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Boardsource

EIN 52-1681375 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 158 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE AND SUPPORT NONPROFIT BOARDS AND EXECUTIVES TO LEAD JUSTLY AND WITH PURPOSE. BOARDSOURCE ENVISIONS A FUTURE WHERE THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY HAS THE LEADERSHIP TO FULFILL ITS PURPOSE AND CREATE A WORLD WHERE ALL CAN THRIVE.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
23
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$418,584, president & ceo

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

Financial health

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 73% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 158 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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

    15 of 15 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, 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 (1)
  1. $4.0 million spent. THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: BOARDSOURCE'S RESEARCH AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE BOARD LEADERSHIP, ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES FACING NONPROFIT LEADERS AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER SECTOR IMPACT. WE FOCUS ON TRENDS IMPACTING NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS, GENERATING EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOARD PRACTICE. BOARDSOURCE'S PURPOSE DRIVEN BOARD LEADERSHIP (PDBL) MODEL, INTRODUCED IN 2021, ENABLES BOARDS AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THEY SERVE TO BETTER ACHIEVE THEIR ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE AND MISSION. IN 2025, BOARDSOURCE CONTINUED TO OFFER TRAININGS AND RESOURCES TO HELP THE FIELD OPERATIONALIZE THIS FRAMEWORK AND IMPLEMENTED A NEW THEORY OF PRACTICE THAT ENABLES THE ORGANIZATION TO CREATE RICHER AND MORE TAILORED RESOURCES TO BETTER MEET GOVERNANCE NEEDS ACROSS THE SECTOR. BOARDSOURCE IS COMMITTED TO LISTENING AND LEARNING FROM OUR COMMUNITY OF NONPROFITS AND FOUNDATIONS TO CENTER THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM OF THE SECTOR, BRINGING TOGETHER OUR 35+ YEARS OF GOVERNANCE EXPERIENCE WITH THE INNOVATION OF OUR SECTOR'S LEADERS TO ENHANCE OUR NONPROFIT ECOSYSTEM. MEMBERSHIP AND OTHER FEE FOR SERVICE PROGRAMMING: OVER THE COURSE OF 35+ YEARS OF DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH BOARDS AND EXECUTIVES, BOARDSOURCE HAS BECOME THE GO-TO GOVERNANCE RESOURCE FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. WE INSPIRE, CHALLENGE, EDUCATE AND SUPPORT A GROWING COMMUNITY OF MEMBERS NATIONWIDE, AND ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING ORGANIZATIONS OF ALL SIZES BY PROVIDING AFFORDABLE AND SCALABLE RESOURCES. THROUGH MEMBERSHIP, BOARDSOURCE PROVIDES A RANGE OF PRACTICAL SUPPORTS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND BOARDS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING TRAINING PROGRAMS, WRITTEN RESOURCES ON A RANGE OF LEADERSHIP TOPICS, TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO A VIBRANT ONLINE COMMUNITY. MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE BOARD SUPPORT PROGRAM (OUR CORE OFFERING) FOR NONPROFITS AS WELL AS TAILORED PROGRAMS FOR CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, FEDERATED NETWORKS AND INDIVIDUAL NONPROFIT EXECUTIVES. MEMBERS CAN ACCESS BOARDSOURCE'S LIBRARY OF NONPROFIT BOARD LEADERSHIP RESOURCES WHICH INCLUDE PUBLICATIONS AND TOOLS ON A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS RELEVANT TO NONPROFIT EXECUTIVES, BOARD LEADERS, AND PRACTITIONERS. IN 2025, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NONPROFIT LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY ACCESSED INFORMATION ON BOARDSOURCE.ORG AS WELL AS VIEWED AND/OR DOWNLOADED ONLINE RESOURCES. WE ALSO CONTINUED AN INTERNAL REVIEW OF OUR RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT THEY REFLECT THE LATEST THINKING AND PRACTICES FOR A STRONG SECTOR. ASSESSMENTS ARE A CRITICAL TOOL TO ENABLE STRONG GOVERNANCE AND NONPROFIT BOARD LEADERSHIP. BOARDSOURCE'S ASSESSMENT SERVICES ASSIST ORGANIZATIONS IDENTIFY CORE ISSUES IN PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR BOARDS AND CHIEF EXECUTIVES. BOARDSOURCE'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE TRAINING AND SUPPORTS FOR GOVERNANCE CONSULTANTS WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH BOARDS, AS WELL AS DIRECT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR EXECUTIVES AND BOARD MEMBERS. IN ADDITION TO PRESENTATIONS AND TRAININGS, BOARDSOURCE OFFERS A CERTIFICATE OF NONPROFIT BOARD EDUCATION AND A CERTIFICATE OF NONPROFIT BOARD CONSULTING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 August 1990.

    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.