELP ENSURE THE PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY OF NON-FOOD COMPOUNDS AND PROPRIETARY SUBSTANCES (I.E., LUBRICANTS, CLEANERS, AND WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS USED IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROCESSING). EXPENSES: $9,181,279 REVENUE: $24,369,032 ___________________________________________________________________________________THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTIONS DIVISION FOCUSES ON ENSURING SAFETY ACROSS THE SUPPLY CHAIN, INCLUDING THROUGH INDEPENDENT TESTING, AUDITING, AND CERTIFICATION TO ASSURE SUPPLIERS, RETAILERS, REGULATORS, AND CONSUMERS THAT A PRODUCT OR SYSTEM HAS BEEN REVIEWED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, SAFETY, AND SUSTAINABILITY. EXPENSES: $3,130,767 REVENUE: $2,663,131 _________________________________________________________________________THE STANDARDS AND TOXICOLOGY PROGRAMS PROMOTE PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, SAFETY, AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY STANDARDS AND CONDUCT OF TOXICOLOGY RISK ASSESSMENTS. UNDER THE STANDARDS PROGRAM, NSF FACILITATES THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SAFETY STANDARDS AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR EXISTING SAFETY STANDARDS, WHICH INCLUDE OVER 80 PUBLISHED DOCUMENTS CONTAINING TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OR OTHER PRECISE CRITERIA THAT PRODUCTS MUST MEET IN ORDER TO BE CERTIFIED AS COMPLIANT WITH REQUIREMENTS DESIGNED TO MITIGATE RISK, INJURY, OR HAZARDS TO THE PUBLIC. ALL STANDARDS ARE DEVELOPED AND MAINTAINED THROUGH A CONSENSUS-BASED PROCESS THAT ENSURES BALANCED INPUT FROM A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE SCOPE OF THE STANDARD, SUCH AS INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, PUBLIC HEALTH AND REGULATORY OFFICIALS, CERTIFICATION BODIES, TESTING LABS, AND USERS. OUR TEAM WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THIS PROCESS ARE FOLLOWED AND THAT OUR STAKEHOLDERS ARE EQUIPPED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS LEADING TO CONSENSUS. THE NSF TOXICOLOGY PROGRAM PROVIDES CHEMICAL HAZARD RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK-BASED SOLUTIONS SERVICES TO EVALUATE EVERYDAY CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INGREDIENTS, AND CONTAMINANTS; IDENTIFY CHEMICAL HAZARD AND TOXICOLOGY RISKS; AND PROTECT PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT FROM HARMFUL CHEMICALS AND SUBSTANCES. EXPENSES: $1,434,166 REVENUE: $1,136,021

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 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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 February 1968.

    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 October 21, 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.