Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Halifax International Security Forum

EIN 45-2826015 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

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

HALIFAX INTERNAITONAL SECURITY FORUM (HALIFAX) IS A FORUM AND A NETWORK FOR THOUGHTFUL AND ENGAGED DECISION-MAKERS FROM GOVERNMENTS, MILITARIES, BUSINESS, ACADEMIA AND THE MEDIA TO WORK TOGETHER TO MEET EMERGING THREATS IN A CHANGING WORLD.

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$7.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 51%
Employees
18
Highest pay
$534,266, president

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 124% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 (5)
  1. $5.2 million spent. HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORUM IS PROUD TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF INNOVATIVE AND INCLUSIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE WORLD'S SECURITY CHALLENGES. THE FORUM, OUR FLAGSHIP CONFERENCE IN HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA IS RECOGNIZED WIDELY AS NORTH AMERICA'S LEADING ANNUAL FORUM FOR THE DISCUSSION OF THE WORLD'S MOST PRESSING SECURITY CHALLENGES. HALIFAX ATTRACTS SENIOR POLITICIANS - INCLUDING A SIGNIFICANT DELEGATION FROM THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS - TOP MILITARY COMMANDERS, STRATEGISTS, THINKERS, INFLUENTIAL JOURNALISTS, AND BUSINESS LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE DEMOCRATIC WORLD.
  2. $221,878 spent. THE PEACE WITH WOMEN FELLOWSHIP BRINGS TOGETHER SENIOR ACTIVE-DUTY WOMEN MILITARY OFFICERS FROM NATO AND NATO-ALLIED COUNTRIES FOR A 3-WEEK EXECUTIVE TOUR TO MEET SENIOR POLITICIANS, MILITARY LEADERS, TECH INNOVATORS AND MEDIA LUMINARIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
  3. $60,810 spent. THE HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORUM (HFX) IS A LEADING GLOBAL EVENT WHERE LEADERS, MILITARY OFFICIALS, AND EXPERTS DISCUSS KEY SECURITY CHALLENGES, INCLUDING GEOPOLITICS, CYBERSECURITY, AND DEMOCRACY, FOSTERING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR GLOBAL STABILITY AND PEACE. HFX TAIPEI CONNECTING KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THE CITY TOUR, PRESS CONFERENCE, FORUMS, DINNER SESSIONS, NIGHT BAR, 5K RUN AND GALA DINNER, CREATING A PLATFORM FOR INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE AND COLLABORATION.
  4. $16,477 spent. THE CHINA PROGRAM IS A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT OUTLINING A NEW STRATEGY FOR THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES ACROSS THE GLOBE TO DEAL WITH THE RISING CHALLENGE FROM BEIJING.
  5. THE CHINA PROGRAM IS A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT OUTLINING A NEW STRATEGY FOR THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES ACROSS THE GLOBE TO DEAL WITH THE RISING CHALLENGE FROM BEIJING.

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 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 December 2013.

    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.