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Governors Highway Safety Association Ghsa

EIN 52-1021004 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY FOR THE STATES AND TERRITORIES TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY, INFLUENCE NATIONAL POLICY, ENHANCE PROGRAM MANANGEMENT, AND PROMOTE BEST PRACTICES.

Income
$10.0 million
Spending
$9.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 37%
Employees
15
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$345,264, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 June 30, 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. $3.0 million spent. BEHAVIORAL TRAFFIC SAFETY COOPERATIVE RESEARCH - THIS PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED TO RESEARCH AND EVALUATE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS AND COUNTERMEASURES THAT ARE READY TO BE USED BY TRAFFIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS AND HIGHWAY SAFETY PROFESSIONALS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.
  2. $2.0 million spent. INDUSTRY RESEARCH, DATA, & EDUCATION & MEMBER SERVICES - THIS PROGRAM CAPTURES GHSA'S ENGAGEMENT IN INDUSTRY RESEARCH, METICULOUS DATA ANALYSIS, AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. GHSA COLLABORATES WITH DIVERSE PARTNERS ON EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, INCLUDING FORD'S DRIVING SKILLS FOR LIFE AND OTHER TRAINING PROGRAMS TAILORED FOR STATE HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICES (SHSOS). FURTHERMORE, GHSA'S PARTNERS ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE RESOURCES DEDICATED TO ASSISTING STATES IN CREATING SAFER ROADWAYS. GHSA DISSEMINATES REPORTS ADDRESSING CRITICAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ISSUES TO ITS MEMBERS AND PARTNERS, LEVERAGING INSIGHTS DERIVED FROM INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS.
  3. $1.1 million spent. ANNUAL MEETING - GHSA HOLDS AN ANNUAL MEETINGS TO JOIN COLLEAGUES AND PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT OFFER EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, A MARKETPLACE FOR NEW PRODUCTS AND IDEAS, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
  4. $656,521 spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES - DISCOUNTS ON EXPENSES DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ARE OFFERED EXCLUSIVELY TO GHSA MEMBERS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE SEMINARS, CONSULTANT SERVICE INITIATIVES AND OTHER MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE OFFERINGS.
  5. $754,551 spent. SAFETY GRANT PARTNERSHIPS - GHSA PARTNERS WITH BOTH NON-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AIMED AT PROMOTING GHSA'S VISION TO HELP LEAD STATES AND TERRITORIES TOWARD ZERO DEATHS ON THE NATION'S ROADWAYS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 June 1976.

    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.