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Passes our checks

Small and Emerging Contractors Advisory Forum

EIN 52-2353169 · Falls Church, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SMALL AND EMERGING CONTRACTORS ADVISORY FORUM(SECAF)WAS FORMED TO SUPPORT CONTRACTORS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO SECURE AND FULFILL CONTRACTS WITH GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.

Income
$470,982
Spending
$468,759
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
0
Volunteers
30

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 August 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 (2)
  1. $265,834 spent. EDUCATION & EVENTS: SECAF HELPS GUIDE CONTRACTORS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING OR EXPANDING THEIR CONTRACT BASE BY EDUCATING THEM ON THE ESSENTIAL TOPICS: A) WHERE THE TRENDS IN FUNDING PRIORITIES ARE HEADED; B)WHAT NEW REGULATIONS AND PRACTICES MIGHT AFFECT THEIR EXISTING AND PROSPECTIVE CLIENT BASE; AND C) HOW TO NAVIGATE IN CURRENT PROCUREMENT ENVIRONMENTS. OTHER EVENTS CONSIST OF A PANEL PRESENTATION AND FORUM, INCLUDING QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE. SECAF EVENTS WILL ALSO OFFER MEMBERS AND VISTORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND NETWORK WITH OTHER ATTENDEES AND SEEK STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.
  2. $143,142 spent. OUTREACH: SECAF WILL REACH OUT TO THE CONTRACTOR COMMUNITY TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION AND ADVISORY MATERIALS THROUGH THE WORLDWIDE WEB AND OTHER METHODS. IT WILL ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO SHARE THEIR OBSERVATIONS AND OPINIONS, AS WELL AS SEEK OUT OPINIONS OF EXPERTS FROM BOTH INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 2025.

    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 2005.

    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.