Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences Inc

EIN 52-0743814 · Bethesda, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCED EDUCATION IN THE SCIENCES, INC (FAES), LOCATED AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (HEREAFTER "NIH"), CONDUCTS ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE PRODUCTIVITY AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF PROFESSIONAL LIFE ON THE NIH CAMPUSES. FAES PROGRAMS COMPLEMENT THE WORK OF NIH IN ACCOMPLISHING ITS MISSION OF RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.

Income
$49.4 million
Spending
$43.3 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
13.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
35
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$418,226, ceo/executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 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 May 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 (4)
  1. $38.5 million spent. HEALTH INSURANCE:ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES/PLAN SPONSORSHIP FOR A GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO NIH TRAINEES WHO WORK AT OR FOR NIH, BUT ARE INELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE. NIH TRAINEES, ALSO REFERRED TO AS FELLOWS, ARE THE PRIMARY MARKET THAT FAES SERVES. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED HEALTH, VISION, AND DENTAL INSURANCE FOR OVER 6,000 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE YEAR, INCLUDING EXCELLENT BENEFITS, AFFORDABLE ANNUAL MAXIMUMS, AND LOW OUT-OF POCKET EXPENSES.
  2. $2.1 million spent. PROGRAM SUPPORT TO NIH:FAES PROVIDES FUNDING, FOOD, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND EVENTS IN SUPPORT OF NIH SUCH AS COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SYMPOSIA, CLASSICAL AND JAZZ MUSIC PERFORMANCES, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON LECTURES (WALS), ADMINISTRATION OF MEMORIALS, AND MORE. FAES ALSO PROVIDES LOW COST HOUSING TO NIH FELLOWS DURING THE YEAR.
  3. $1.4 million spent. ACADEMIC PROGRAMS:FAES SUPPORTS EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND PROFESSIONAL INITIATIVES OF THE NIH AND ACTIVELY SEEKS OUT WAYS TO FACILITATE A COLLEGIAL ENVIRONMENT. FAES OFFERS OVER 80 GRADUATE-LEVEL COURSES TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND WORKING IN A WORLD-CLASS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT AT NIH. FAES HAD 1,471 COURSE ENROLLMENTS DURING THE YEAR. FAES ALSO HAS PARTNERSHIPS FROM WHICH CREDITS CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO SEVERAL UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS. FAES OFFERS OVER 30 TRAINING WORKSHOPS TAUGHT BY NIH SCIENTISTS AND OTHER LEADING BIOMEDICAL FIELD EXPERTS. TRAINING WORKSHOPS INCLUDE 1-5 DAY SESSIONS.
  4. $462,699 spent. RETAIL:THE FAES BOOKSTORE@NIH HAS BEEN PROVIDING MEDICAL AND SCIENCE TEXTBOOK SERVICES TO NIH FOR OVER 60 YEARS. STEPS AWAY FROM MASUR AUDITORIUM AND THE FAES CLASSROOMS, THE BOOKSTORE@NIH IS IDEALLY LOCATED TO SUPPORT THE SPECIALIZED BOOK NEEDS OF FAES ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND THE NIH SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. FAES GIFTSTORE@NIH, LOCATED IN THE BUILDING 10 ATRIUM, AND THE B1GIFTSTORE@NIH, LOCATED ON THE B1 LEVEL OF BUILDING 10, EXPAND THE SELECTION OF QUALITY NIH IMPRINTED CLOTHING AND GIFTS FOR NIH EMPLOYEES, PATIENTS, AND VISITORS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, 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 May 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 January 1964.

    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.