American Geological Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The American Geosciences Institute represents and serves the geoscience community by providing collaborative leadership and information to connect Earth, science, and people.
- Income
- $5.5 million
- Spending
- $5.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 12.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 70%
- Employees
- 50
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $274,483, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 82 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 September 30, 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 (6)
- $2.3 million spent. GeoRef: The computerized bibliographic database records and indexes the world's geoscience literature making this information accessible to earth scientists and the general public. Established by the American Geosciences Institute in 1966, the GeoRef database provides access to the geoscience literature of the world. GeoRef is the most comprehensive database in the geosciences and continues to grow by more than 100,000 references a year. The database contains over 4 million references to geoscience journal articles, books, maps, conference papers, reports and theses.
- $721,775 spent. Education: AGI's Education Program include awards for excellence in teaching K-12 Earth science, working in partnership with commercial publishers to provide exemplary Earth science curricula, offering both face-to-face and online Earth science professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers, a collection of resources to aid in K-12 Earth science teaching, and online resources for professional geoscientists working with classroom teachers.
- $288,183 spent. Geoscience Policy Program: The Geoscience Policy program works with AGI member societies and federal policy makers to advocate on behalf of the shared interests of the geoscience profession. Geoscience Policy program staff track and analyze policy issues; update the geoscience community through news briefs that cover federal legislation, appropriations, and hearings; and organize meetings, briefings, testimony and written submissions on geoscience policy issues.
- $255,167 spent. Workforce: Includes geoscience workforce data, resources for higher education and careers in the geosciences, and special programs such as the Geoscience Online Learning Initiative (GOLI), an AGI-AIPG collaboration providing free on-demand courses.The AGI Workforce Program was built on data collection and analysis. Since 1955, AGI has maintained databases of academic geoscience programs in the United States, and more recently, globally. In addition, the Workforce Program also conducts regular surveys on geoscience graduates and reports on the state of the geoscience workforce biennially. We also provide baseline data from federal and industry sources on general interest items, such as salaries and employment levels.
- $114,830 spent. Center for Geoscience & Society: The mission of AGI's Center for Geoscience and Society is to enhance geoscience awareness across all sectors of society. The Center accomplishes this by generating new approaches to building geoscience knowledge, engaging the widest possible range of stakeholders, and creatively promoting existing and new resources and programs.
- $6,671 spent. AGI Publications: Since 1948, AGI has provided premier publishing, curriculum development, and information services to the geoscience community. Representing over fifty earth science societies and other community cooperatives, AGI's publishing efforts increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in our world. AGI's reference books (Glossary of Geology, The Geoscience Handbook, Directory of Geoscience Departments) provide critical knowledge to the geoscience student or professional. Our educational products, such as those related to Earth Science Week and classroom curricula, steer future geoscientists to the right path and AGI's reports on the geoscientific academic community and the workforce feature crucial information and statistics extremely important for the recent, or soon-to-be, college graduate.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1964.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Gemological Institute of America Inc (Carlsbad, CA), EIN 95-3797687. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.