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National Italian American Foundation Inc

EIN 52-1071723 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION (NIAF) IS A NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION THAT PROMOTES ITALIAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE. THE NIAF SERVES AS A RESOURCE IN THE ITALIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND HAS EDUCATIONAL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, HERITAGE TRAVEL, AND MENTORING. THE NIAF ALSO HAS A PUBLIC POLICY SPEAKERS PROGRAM. THE NIAF'S MISSION ALSO INCLUDES ADVANCING US - ITALY RELATIONS.

Income
$6.1 million
Spending
$6.8 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
11
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$428,375, president

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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    49 of 49 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 (4)
  1. $2.4 million spent. GALA DINNER: AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT HONORS DISTINGUISHED ITALIAN AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR PROFESSIONS IN SUCH FIELDS AS EDUCATION, HUMANITARIANISM, BUSINESS, ENTERTAINMENT, SCIENCE, AND SPORTS. PROCEEDS FROM THE DINNER SUPPORT NIAF'S CULTURAL, SCHOLARSHIP, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
  2. $1.3 million spent. SCHOLARSHIPS/ GRANTS: APPROXIMATELY $970K WAS AWARDED FOR GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS. SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PRESENTED TO STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE AND GRADUATE LEVELS. GRANTS WERE AWARDED FOR SUCH CATEGORIES AS GENERAL UNDERGRADUATE, WOMEN'S STUDIES, ITALIAN LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATIONS, ETC.
  3. $270,060 spent. MEMBER SERVICES: TIERED MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM OFFERING VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EACH LEVEL OF MEMBERSHIP. MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT HAS ALLOWED NIAF TO EXPAND ITS MANY YOUTH PROGRAMS, SCHOLARSHIP OFFERINGS AND GRANT AWARDS TO THOUSANDS OF DESERVING ITALIAN AMERICANS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
  4. $676,284 spent. PUBLIC POLICY: INCLUDES SEMINARS, CONFERENCES, AND NEWS INFORMATION PROJECTS DESIGNED TO ACQUAINT THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY AS REPRESENTED BY NIAF. ALSO, THE NIAF CONTINUES EFFORTS IN THE COOPERATION WITH THE EMBASSY OF ITALY IN ASSISTING ITALIAN AMERICANS INTERESTED IN OBTAINING ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP. NIAF LAUNCHED AN ONLINE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR USE BY THE EMBASSY IN PROCESSING POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS.

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 December 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.