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Phi Beta Kappa Foundation

EIN 52-6063291 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 1228 cents.

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

What it says it does

ORGANIZED FOR THE CREATION OF FUNDS OR ENDOWMENTS FOR THE PROMOTION OF SOUND LEARNING THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FELLOWSHIPS, AWARDS & SIMILAR ITEMS.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$625,816, secretary/ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1228 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • 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

    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 July 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. $1.8 million spent. AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS: THE MARY ISABEL SIBLEY FELLOWSHIP IS AWARDED TO WOMEN SCHOLARS EVERY YEAR, ALTERNATING BETWEEN GREEK AND FRENCH. THE WALTER J. JENSEN FELLOWSHIP IS AWARDED FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS OF STUDY IN FRANCE. THE PURPOSE OF THE FELLOWSHIP IS TO HELP EDUCATORS AND RESEARCHERS IMPROVE EDUCATION IN STANDARD FRENCH LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, AND CULTURE. THE DR. MARTIN R. LEBOWITZ AND EVE LEWELLIS LEBOWITZ PRIZES FOR PHILOSOPHICAL ACHIEVEMENT AND CONTRIBUTION ARE AWARDED TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT, TANGIBLE RECOGNITION FOR EXCELLENCE IN PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT. THE LEBOWITZ SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A PAIR OF ANNUAL LECTURES TO BE DELIVERED SEQUENTIALLY AT A DIVISION MEETING OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL ASSOCIATION SELECTED BY THE HONOREES, OR LACKING THEIR AGREEMENT, BY THE PHI BETA KAPPA SOCIETY. THE TOPIC OF THE LECTURES IS AN IMPORTANT PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUE OF CURRENT INTEREST, AND THE LECTURES SHALL ORDINARILY BE CHOSEN TO OFFER CONTRASTING (NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSING) VIEWS ON THAT TOPIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 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 August 1928.

    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.