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Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training

EIN 52-1451990 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ASSOCIATION FOR DIPLOMATIC STUDIES AND TRAINING (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "ADST- OR THE "ORGANIZATION") IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT, NON- GOVERNMENTAL, NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION. THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO ENHANCE THE PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF DIPLOMATIC PRACTITIONERS AND TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC APPRECIATION OF DIPLOMACY'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATIONAL INTEREST. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND MAKE AVAILABLE FOR SCHOLARLY STUDY THE RECOLLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERSONNEL, AND TO PROMOTE THE STUDY OF DIPLOMATIC HISTORY.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
8
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$62,492, president an

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $320,996 spent. ORAL HISTORY: ADST RECORDS AND SHARES THE ORAL HISTORIES OF DIPLOMATIC PRACTITIONERS, FACILITATES THE PREPARATION AND PUBLICATION OF BOOKS AND MEMORIES DEALING WITH DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS, CONTRIBUTES TO DIPLOMATIC CASE STUDIES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND SUPPORTS THE WORK OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTION. ADST IS COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING PUBLIC APPRECIATION OF DIPLOMACY'S CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICA'S NATIONAL INTERESTS, AND ENRICHING THE PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF DIPLOMATIC PRACTITIONERS. WE DO THIS BY: RECORDING THE ORAL HISTORIES OF DIPLOMATS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND OTHERS, FACILITATING THE PREPARATION AND PUBLICATION OF BOOKS AND MEMOIRS, CONTRIBUTING TO DIPLOMATIC CASE STUDIES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE. THE PROGRAM'S MISSION IS TO CAPTURE, PRESERVE, AND SHARE THE EXPERIENCES OF AMERICA'S DIPLOMATS. ADST IS SUPPORTED BY FEES DERIVED FROM PERFORMANCE OF PROJECT WORK RELATING TO ITS' MISSION WHICH ARE FUNDED BY OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, BY GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LARGELY FORMER U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE FOREIGN POLICY PROCESS. ORAL HISTORY: ADST RECORDS AND SHARES THE ORAL HISTORIES OF DIPLOMATIC PRACTITIONERS, FACILITATES THE PREPARATION AND PUBLICATION OF BOOKS AND MEMORIES DEALING WITH DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS, CONTRIBUTES TO DIPLOMATIC CASE STUDIES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND SUPPORTS THE WORK OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTION. ADST IS COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING PUBLIC APPRECIATION OF DIPLOMACY'S CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICA'S NATIONAL INTERESTS, AND ENRICHING THE PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF DIPLOMATIC PRACTITIONERS. WE DO THIS BY: RECORDING THE ORAL HISTORIES OF DIPLOMATS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND OTHERS, FACILITATING THE PREPARATION AND PUBLICATION OF BOOKS AND MEMOIRS, CONTRIBUTING TO DIPLOMATIC CASE STUDIES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE. THE PROGRAM'S MISSION IS TO CAPTURE, PRESERVE, AND SHARE THE EXPERIENCES OF AMERICA'S DIPLOMATS. ADST IS SUPPORTED BY FEES DERIVED FROM PERFORMANCE OF PROJECT WORK RELATING TO ITS' MISSION WHICH ARE FUNDED BY OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, BY GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LARGELY FORMER U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE FOREIGN POLICY PROCESS.
  2. $423,572 spent. OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM: THE OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR DIPLOMATIC STUDIES AND TRAINING (ADST) WORKS TO CONNECT THE BROADER PUBLIC WITH THE ESSENTIAL WORK OF THE USA DIPLOMACY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. BY ENGAGING WITH DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, STUDENTS, AND PROFESSIONALS, THE PROGRAM PROMOTES UNDERSTANDING OF DIPLOMATIC HISTORY, PRACTICE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL COOPERATION, AS WELL AS SHARES AT FIRST HAND THE USA ROLE, INVOLVEMENT AND EXPERIENCES OUTLINED BY ITS FOREIGN SERVICES PERSONNEL. THROUGH MEETINGS AND LOBBYING, EVENTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, ADST ADVOCATES FOR THE VALUE OF DIPLOMACY IN ADDRESSING GLOBAL CHALLENGES, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE USA DIPLOMATS AND LEADERS. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO INSPIRE INFORMED DIALOGUE AND FOSTER GREATER AWARENESS OF THE ROLE DIPLOMACY PLAYS IN SHAPING A MORE PEACEFUL AND INTERCONNECTED WORLD. OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM: THE OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR DIPLOMATIC STUDIES AND TRAINING (ADST) WORKS TO CONNECT THE BROADER PUBLIC WITH THE ESSENTIAL WORK OF THE USA DIPLOMACY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. BY ENGAGING WITH DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, STUDENTS, AND PROFESSIONALS, THE PROGRAM PROMOTES UNDERSTANDING OF DIPLOMATIC HISTORY, PRACTICE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL COOPERATION, AS WELL AS SHARES AT FIRST HAND THE USA ROLE, INVOLVEMENT AND EXPERIENCES OUTLINED BY ITS FOREIGN SERVICES PERSONNEL. THROUGH MEETINGS AND LOBBYING, EVENTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, ADST ADVOCATES FOR THE VALUE OF DIPLOMACY IN ADDRESSING GLOBAL CHALLENGES, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE USA DIPLOMATS AND LEADERS. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO INSPIRE INFORMED DIALOGUE AND FOSTER GREATER AWARENESS OF THE ROLE DIPLOMACY PLAYS IN SHAPING A MORE PEACEFUL AND INTERCONNECTED WORLD.
  3. $139,554 spent. HISTORY OF US DIPLOMACY EXHIBIT: THE PROGRAM IS PART OF THE FSI/STATE DEPARTMENT INITIATIVE TO ENHANCE AWARENESS OF THE HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY. THE GOAL IS TO CREATE AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL 1996 ADST EXHIBIT, "A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNITED STATES DIPLOMACY," BY MODERNIZING AND REFRESHING ITS CONTENT. THE UPDATED EXHIBIT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN DIGITAL, POSTER, AND BOOKLET FORMATS FOR BROADER DISTRIBUTION.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.