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Naval Submarine League

EIN 52-1270467 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
13
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$164,981, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 March 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. $732,468 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INVOLVE BOTH STAFF AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CHAPTERS NATIONWIDE RECEIVE ANNUAL STIPENDS EVERY NSL MEMBER IS AFFILIATED WITH A CHAPTER AND RECEIVES NEWS OF LOCAL CHAPTER MEETINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN PROMOTING THE MISSION OF THE NSL. ACTIVE-DUTY SUPPORT INCLUDES AWARDS, COMMISSIONING COMMITTEES, A MENTOR PROGRAM AND SUPPORT TO THE NROTC, SUB CLUBS, AND THE US NAVAL ACADEMY. COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUBMARINES TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH INDUSTRY BRIEFS, SPEAKERS BUREAU, THE SUBMARINE REVIEW QUARTERLY MAGAZINE AND ONLINE ARCHIVE, AND THE NSL WEBSITE. THE HERITAGE OF THE SUBMARINE FORCE IS PRESERVED VIA DISTINGUISHED CIVILIAN AND SUBMARINER ANNUAL AWARDS, RECORDED INTERVIEWS, SUPPORT FOR SUBMARINE REUNIONS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LIBRARY AND RESOURCE CENTER.
  2. $570,409 spent. THE PURPOSE OF THE NSL ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM INDUSTRY UPDATE IS TO FACILITATE THE EXCHANGE OF BUSINESS, TECHNICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION RELEVANT TO SUBMARINES AND UNDERSEA WARFARE, INCLUDING UNMANNED SYSTEMS. THE TWO-DAY EVENT IS TRADITIONALLY ACCEPTED BY DOD AS A WIDELY ATTENDED GATHERING, ENABLING ACTIVE-DUTY ATTENDANCE. PRESENTATIONS ARE MADE BY SUBMARINE FORCE LEADERSHIP WITH UPDATES ON MAJOR ACQUISITION AND PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES. INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES PRESENT DISCUSSION AND SOLUTIONS VIA EXHIBIT DISPLAYS. THERE ARE CONTINUOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR NAVY LEADERSHIP AND INDUSTRY NETWORKING.
  3. $423,431 spent. THE SUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM STS IS A CLASSIFIED SECRET/NOFORN THREE-DAY CONFERENCE HELD ON THE CAMPUS OF JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY. THE PURPOSE OF THE STS IS TO FACILITATE THE EXCHANGE OF BUSINESS, TECHNICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION RELEVANT TO SUBMARINES AND UNDERSEA WARFARE, INCLUDING UNMANNED SYSTEMS. THIS IS A PREMIER OPPORTUNITY FOR NAVY LEADERSHIP, INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA TO ENGAGE IN PRODUCTIVE TECHNICAL EXCHANGES. INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND ACADEMIA ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT ABSTRACTS FOR PRESENTATION. THE ON-SITE FORMAT INCLUDES SELECTED DISPLAYS OF NEW TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS. SPEAKERS GENERALLY ALLOW TIME FOR QA AND THERE ARE BREAKS BETWEEN SESSIONS TO FOSTER DISCUSSION AND NETWORKING.
  4. Program Service Expenses 371,011, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 186,377 OTHER SEMINARS ARE DEVELOPED TO FACILITATE THE EXCHANGE OF BUSINESS, TECHNICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION RELEVANT TO SUBMARINES AND UNDERSEA WARFARE, INCLUDING UNMANNED SYSTEMS. THESE ARE PRIME NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, ENABLING CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS, AND GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL TO DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES OF DELIVERING THE CAPABILITIES NEEDED BY THE SUBMARINE FORCE. THESE SEMINARS USUALLY FOCUS ON TOPICS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO NAVY PERSONNEL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 October 13, 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 March 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 July 1985.

    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 October 21, 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.