The Richard Nixon Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE RICHARD NIXON FOUNDATION IS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, A 501(C)(3) NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION, DELAWARE, 1983. THE RICHARD NIXON FOUNDATION APPLIES THE LEGACY AND VISION OF PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON TO DEFINING ISSUES THAT FACE OUR NATION AND THE WORLD TODAY. THE YORBA LINDA BASED FOUNDATION ACTIVELY ENCOURAGES AND SUPPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS, SPONSORS IN-PERSON AND ONLINE PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE THE PUBLIC WITH AMERICAN CIVICS, CREATES AND PROMOTES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND FOSTERS DISCUSSION AND DEBATE ABOUT AMERICA'S THIRTY-SEVENTH PRESIDENT.
- Income
- $11.0 million
- Spending
- $11.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -8.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 67
- Volunteers
- 205
- Highest pay
- $365,345, president & ceo
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: 53 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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.
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 25 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (3)
- $8.8 million spent. PROGRAMMING INCLUDED FREE, COMMUNITY COMMEMORATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS THAT HAVE BECOME A STAPLE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA; THE NIXON FOUNDATION HOSTED LEGACY-ADVANCING CONTENT, SUCH AS THE NIXON NATIONAL CANCER CONFERENCE, THE NIXON GRAND STRATEGY SUMMIT, A CONFERENCE BRINGING TOGETHER SOME OF OUR NATION'S FINEST MINDS TO EXPLORE WHETHER THE UNITED STATES WAS FOLLOWING A GRAND STRATEGY IN ITS PURSUIT OF ITS INTERNATIONAL GOAL AND COMMUNITY-ORIENTED EVENTS, SUCH AS THE ANNUAL SEPTEMBER 11 COMMEMORATION, THE PAT NIXON DAY OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE, AND THE NIXON FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL PRESIDENTS DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, INDEPENDENCE DAY AND VETERANS DAY COMMEMORATIONS.WITH THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE RICHARD NIXON FOUNDATION EMBARKED ON A CONQUERING COVID CAMPAIGN, WORKING WITH LOCAL BLOOD BANKS TO HOST BLOOD DRIVES RESULTING IN THOUSANDS OF DONATED UNITS OF BLOOD AND SAVING LIVES. THE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES WITH BLOOD DRIVES ADDED EVERY MONTH AT THE NIXON LIBRARY.
- $1.4 million spent. BI-PARTISAN LECTURE SERIES, SPECIAL TOURS AND EVENTS AT THE RICHARD NIXON LIBRARY AND MUSEUM.IN 2024, THE NIXON FOUNDATION CURATED AND OPENED A SPECIAL EXHIBITION, "THE ANCIENT WORLD: UNLOCKING THE MIDDLE EAST," WHICH PROVIDED CASE STUDIES OF SOME OF THE ANCIENT EMPIRES THAT ORIGINATE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, PROVIDING CONTEMPORARY FRAMEWORK TO UNDERSTAND THE GEOPOLITICAL STRUGGLES THAT OCCURRED DURING THE COLD WAR BETWEEN IRAN (PERSIA), ISRAEL, AND EGYPT.
- FREE ADMISSION DAYS TO THE RICHARD NIXON LIBRARY AND MUSEUM IN YORBA LINDA, CA DURING NATIONAL HOLIDAYS; PROGRAMS COMMEMORATING THE LEGACY AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE 37TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:JANUARY 9, 2024 FOR RICHARD NIXON'S BIRTHDAYMARCH 16, 2024 FOR PAT NIXON'S BIRTHDAY
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1983.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.