Natural Stone Institute
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE NATURAL STONE INSTITUTE'S MISSION STATEMENT IS: TO LEAD, SUPPORT, AND PROMOTE A UNIFIED NATURAL STONE INDUSTRY THROUGH AUTHORITIVE INFORMATION, EDUCATION, STANDARDS, AND ADVOCACY. ADDITIONALLY, ITS CORE VALUES INCLUDE LEADERSHIP, STEWARDSHIP, COLLABORATION, AND PROFESSIONALISM.THE NATURAL STONE INSTITUTE (NSI) WAS FORMED IN 2018 AS A MERGER OF THE MARBLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA (MIA) AND THE BUILDING STONE INSTITUTE (BSI). THE BUILDING STONE INSTITUTE WAS FORMED IN 1894 AS THE INTERNATIONAL CUT STONE CONTRACTORS AND QUARRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION; THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO THE BUILDING STONE INSTITUTE IN 1955. ESTABLISHED IN 1903 AS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MARBLE DEALERS, THE MARBLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA OFFICIALLY FORMED IN 1944, WHEN THE ASSOCIATION MERGED WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MARBLE PRODUCERS. IN 1962, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MARBLE BUILDERS MERGED WITH MARBLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $256,314, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (5)
- $1.1 million spent. ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS:THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A VARIETY OF PRINT AND ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING A BI-MONTHLY MEMBER NEWSLETTER AND MAGAZINE FOR THE DESIGN COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES THE DIMENSION STONE DESIGN MANUAL, A TECHNICAL PUBLICATION CONTAINING SPECIFICATIONS AND TECHNICAL DATA REGARDING WORKING WITH NATURAL STONE. CONSUMER BROCHURES AND SAFETY RESOURCES ARE ALSO PROVIDED.
- $440,721 spent. INDUSTRY EDUCATION:THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR NATURAL STONE PROFESSIONALS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING OUTLETS: TRADE SHOWS, REGIONAL SEMINARS, ONLINE EDUCATION, AND WEBINARS. CONTINUING EDUCATION TO THE ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN COMMUNITY IS PROVIDED THROUGH TRADE SHOWS, ONLINE EDUCATION, WEBINARS, AND IN PERSON SEMINARS.
- $167,211 spent. PROMOTION OUTREACH (TRADE ADVERTISING AND TRADE SHOW PARTICIPATION):NSI ADVERTISES REGULARLY TO PROMOTE THE ATTRIBUTES OF, AND THE USE OF, NATURAL STONE TO ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS, AND KITCHEN & BATH DEALERS. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO EXHIBITS AT SEVERAL TRADE SHOWS IN THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONALLY PROMOTING THE USE OF NATURAL STONE AS WELL AS THE TECHNICAL STANDARDS PUBLISHED BY THE NATURAL STONE INSTITUTE.
- NATURAL STONE INSTITUTE MANAGES TWO CREDENTIALING PROGRAMS ACCREDITATION PROGRAM: NSI ACCREDITATION FOR NATURAL STONE FABRICATORS AND COMMERCIAL CONTRACTORS RECOGNIZES THOSE COMPANIES THAT MEET THE INDUSTRY'S HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR BUSINESS ACTIVITIES, PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE, FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION. TO EARN NSI ACCREDITATION, A COMPANY MUST COMPLETE AN INTENSIVE, RIGOROUS PROCESS THAT INCLUDES DOCUMENTATION OF ITS BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES, LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, A WRITTEN EXAMINATION AND SITE VISITS TO THE FACILITY AND COMPLETED JOBS. SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD: THE NATURAL STONE SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD (ANSI/NSI 373) EXAMINES AND VERIFIES NUMEROUS AREAS OF NATURAL STONE PRODUCTION; EFFECTIVELY IMPROVING THE BASELINE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF NATURAL STONE. THE NSI CONTRACTS WITH NSF INTERNATIONAL TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM AND UTILIZES A SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE PROGRAM. ADVERTISING THE NATURAL STONE INSTITUTE CONTINUES TO ADVERTISE ON BEHALF OF THE NATURAL STONE INDUSTRY IN PUBLICATIONS CATERING TO DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS. THIS OUTREACH IS CRUCIAL TO OUR MISSION OF PROMOTING THE USE OF NATURAL STONE AND TO EXPOSING THE DESIGN COMMUNITY TO NSI MEMBER COMPANIES. EDUCATION: CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM (CEU) FOR ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS