Defensewerx Inc
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
INNOVATIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, TIMELY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR DEFENSE AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.
- Income
- $195.8 million
- Spending
- $195.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 100%
- Employees
- 131
- Volunteers
- 196
- Highest pay
- $427,648, former chief tech. officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 100% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 74% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 September 30, 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 (1)
- $194.8 million spent. PIA - PARTNERSHIP INTERMEDIARY AGREEMENT THAT INCLUDES INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND NEUTRAL FACILITATION. FOR INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION SERVICES THE ORGANIZATION CREATES AND MAINTAINS INNOVATION AND COLLOBORATION ENVIRONMENTS THAT ENABLE CUSTOMERS TO EFFECTIVELY EXPAND THEIR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECT'S PERFORMANCE. FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA TO EXPLORE INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVELY TRANSFERRING GOVERNMENT LABORATORY SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIES TO THE COMMERCIAL MARKETPLACE AND VICE VERSA. DEFENSEWERX HOSTS AND CONDUCTS FORUMS TO FACILITATE THE EXCHANGE OF TECHNOLOGY IDEAS BETWEEN GOVERMENT RESEARCHERS, COMMERCIAL ENTITIES AND ACADEMIC ENTITIES TO SHARE INFORMATION AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL COMMERCIALIZATION OPPORUNITIES.FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO SUPPORT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO THE CURRENT WORKFORCE TO ENHANCE OR EXPAND THEIR SKILL SETS IN A VARIETY OF BOTH TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL METHODS. THESE APPROACHES MAY RANGE FROM CLASSROOM STYLE FUNCTIONAL TRAINING, TO LEADERSHIP SEMINARS, TO CREATIVE WORKSHOPS OR GUEST LECTURERS. DEFENSEWERX ALSO WORKS WITH THE AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY, OKALOOSA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TO EXPOSE YOUNG STUDENTS TO HIGH-CALIBER SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 2013.
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.