American Knife and Tool Institute Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE INSTITUTE'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR INDUSTRY MEMBERS TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS AND TO PROMOTE KNIVES AS TOOLS, EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ON KNIFE ISSUES, AND MONITOR AND PROMOTE REASONABLE AND EFFECTIVE LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS.
- Income
- $204,908
- Spending
- $185,964
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $59,300, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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, 2025, 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, 2025, 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 (1)
- THE AMERICAN KNIFE AND TOOL INSTITUTE (AKTI) REPRESENTS ALL SEGMENTS OF THE KNIFE INDUSTRY AND ALL KNIFE USERS AND IS RECOGNIZED WORLD WIDE AS A RESPECTED, CREDIBLE AND ACCURATE SOURCE FOR LEGISLATIVE INPUT, LEGISLATION STATUS AND INDUSTRY INFORMATION PERTAINING TO KNIVES AND EDGED TOOLS. AKTI PROVIDES A FOCAL POINT FOR RESOURCES AND VOLUNTEER ENERGY IN THE SENSIBLE EVOLUTION, DEVELOPMENT, AND THE CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT OF KNIFE LEGISLATION. AKTI IS THE GO TO SOURCE FOR EDUCATIONAL CONTENT ABOUT THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF KNIVES AND EDGED TOOLS. AKTI HAS BEEN THE REASONABLE AND RESPONSIBLE VOICE OF THE KNIFEMAKING AND KNIFEUSING COMMUNITY SINCE 1998.TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION AKTI'S GOALS ARE TO: 1) PROMOTE DEVELOPED AND MAINTAINED RELATIONSHIPS TO MAKE CHANGES TO LEGISLATION IN FOUR DIFFERENT STATES AND 1 FEDERAL INITIATIVE, PROMOTING KNIVES AS VALUABLE EVERYDAY TOOLS. SUPPORTED THE CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN'S FOUNDATION ANNUAL EVENT (APPROXIMATELY 100 FEDERAL LEGISLATORS AND STAFF), THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF SPORTSMEN'S CAUCUS (APPROXIMATELY 200 STATE LEGISLATORS AND STAFF), HELD VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH LEGISLATORS AND KEY POLICY MAKERS REGARDING THE UTILITY OF KNIVES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF KNIVES AS TOOLS, AS WELL AS COMMON ISSUES IN KNIFE LAWS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.2) EDUCATE MAINTAIN CURRENT AND ACCURATE INFORMATION ON THE KNIFE LAWS IN ALL 50 STATES, D.C., AND ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL. 3) INFORM ASSISTED OVER 20 INDIVIDUALS WITH LEGAL ISSUES AND/OR REFERRED TO ATTORNEYS OR EXPERTS FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. ANSWERED NUMEROUS QUESTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES REGARDING SPECIFIC KNIFE LAW QUESTIONS IN THEIR CITY OR STATE. PROVIDED INFORMATION ON DEALING WITH COUNTERFEIT KNIVES, EXPORTING KNIVES AND HOW TO START A KNIFE BUSINESS. COMMUNICATED BY EMAIL WITH MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS (OVER 30 TIMES) ON LEGISLATIVE OR EDUCATIONAL ISSUES. DISTRIBUTED OVER 500 BROCHURES FOR FIRST TIME KNIFE USERS. DISTRIBUTED OVER 1,000 CARDS ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A KNIFE USER. PUBLISHED 12 ARTICLES EXPLAINING KNIFE LAWS AND ISSUES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 November 1999.
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.