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Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation

EIN 52-2250648 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNERS EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEVOTED TO EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE THE VALUE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO PROMOTE AN UNDERSTANDING OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS AND THEIR VALUE TO SOCIETY. THE FOUNDATION ACCOMPLISHES ITS GOALS THROUGH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THE PREPARATION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, THE CONDUCT OF EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, AND THE PRESENTATION OF AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS.

Income
$565,891
Spending
$574,871
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
18 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
0
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$550,014, executive director

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    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 (5)
  1. $126,605 spent. INVENTOR OF THE YEAR (DECEMBER 12, 2024) THE FOUNDATION GIVES AN ANNUAL AWARD TO THE MOST OUTSTANDING INVENTOR OF A RECENT, PATENTED INVENTION THAT EXEMPLIFIES MODERN INGENUITY. THE PURPOSE OF THE AWARD IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT INVENTORS AND PATENTS, AND HOW INVENTIONS BENEFIT THE ECONOMY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. NOMINEES ARE SOLICITED FROM INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, INDEPENDENT INVENTORS, ACADEMIA, AND OTHER SOURCES IN ALL FIELDS OF TECHNOLOGY. THE WINNER IS SELECTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FOUNDATION. THE 2024 AWARD WAS GIVEN AT AN AWARDS CEREMONY ON DECEMBER 12 AND INCLUDES A PLAQUE AND TRIBUTE VIDEO. THE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES WINNERS IN ADVANCE OF THE AWARDS CEREMONY AND DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF RECENT INVENTORS.
  2. $126,605 spent. EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR (DECEMBER 12, 2024) THE FOUNDATION PRESENTS THE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD TO AN EXECUTIVE WITHIN A COMPANY WHO IS COMMITTED TO THE CREATION, PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. THE WINNER IS SELECTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FOUNDATION. THE 2024 AWARD WAS GIVEN AT AN AWARDS CEREMONY DECEMBER 12 AND INCLUDES A PLAQUE AND TRIBUTE VIDEO.
  3. $141,890 spent. PR CAMPAIGN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED HIRING A PR FIRM IN JULY 2024 TO PROMOTE THE VALUE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH DIGITAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA. AS PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP, THE PR FIRM WOULD PROMOTE MESSAGING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, CONNECT WITH TRADITIONAL MEDIA, AND CREATE NEW RESOURCES THAT COULD TEACH THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE VALUE OF IP. THEY LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN TITLED "IP IS EVERYWHERE" WHERE THEY ENGAGED A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER TO CREATE VIDEOS AT THE ANNUAL AWARDS CELEBRATION TO HIGHLIGHT INNOVATION AND IP.
  4. $20,175 spent. IP EDUCATION FOR NEXT GEN INNOVATORS TOOLKIT THE FOUNDATION CREATED A FREE TOOLKIT FOR VOLUNTEERS TO USE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO TEACH ABOUT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. IN ADDITION TO ENGAGEMENT WITH IPO MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS, THE FOUNDATION CONNECTS WITH PARTNERS TO PRESENT THE CONTENT TO STUDENTS, PRIMARILY GRADES 6-12.
  5. $19,920 spent. WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT? 2023-2024 "WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?" IS A VIRTUAL INVENTION COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS. STUDENTS QUALIFY IF THEY HAVE AN ORIGINAL INVENTION THAT THEY CREATED AT AGE 18 OR YOUNGER AND THE INVENTION HAS RECEIVED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION. THREE WINNING INVENTIONS WERE SELECTED BY THE BOARD AND PUBLIC VOTE. WINNERS WILL WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH AN INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL TO LEARN HOW TO ADVANCE THEIR INVENTION, THEY WILL ALSO RECEIVE RECOGNITION IN A PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN, AND ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE AWARDS CELEBRATION. THE FOUNDATION HIRED A MARKETING COMPANY TO EXECUTE THE COMMUNICATIONS PORTION OF THE PROGRAM.

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 2004.

    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.