NSI CONTINUES TO BE A CEU PROVIDER FOR THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (AIA), NATIONAL KITCHEN & BATH ASSOCIATION (NKBA), AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS (ASID), GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATION INC (GBCI), INTERIOR DESIGNERS OF CANADA (IDC), INTERIOR DESIGN EDUCATORS COUNCIL (IDEC), INTERNATIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN ASSOCIATION (IIDA), AND THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE CONTINUING EDUCATION SYSTEM (LA CES) WHICH IS A COLLABORATION OF: THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS (ASLA), CANADIAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS (CSLA), COUNCIL OF EDUCATORS IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE (CELA), COUNCIL OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL REGISTRATION BOARDS (CLARB), LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL ACCREDITATION BOARD (LAAB), AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION (LAF). IN 2004, NSI (AS MIA) INTRODUCED A "TRAIN THE TRAINER" PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO ARCHITECTS USING THE ASSOCIATION'S PRESENTATION MATERIALS AND AIA CEU PROVIDER STATUS. THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW, AND MAJOR PROMOTION AND TRAINING WAS CONTINUED IN 2023. EDUCATION: ONLINE LEARNING NSI PROVIDES OVER 150 HOURS OF ONLINE TRAINING AVAILABLE THROUGH THE PORTAL WWW.UOFSTONE.ORG. TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE: SAFETY, GEOLOGY, SALES AND MARKETING, AND BUSINESS BEST PRACTICES. NSI ALSO OFFERS A LIVE WEBINAR PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS, THE DESIGN COMMUNITY, AND THE STONE INDUSTRY, COVERING TOPICS RANGING FROM VIRTUAL QUARRY TOURS TO TECHNICAL TOPICS AND PROJECT CASE STUDIES. EDUCATION: STONE INDUSTRY EDUCATION SERIES THE STONE INDUSTRY EDUCATION SERIES BRINGS DAY-LONG EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TO STONE FABRICATORS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL FABRICATION COMPANY, INCREASING PROFIT, RECRUITING AND RETAINING TALENT, DIVERSIFYING BUSINESS, AND UNDERSTANDING SAFETY REGULATIONS. EDUCATION: NATURAL STONE RESOURCE LIBRARY OVER 300 TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS FROM THE NATURAL STONE INSTITUTE AND OTHER INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD THROUGH THE NATURAL STONE RESOURCE LIBRARY. DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE TO MEMBERS AND THE DESIGN COMMUNITY. THIS SEARCHABLE DATABASE HAS BECOME A TRUSTED RESOURCE FOR STONE COMPANIES, ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS, AND CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS. ENDORSED PARTNER PROGRAM NATURAL STONE INSTITUTE MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS THROUGH OUR ENDORSED PARTNER PROGRAM. DISCOUNTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTIONS, CREDIT CARD PROCESSING, SHIPPING, LIABILITY INSURANCE, AND OFFICE SUPPLIES. AWARDS (INDIVIDUAL): BYBEE PRIZE THIS AWARD IS PRESENTED TO AN INDIVIDUAL ARCHITECT OR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT FOR A BODY OF WORK EXECUTED OVER TIME AND DISTINGUISHED BY OUTSTANDING DESIGN AND USE OF NATURAL STONE. THE AWARD IS NAMED IN HONOR OF JAMES DANIEL BYBEE, A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE BUILDING STONE INSTITUTE. AWARDS (INDIVIDUAL): CRAFTSMAN OF THE YEAR THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES ONE CRAFTSMAN WHO HAS PHYSICALLY PERFORMED OUTSTANDING STONE FABRICATION AND/OR INSTALLATION OVER A PERIOD OF MANY YEARS. THE INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE SERVED AS AN APPRENTICE STONE MASON AND RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS AS JOURNEYMAN STONE MASON, FOREMAN AND SUPERINTENDENT (OR EQUIVALENT), AS WELL AS SHOWN A SOLID TRACK RECORD OF LEADERSHIP AND MENTORSHIP. AWARDS (INDIVIDUAL): DAVID FELL SPIRIT OF SERVICE AWARD INTRODUCED IN 2022, THIS AWARD IS PRESENTED TO A COMPANY OR INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE GARY SINISE FOUNDATION R.I.S.E. PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE THEIR EFFORTS FOR DEMONSTRATING THE QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF LEADERSHIP WITHIN THEIR COMPANY, THE COMMUNITY, AND BEYOND. AWARDS (INDIVIDUAL): MIGLIORE AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT