National Defense University Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 40% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
ENCOURAGEMENT, SUPPORT AND FURTHERING OF THE TRADITIONS OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES, PROVIDING FELLOWSHIPS AND PROFESSORSHIPS, SUPPORTING SCHOLARLY RESEARCH, WRITING AND PUBLICATION, FACULTY ENRICHMENT SUPPORT TO ENSURE EXCELLENCE IN ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, AND OTHER AREAS OF ACTIVITY ENUMERATED IN THE BYLAWS AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 40%
- Reserves
- 15.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $300,000, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 59 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 49% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1540% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (1)
- $467,596 spent. THE NDUF PLAYS A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS AT THE UNIVERSITY. IT PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH SPONSORSHIP OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES, OFFICIAL FIELD STUDIES, AND SPOUSES GROUP PROGRAMS. THESE INITIATIVES PROMOTE CRITICAL CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND A DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES CRITICAL TO NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY THINKING AT HOME AND ABROAD. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION SPONSORS ANNUAL STUDENT WRITING AWARDS-INCLUDING THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, AND JOINT FORCE QUARTERLY WRITING COMPETITIONS - TO PROMOTE DEEP THOUGHT ON A VARIETY OF NATIONAL SECURITY RELATED TOPICS AND RECOGNIZE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AMONG THE FUTURE LEADERS AT NDUF. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTS NATIONAL SECURITY FORUMS COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, REGIONAL INSTABILITY, ENERGY AND CYBER SECURITY AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, FACILITATING GREATER ENGAGEMENT WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ON ISSUES OF NATIONAL SECURITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.