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National Science Teaching Association

EIN 52-6055229 · Mclean, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NSTA'S MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM SCIENCE EDUCATION TO BENEFIT ALL THROUGH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, PARTNERSHIPS AND ADVOCACY. OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES ENCOMPASS: BUILD COMMUNITY - WE BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATORS EXTENDS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, AND THAT TOGETHER SCIENCE EDUCATORS INFLUENCE AND ADVANCE CHANGE; INCLUDE ALL - WE BELIEVE THAT ALL EDUCATORS HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE IN CULTIVATING SCIENCE LITERACY AND THAT ALL LEARNERS DESERVE ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY SCIENCE EDUCATION; FOSTER PASSION - WE BELIEVE THAT AN APPRECIATION FOR SCIENCE CAN BE FOSTERED IN EVERY STUDENT AND A PASSION FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH LIES WITHIN EVERY EDUCATOR; CHAMPION SCIENCE - WE BELIEVE THAT SCIENCE LITERACY IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR COLLECTIVE WELLBEING; AND PURSUE LEARNING - WE BELIEVE THAT SCIENCE LEARNING NEVER STOPS.

Income
$21.3 million
Spending
$22.2 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 43%
Employees
76
Volunteers
235
Highest pay
$353,517, ceo/executive director (from 3/25)

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

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 May 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 (7)
  1. $9.4 million spent. CONTRACTS AND GRANTS: NATIONAL INITIATIVES RELATED TO SCIENCE EDUCATION:NSTA SUPPORTS NUMEROUS NATIONAL INITIATIVES RELATED TO SCIENCE EDUCATION. NSTA HOSTS AND ADMINISTERS SEVERAL COMPETITIONS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, GRANTS, AND AN AWARDS PROGRAM, HONORING EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND OUTSTANDING WORK IN THE SCIENCE AND STEM EDUCATION FIELD. NSTA SUPPORTS SCIENCE EDUCATORS IN DEEPENING THEIR KNOWLEDGE BASE AND ENHANCING THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE THROUGH RESEARCH-BASED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.
  2. $3.4 million spent. CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS: NSTA HOSTS FACE-TO-FACE CONFERENCES AND VIRTUAL EVENTS EACH YEAR, OFFERING THE LATEST IN SCIENCE AND STEM CONTENT, TEACHING STRATEGY, AND RESEARCH TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND EDUCATORS' PROFESSIONAL GROWTH.
  3. $1.8 million spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & AWARDS: THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DIVISION (PLD) AT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHING ASSOCIATION (NSTA) DELIVERS CONFERENCES, VIRTUAL EVENTS, AND IN-PERSON/ONLINE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES. PLD SUPPORTS EDUCATORS NATIONWIDE IN IMPLEMENTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL SCIENCE INSTRUCTION ALIGNED WITH A FRAMEWORK FOR K12 SCIENCE EDUCATION.THROUGH DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, PLD PROVIDES WORKSHOPS, COACHING, AND ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES AND LEARNING PLATFORMS. THE DIVISION CONTINUOUSLY REFINES AND DEVELOPS PROGRAMS BASED ON EDUCATOR FEEDBACK TO MEET EVOLVING NEEDS.
  4. $1.4 million spent. ADVERTISING & PERIODICALS
  5. $1.1 million spent. PUBLISHING AND SALES: NSTA PUBLISHES BOOKS, THREE GRADE-RANGE-SPECIFIC JOURNALS, AN ONLINE COLLEGE JOURNAL AND AN ONLINE INFORMAL JOURNAL THAT BRIDGES IN-SCHOOL AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL STEM LEARNING, THREE E-NEWSLETTERS, AND THE NSTA BLOG, ALL IN AN EFFORT TO HELP EDUCATORS ELEVATE THEIR SCIENCE TEACHING AND LEARNING.
  6. $369,903 spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
  7. $281,173 spent. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 November 6, 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 May 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 1964.

    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 November 4, 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.