THE MIGLIORE AWARD WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2003 TO RECOGNIZE AN INDIVIDUAL (ON A YEARLY BASIS) WHO HAS MADE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL STONE INDUSTRY AND THE ASSOCIATION. THE AWARD IS NAMED FOR MIA'S LONG-TIME TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, THE LATE VINCENT R. MIGLIORE, WHO WAS ITS FIRST RECIPIENT. AWARDS (INDIVIDUAL): PERSON OF THE YEAR THIS AWARD IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS PROVIDED EXTENSIVE SUPPORT TO THE ASSOCIATION'S EXECUTIVE TEAM DURING THE PAST YEAR. AWARDS (INDIVIDUAL): WOMEN IN STONE PIONEER AWARD THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES AN ADVOCATE WITHIN THE STONE INDUSTRY FOR THEIR ROLE IN RECRUITING, RETAINING, AND ADVANCING WOMEN. THIS AWARD HAS BEEN PRESENTED ANNUALLY SINCE 2017. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (TWO OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE) NATURAL STONE SCHOLARSHIP: THIS SCHOLARSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2004 TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASPIRING FABRICATORS, INSTALLERS, OR ADMINISTRATIVE APPRENTICES INTERESTED IN FURTHERING THEIR CAREERS WITHIN THE NATURAL STONE INDUSTRY. THE SCHOLARSHIP COVERS TRAVEL AND REGISTRATION COSTS FOR ONE OR MORE RECIPIENTS TO STONEXPO/MARMOMAC AT TISE. WOMEN IN STONE EMPO
- TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT A POPULAR MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT IS COMPLIMENTARY ACCESS TO NSI'S TECHNICAL STAFF. THE TECHNICAL STAFF RECEIVES THOUSANDS OF CALLS A YEAR AND ASSISTS MEMBER COMPANIES, AS WELL AS DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS, WITH ALL SORTS OF TECHNICAL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE PROPER USE OF NATURAL STONE. SITE VISIT AND EVALUATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO BOTH MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS ON A FEE BASIS. CONSULTATIVE SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED IN THE AREAS OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION, EXPERT WITNESS, INDUSTRY STANDARD INTERPRETATION AND COMMERCIAL PRACTICE EVALUATION, PROVIDING NSI WITH ADDITIONAL INCOME FROM THE TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT. NSI'S TECHNICAL DIRECTOR ALSO PERFORMS COMPLIANCE AUDITS FOR APPLICANTS OF COMMERCIAL B ACCREDITATION AND REPRESENTS THE STONE INDUSTRY'S INTEREST ON SEVEN TECHNICAL COMMITTEES INCLUDING ASTM, ANSI, AND TCNA. THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE CONTINUED WORK ON A NEW RELEASE OF THE DIMENSION STONE DESIGN MANUAL (DSDM), WHICH IS THE SINGLE SOURCE REFERENCE FOR DIMENSIONAL STONE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FACTS AND DETAILS. NATURAL STONE TESTING SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE INSTITUTE'S TESTING LAB IN OHIO. TESTING SERVICES AVAILABLE INCLUDE: SEVERAL ASTM TESTS, ANSI DYNAMIC COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION, AND FREEZE/THAW TESTING. TRADE SHOW PARTICIPATION TRADE SHOW PARTICIPATION IS VITAL TO MEMBERSHIP GATHERING OPERATIONS AND PROMOTING THE USE OF NATURAL STONE. THE ASSOCIATION PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL LIVE TRADE SHOWS IN 2024, BOTH IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD. WEBSITE NSI'S WEBSITE, WWW.NATURALSTONEINSTITUTE.ORG SERVES AS AN ONLINE PORTAL TO A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT NATURAL STONE FOR STONE COMPANIES, CONSUMERS, ARCHITECTS, AND DESIGNERS. THE WEBSITE HOUSES AN ARCHIVE OF MEMBER NEWSLETTERS, TECHNICAL BULLETINS, VIDEO PROGRAMS, AN ONLINE STORE, AND MUCH MORE INFORMATION ON NEARLY EVERY PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY NSI. WOMEN IN STONE THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO RECRUIT, RETAIN, AND ADVANCE WOMEN IN THE STONE INDUSTRY. A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE INCLUDING A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. WIS ALSO OFFERS A YEARLY SCHOLARSHIP AND AWARD TO PARTICIPANTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
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 October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 December 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 October 1990.
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 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.