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Society of Health and Physical Educators

EIN 52-0886491 · Annapolis Jct, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR VISION IS A NATION WHERE ALL CHILDREN ARE PREPARED TO LEAD HEALTHY, PHYSICALLY ACTIVE LIVES. OUR MISSION IS TO ADVANCE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND PROMOTE RESEARCH RELATED TO HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, DANCE AND SPORT.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 32%
Employees
23
Volunteers
450
Highest pay
$194,466, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% 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 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 August 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 (5)
  1. $921,764 spent. GOVERNMENT GRANTS: REPRESENTS REVNEUE AND COSTS ASSOCIAITED WITH GRANTS TO IMPROVE AND PROMOTE PHYSICAL EDUCATION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES.
  2. $630,938 spent. MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS: INCLUDES VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE MEMBER AND NON-MEMBER PROFESSIONALS IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH EDUCATION, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. MAJOR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MEMBERSHIP SERVICES, AFFILIATE SERVICES, MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS (NEWSLETTERS, WEB COMMUNICATIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, ETC.) PROVIDING THE LATEST NEWS AFFECTING THE DISCIPLINES WE SERVE; CONNECTION TO THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY OF EXPERTS AND PRACTITIONERS; AND MEMBER DIRECTED MARKETING.
  3. $1.1 million spent. NATIONAL CONVENTION: PROVIDES CONTINUING EDUCATION AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATTENDEES. ENCOURAGES THE EXCHANGE OF DIVERSE OPINIONS AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO REVIEW THE LATEST EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO THE PROFESSIONS WE SERVE. OFFERING HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, THE CONVENTION PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS, ENHANCE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE, EXCHANGE EXPERIENCES, AND STRENGTHEN THE PROFESSION. PROGRAM OFFERINGS STRENGTHEN THE SKILLS OF VETERANS AND FUTURE PROFESSIONALS ALIKE, AS WELL AS PROVIDING CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS.
  4. $603,118 spent. PERIODICALS: REPRESENTS COSTS INCURRED TO PRODUCE, EDIT, PRINT, AND DESIGN THE VARIOUS JOURNALS OF SHAPE AMERICA. THESE JOURNALS ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATORS, PROVIDE THE LATEST RESEARCH FINDINGS ON EXERCISE AND SPORT AND HEALTH, AND PROVIDE PRACTICAL INFORMATION AND IDEAS THAT WORK FOR SPORT, HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATORS OF ALL LEVELS. EXPENSES: 173,819 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 0 PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS: REPRESENTS HEALTH. MOVES. MINDS, AN EDUCATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM FOCUSED ON CORE AREAS RELATED TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS. EXPENSES: 275,206 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 89,319 PUBLIC RELATIONS AND OUTREACH: COSTS INCURRED TO ADVOCATE FOR EFFECTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SCHOOL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND POLICIES. EXPENSES: 111,178 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 2,683 OTHER PROGRAMS: SHAPE AMERICA PROVIDES VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE MEMBER AND NON-MEMBER PROFESSIONALS IN AREAS INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES AND NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH EDUCATION, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. RESEARCH AND AWARDS: REPRESENTS FUNDS RECEIVED AND USED TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATE CRITICAL ISSUES IN THE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION FIELDS AND TO PROVIDE AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE. PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS: REPRESENTS REVENUE AND COSTS TO PREPARE AND SELL PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE COURSES PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND DISSEMINATION OF NATIONAL STANDARDS. EXPESNES: 286,229 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 19,814 OTHER MEETING EVENTS: REPRESENTS REVENUE AND COSTS TO PROVIDE SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS, STUDENT AND OTHER LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION THROUGH CONFERENCE, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND WEBINARS. EXPENSES: 299,629 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 0
  5. PERIODICALS: REPRESENTS COSTS INCURRED TO PRODUCE, EDIT, PRINT, AND DESIGN THE VARIOUS JOURNALS OF SHAPE AMERICA. THESE JOURNALS ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATORS, PROVIDE THE LATEST RESEARCH FINDINGS ON EXERCISE AND SPORT AND HEALTH, AND PROVIDE PRACTICAL INFORMATION AND IDEAS THAT WORK FOR SPORT, HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATORS OF ALL LEVELS. EXPENSES: 173,819 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 0 PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS: REPRESENTS HEALTH. MOVES. MINDS, AN EDUCATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM FOCUSED ON CORE AREAS RELATED TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS. EXPENSES: 275,206 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 89,319 PUBLIC RELATIONS AND OUTREACH: COSTS INCURRED TO ADVOCATE FOR EFFECTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SCHOOL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND POLICIES. EXPENSES: 111,178 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 2,683 OTHER PROGRAMS: SHAPE AMERICA PROVIDES VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE MEMBER AND NON-MEMBER PROFESSIONALS IN AREAS INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES AND NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH EDUCATION, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. RESEARCH AND AWARDS: REPRESENTS FUNDS RECEIVED AND USED TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATE CRITICAL ISSUES IN THE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION FIELDS AND TO PROVIDE AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE. PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS: REPRESENTS REVENUE AND COSTS TO PREPARE AND SELL PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE COURSES PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND DISSEMINATION OF NATIONAL STANDARDS. EXPESNES: 286,229 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 19,814 OTHER MEETING EVENTS: REPRESENTS REVENUE AND COSTS TO PROVIDE SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS, STUDENT AND OTHER LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION THROUGH CONFERENCE, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND WEBINARS. EXPENSES: 299,629 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 2025.

    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 February 1972.

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