National Collegiate Athletic Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Provide a world-class athletics and academic experience for student-athletes that fosters lifelong well-being.
- Income
- $1.6 billion
- Spending
- $1.6 billion
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- -15.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 644
- Volunteers
- 2,500
- Highest pay
- $3.4 million, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 275% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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)
- $1.2 billion spent. THE NCAA GOVERNS AND ADMINISTERS COLLEGE SPORTS FOR MORE THAN 1,100 MEMBER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. THE NCAA OPERATES THROUGH A GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, EMPOWERING SCHOOLS IN EACH DIVISION TO GUIDE AND ENHANCE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN COLLEGE SPORTS. THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS, LED BY MEMBER SCHOOLS, SERVES AS THE SENIOR GOVERNING BODY OF THE NCAA. OUR DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES SCHOOLS WITH STUDENT BODIES THAT RANGE FROM HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS TO TENS OF THOUSANDS. THE CURRENT THREE-DIVISION STRUCTURE CREATES FAIR SPORTS COMPETITION FOR LIKE-MINDED INSTITUTIONS AND PROVIDES STUDENT-ATHLETES WITH A WIDE SPECTRUM OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. (Continued on Schedule O) THE NCAA SUPPORTS STUDENT-ATHLETE SUCCESS BY ENSURING STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THE COLLEGE CLASSROOM WHEN THEY ENTER SCHOOL AND THAT THEY CONTINUE TO PROGRESS TOWARD A DEGREE WHILE PLAYING SPORTS. THE NCAA NATIONAL OFFICE ALSO PROMOTES THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING OF STUDENT-ATHLETES THROUGH THE NCAA SPORT SCIENCE INSTITUTE, DRUG TESTING AND INSURANCE PROGRAMS. STUDENT-ATHLETES BENEFIT FROM NCAA PROGRAMS SUPPORTING LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, INTERNSHIPS, DEGREE COMPLETION AND POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS. THE NCAA FUNDS ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND FINANCIALLY ASSISTS STUDENT-ATHLETES IN NEED OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, CLOTHING AND EMERGENCY TRAVEL EXPENSES.
- $279.4 million spent. THE NCAA ADMINISTERS 92 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ANNUALLY. MORE THAN 54,000 STUDENT-ATHLETES EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF PARTICIPATING IN AN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP EVERY YEAR. THE NCAA'S CHAMPIONSHIP EXPENSES SUPPORT ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS AT MORE THAN 800 SITES, TEAM TRANSPORTATION, PER DIEM COSTS, PROGRAMS SALUTING STUDENT-ATHLETES, SPORT COMMITTEE EXPENSES AND FAN-APPRECIATION EVENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. 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)(3) charitable organization.
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? 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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 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 February 1956.
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.