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National Association of Regional Councils

EIN 52-6082922 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS A NATIONAL PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATION, NARC WILL WORK WITH & THROUGH ITS MEMBERS TO (1) SHAPE FEDERAL POLICY THAT RECOGNIZES THE INCREASED VALUE OF LOCAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION (2) ADVOCATE EFFECTIVELY FOR THE ROLE OF REGIONAL COUNCILS IN THE COORDINATION, PLANNING AND DELIVERY OF CURRENT FUTURE FEDERAL PROGRAMS (3) PROVIDE RESEARCH & ANALYSIS OF KEY NATIONAL ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS THAT IMPACT OUR MEMBERS, AND (4) OFFER HIGH QUALITY LEARNING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR REGIONAL ORGANIZATION THROUGH EVENTS, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
11
Highest pay
$174,771, 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    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 (3)
  1. $460,023 spent. Conference & Events:National Conference of Regions (February 11-14, 2024 Washington, DC)Annual Conference and Exhibition (June 23-26, 2024 Atlanta, GA)Executive Directors Conference (October 6-9, 2024 Dayton, OH)Workshops and Webinars
  2. $217,768 spent. Legislative Support:Legislative AnalysisCongressional Technical AssistanceAdvocacy for Regional Councils and Metropolitan Planning Organizations2024 advocay letters:Campaign to invest in americas workforce (CIAW) submits letter to congress to increase FY25 Funding for Workforce Programs (August 2024)CDBG Coalition submits letter urging senate appropriation leaders to increase FY25 Funding for the CDBG Program (July 2024)HOME coalition submits letter to congress with FT 2025 Appropriations requests (April 2024)NARC submits letter of support for the economic development reauthorization act of 2024 (March 2024)NARC submits letter urging congress to support bipartisan municipal bond provisions (January 2024)
  3. $79,613 spent. Technical Assistance and Research:National Directory of Regional Councils and Metropolitan Planning OrganizationsReports on Relevant TopicsFederal and Regulatory UpdatesGrants/Special ProjectsONGIONG RESEARCH PROJECTS AND MAJOR PUBLICATIONS WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OFTRANSPORTATION, TRANSIT CENTER AND SUMMIT FOUNDATION ON SCENARIO PLANNING. INITIATED RESEARCH AND OUTREACH PROJECT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO ACCELERATE THE PURCHASE OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES WORKING WITH FIVE MEMBER REGIONAL COUNCILS AND DOE CLEAN CITIES COALITIONS. COMPLETED WORK ON TWO MAJOR DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PROJECTS PROMOTING THE USE OF SOLAR ENERGY. DEVELOPED WEBSITE, TOOLKIT AND RESOURCES TO PROMOTE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS, AND CARRIED OUT TWO RELATED PROJECTS WITH THE US FOREST SERVICE. PROVIDED REGIONAL COUNCILS AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH NEWS, REPORTS, AND RESOURCES VIA EMAIL NEWSLETTERS,ORGANIZATION WEBSITE, CONFERENCE SESSIONS/WORKSHOPS AND INFORMATIONAL CAMPAIGNS CONDUCTING PROJECT ON CLIMATE ADAPTATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS, US CENSUS BUREAU AND SOLAR COMMUNITIES.

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 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 2024.

    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 October 1968.

    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.

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