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Robonation Inc

EIN 52-1797483 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ROBONATION DELIVERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN ROBOTICS, AUTONOMY, AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES THROUGH STUDENT COMPETITIONS, HANDS-ON LEARNING RESOURCES, AND EDUCATOR SUPPORT. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE APPLIED STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION, DEVELOPING TECHNICAL, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND TEAMWORK SKILLS ALIGNED WITH WORKFORCE NEEDS. THROUGH THIS WORK, ROBONATION INCREASES AWARENESS OF EDUCATION AND CAREER PATHWAYS AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FUTURE WORKFORCE IN ENGINEERING, SKILLED TRADES, AND TECHNOLOGY FIELDS.

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 50%
Employees
21
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$234,243, president and 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $1.9 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: ROBONATION PROVIDES HANDS-ON STEM EDUCATION THROUGH ROBOTICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SENSING KITS, CURRICULUM, AND EDUCATOR TRAINING USED IN CLASSROOMS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. SERVING STUDENTS FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH POSTSECONDARY LEVELS, THESE PROGRAMS ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS IN STRUCTURED LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF EDUCATION AND CAREER PATHWAYS ALIGNED WITH WORKFORCE NEEDS.
  2. $1.8 million spent. STUDENT COMPETITIONS: ROBONATION DEVELOPS AND OPERATES ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THROUGH GRADUATE-LEVEL STUDY IN DESIGNING, BUILDING, AND OPERATING AUTONOMOUS AND REMOTELY OPERATED SYSTEMS. THROUGH MISSION-BASED CHALLENGES GROUNDED IN REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS, PARTICIPANTS GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE THAT BUILDS TECHNICAL, PROBLEM-SOLVING, TEAMWORK, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS WHILE INCREASING AWARENESS OF TECHNOLOGIES AND CAREER PATHWAYS ALIGNED WITH WORKFORCE NEEDS.
  3. $183,211 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: ROBONATION FOSTERS A COMMUNITY OF PARTICIPANTS, EDUCATORS, INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, VOLUNTEERS, AND ALUMNI TO SUPPORT LEARNING AND ONGOING ENGAGEMENT. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WEBINARS, TECHNICAL TALKS, MENTORSHIP, PEER AND INDUSTRY NETWORKING, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT. ROBONATION ALSO PROVIDES ADVISORY SUPPORT TO PARTNERS ON ROBOTICS AND AUTONOMY-RELATED EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, INCLUDING PROGRAM DESIGN AND TECHNICAL GUIDANCE. THESE EFFORTS EXTEND LEARNING BEYOND FORMAL PROGRAMS, CONNECT PARTICIPANTS TO REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS, AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF EDUCATION AND CAREER PATHWAYS IN ENGINEERING, SKILLED TRADES, AND TECHNOLOGY FIELDS.

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 December 2017.

    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.