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United States Naval Institute

EIN 52-0643040 · Annapolis, MD

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE AN INDEPENDENT FORUM FOR THOSE WHO DARE TO READ, THINK, SPEAK, AND WRITE TO ADVANCE THE PROFESSIONAL, LITERARY, AND SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF SEA POWER AND OTHER ISSUES CRITICAL TO GLOBAL SECURITY.

Income
$11.0 million
Spending
$10.7 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 37%
Employees
75
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$387,646, ceo, publisher, dir

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

Fair: 53 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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 (4)
  1. $4.7 million spent. PUBLISHING COSTS:INCLUDES COSTS OF PRODUCING PROCEEDINGS WHICH IS AN INDEPENDENT, OPEN FORUM FOR ARTICLES FROM NAVAL PROFESSIONALS AND CIVILIAN CONTRIBUTORS FEATURING CURRENT PROFESSIONAL TOPICS AND ISSUES. ALSO, NAVAL HISTORY MAGAZINE SHOWCASES HISTORICAL TOPICS WITH FOCUS ON THE SEA SERVICES. ADDITIONALLY, THE NAVAL INSTITUTE PRESS, WHICH IS THE BOOK-PUBLISHING ARM OF THE NAVAL INSTITUTE PUBLISHES ABOUT SEVENTY TITLES EACH YEAR, RANGING FROM BOOKS ON NAVIGATION TO BATTLE HISTORIES, UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCE BOOKS, BIOGRAPHIES, SHIP AND AIRCRAFT GUIDES, AND NOVELS.
  2. $1.0 million spent. CONFERENCE EXPENSES:THE INSTITUTE PROVIDES FOR VARIOUS SEMINARS AND MEETINGS THROUGHOUT ITS FISCAL YEAR ON CURRENT AND HISTORICAL TOPICS. THESE MEETINGS OFFER A CONCENTRATED OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND DISCUSSION OF KEY NAVAL ISSUES AMONG NAVAL PROFESSIONALS ANDOTHERS.
  3. $240,930 spent. SPECIAL PROJECTS:REPRESENT VARIOUS PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN TO ADVANCE THE PROFESSIONAL, LITERARY, AND SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF SEA POWER AND OTHER ISSUES CRITICAL TO GLOBAL SECURITY.
  4. $493,300 spent. ROYALTIES: REPRESENT AGREED-UPON PAYMENTS MADE BY THE INSTITUTE TO VARIOUS AUTHORS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE BOOKS. THE AMOUNT OF THE ROYALTY IS BASED UPON THE ACTUAL SALES OF THE RESPECTIVE BOOKS AND ANY SALES OF SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1942.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 31, 1990. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

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