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National Center for State Courts

EIN 52-0914250 · Williamsburg, VA

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

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

What it says it does

SINCE 1971, THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS (THE CENTER) PARTNERS WITH STATE COURTS IN THEIR EVOLUTION INTO MODERN GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS AND HELPS TO INTRODUCE EFFICIENCY AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS INTO THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION) TO ENSURE IMPARTIALITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE CENTER PROVIDES RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. IT PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE COURTS THROUGH CONSULTING, SERVES AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR INFORMATION SHARING WITHIN THE COURT COMMUNITY, IDENTIFIES EMERGING COST-CUTTING PRACTICES, DEVELOPS COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR COURT OPERATIONS, AND DESIGNS LEADERSHIP TRAINING/EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR STATE COURT LEADERS. THE CENTER IS EDUCATING A NEW GENERATION OF COURT LEADERS, PROVIDING STATE-OF-THE-ART RESOURCES TO COURT EXECUTIVES, AND ENSURING THAT THE STATE JUDICIARIES BECOME EFFECTIVE PARTNERS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

Income
$104.3 million
Spending
$105.8 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 84%
Employees
365
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$412,012, president and ceo

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 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

    26 of 26 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 (5)
  1. $69.4 million spent. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS - THE CENTER CONDUCTED APPROXIMATELY 75 PROJECTS IN 2024 IN DIVERSE AREAS INCLUDING JUDICIAL GOVERNANCE, JUDICIAL EDUCATION, COURT TECHNOLOGY, ACCESS TO JUSTICE, ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND ANTI CORRUPTION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, JUVENILE JUSTICE AND TRANSNATIONAL AND ORGANIZED CRIME. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING AND TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE JUSTICE SYSTEMS AND SERVICES AROUND THE WORLD.
  2. $13.6 million spent. DIRECT SERVICES TO STATE AND LOCAL COURTS - THE CENTER SERVES AS A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCE FOR THE ADAPTATION OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COURTS THROUGH CONSULTING. THE CENTER PERFORMED APPROXIMATELY 210 INDIVIDUAL STATE CONTRACTS IN MANY AREAS, INCLUDING FOSTER CARE, HUMAN RESOURCES, AUTOMATION, BUDGET AND FINANCIAL ISSUES, JURIES, FACILITIES PLANNING, CASEFLOW MANAGEMENT AND COURT INTERPRETATION.
  3. $4.9 million spent. RESEARCH PROGRAMS - PROGRAM DELIVERS ITS SERVICES IN DATA QUALITY, GOVERNANCE, AND ANALYSIS - TURNING DATA INTO USEFUL, ACTIONABLE INFORMATION, HELP COURTS PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE THROUGH TRENDSPOTTING, ANTICIPATING CHALLENGES AND NEEDS.
  4. $3.3 million spent. CLEARINGHOUSE ACTIVITIES - THE CENTER SERVES AS A CLEARINGHOUSE THROUGH WHICH MEMBERS OF THE COURT COMMUNITY AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN COURTS CAN EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND ENCOURAGE IMPROVEMENTS IN STATE COURTS ADMINISTRATION. SPECIFIC SERVICES ARE: DISTRIBUTION OF COURT-RELATED PUBLICATIONS, COURT ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, AND INFORMATION SERVICES.
  5. $2.6 million spent. EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING - PROGRAMS PROVIDES COURSES AND TRAINING FOR COURT COMMUNITY.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 August 1971.

    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 November 4, 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.