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Amvets National Service Foundation

EIN 52-0970963 · Rockville, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AMVETS NATIONAL SERVICE FOUNDATION PROVIDES SUPPORT TO VETERANS THROUGH SERVICE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS PROVIDING COMMUNITY AND YOUTH-ORIENTED PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE UNITY AND PATRIOTISM. IT COUNSELS AND REPRESENTS VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS BEFORE THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION AT NO CHARGE TO THE VETERAN OR THEIR DEPENDENT.

Income
$20.2 million
Spending
$17.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
445
Volunteers
880
Highest pay
$224,651, finance director

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $12.6 million spent. THRIFT STORES OPERATIONS: THE FOUNDATION OPERATES THRIFT SHOPS, WHICH SELL DONATED CLOTHING AND MERCHANDISE TO WAR VETERANS, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ITS AIM IS TO PROVIDE LOW-COST SECOND-HAND GOODS TO WAR VETERANS AND THE PUBLIC. THE NET PROCEEDS OF THE OPERATION OF SUCH STORES ARE USED TO HELP FUND THE OTHER PROGRAMS OF THE FOUNDATION.
  2. $2.1 million spent. SERVICE TO VETERANS: THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO INFORM VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS OF POTENTIAL BENEFITS. AMVETS NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICERS (NSO), WHO ARE FUNDED BY THE FOUNDATION, ACT AS EDUCATORS, COUNSELORS AND ADVOCATES ASSURING THAT VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS RECEIVE ALL THE BENEFITS TO WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED UNDER THE CURRENT LAW. TO SUPPORT THESE FUNCTIONS, AMVETS NSOS WORKED DURING THE YEAR AT VETERANS ADMINISTRATION (VA) REGIONAL OFFICES, MILITARY BASES AND THE BOARD OF APPEALS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHO PROVIDED SERVICES TO THE ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY, VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE RESERVES AND SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS WITHOUT ANY CHARGE WHATSOEVER. ADDITIONALLY, AMVETS DEPARTMENT SERVICE OFFICERS AND ACCREDITED STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT SERVICE OFFICERS PROVIDE SERVICES TO VETERANS AT VARIOUS VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTERS AND COMMUNITY BASED OUT-PATIENT CLINICS.
  3. $155,830 spent. AMERICANISM: THE AMERICANISM PROGRAM OPERATES TO HEAL THE WOUNDS OF WAR AND PROMOTE THE UNITY OF PATRIOTISM. THESE FLAGS WERE DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT CHARGE. WE ALSO OFFER THE SCHOOLS AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS RESOURCES TO TEACH CHILDREN FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE ABOUT THEIR AMERICAN HERITAGE, CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP.
  4. $70,380 spent. CARILLON PROGRAM: THE CARILLON PROGRAM OPERATES TO HONOR ALL THOSE DEVOTED MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED WITH HONOR AND ARE NOW DECEASED. THE BELLS ARE A "LIVING" MEMORIAL AND SERVE TO REMIND US OF OUR LEGACY AND OF OUR DEBT TO THOSE WHO FOUGHT TO PRESERVE FREEDOM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THESE CHIMES ARE HEARD THROUGHOUT MANY NATIONAL CEMETERIES IN THE COUNTRY.

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 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 August 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 August 2004.

    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.