National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EDUCATE THE MEMBERSHIP AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND ITS PATRIOTS AND TO FOSTER PATRIOTISM AND APPRECIATION OF AMERICAN FREEDOMS
- Income
- $7.8 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 29.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 330
- Highest pay
- $120,329, director of development
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 168% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 25132 of 132 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $382,947 spent. PATRIOTIC - THE ORGANIZATION INSPIRES THE COMMUNITY WITH THE PRINCIPLES ON WHICH OUR NATION WAS FOUNDED BY PARTICIPATING IN CIVIC AND PATRIOTIC EVENTS WITH COLOR GUARDS THAT WEAR REVOLUTIONARY WAR UNIFORMS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES RECOGNITION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE BY PRESENTING THOUSANDS OF AWARDS EACH YEAR TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS AND OTHER CITIZENS WHO EXEMPLIFY THE BEST CIVIC TRADITIONS OF OUR NATION.
- $1.3 million spent. GENEALOGY - THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS RESEARCH AND PRESENTATIONS RELATED TO THE HISTORY AND PEOPLE OF THE PERIOD 1750-1800. THROUGH GENEALOGY RESEARCH, ORGANIZATION MEMBERS PROVE THEY ARE LINEAL DESCENDANTS OF AN ANCESTOR WHO WAS AT ALL TIMES UNFAILING IN LOYALTY TO, AND RENDERED ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE CAUSE OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. THE ORGANIZATION HELPS PRESERVES THESE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS ALONG WITH RECORDS RELATING TO THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO AND DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
- $694,093 spent. EDUCATION - EDUCATION OUTREACH IS USED TO PERPETUATE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENTS AND STORIES OF PATRIOTISM, COURAGE, SACRIFICE, TRAGEDY, AND TRIUMPH OF THE PATRIOTS WHO ACHIEVED THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THE BELIEF THAT THESE STORIES ARE UNIVERSAL ONES OF MAN'S ETERNAL STRUGGLE AGAINST TYRANNY, RELEVANT TO ALL TIME, AND WILL INSPIRE AND STRENGTHEN EACH SUCCEEDING GENERATION AS IT TOO IS CALLED UPON TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOMS ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND IN OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS YOUTH AWARD CONTESTS THAT PROMOTE CHARACTER AND FOSTER CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1944.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.