National Association of Counties
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
STRENGTHEN AMERICA'S COUNTIES
- Income
- $28.9 million
- Spending
- $24.7 million
- Employees
- 150
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $843,610, ceo/executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (6)
- $5.7 million spent. COUNTY SERVICES - THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ONGOING RESEARCH ON ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO COUNTIES, RESPONDING TO INQUIRIES FROM AND ABOUT COUNTIES, MANAGING A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK OF EXPERT COUNTY OFFICIALS, HOSTING A CLEARING HOUSE OF INFORMATION ABOUT GRANTS FOR WHICH COUNTIES ARE ELIGIBLE, AND DISSEMINATING WRITTEN MATERIALS.NACO ALSO FACILITATES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT NACO'S CONFERENCES AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS. (Expenses $ 2,910,000 including grants of $ 2,910,000) CONTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER MISC PROGRAMS - FUNDING TO PROVIDE FOR OPERATING COSTS OF RELATED ORGANIZATION, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NACORF). NACORF'S CHARITABLE MISSION IS TO ASCERTAIN, DEVELOP, AND DISTRIBUTE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL, AND FOR THE SPECIFIC EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND PROSPECTIVE PUBLIC OFFICIALS. (Expenses $ 2,762,566 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 6,567,894) Membership Services (Expenses $ 1,967,682 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 39,178) PUBLIC AFFAIRS
- $3.7 million spent. CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS - NACO HOLDS THREE MAJOR CONFERENCES EACH YEAR, LEGISLATIVE, ANNUAL AND WESTERN INTERSTATE REGION CONFERENCES AND MEETING AFFORD COUNTY OFFICIAL THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GATHER INFORMATION TO HELP IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF THEIR COUNTY'S OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS.
- $3.2 million spent. LEGISLATIVE - THROUGH NACO'S MEMBER MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES, THIS DEPARTMENT DEVELOPS NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE POLICY IN SUPPORT OF AMERICA'S COUNTIES AND FOR REPRESENTATION TO CONGRESS AND FEDERAL AND EXECUTIVE AGENCIES TO CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION, NACO PRESENTS THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT VIEW ON THE LEGISLATIVE AND PROPOSED REGULATIONS AFFECTING COUNTIES. (Expenses $ 2,910,000 including grants of $ 2,910,000) CONTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER MISC PROGRAMS - FUNDING TO PROVIDE FOR OPERATING COSTS OF RELATED ORGANIZATION, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NACORF). NACORF'S CHARITABLE MISSION IS TO ASCERTAIN, DEVELOP, AND DISTRIBUTE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL, AND FOR THE SPECIFIC EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND PROSPECTIVE PUBLIC OFFICIALS. (Expenses $ 2,762,566 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 6,567,894) Membership Services (Expenses $ 1,967,682 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 39,178) PUBLIC AFFAIRS
- $2.9 million spent. CONTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER MISC PROGRAMS - FUNDING TO PROVIDE FOR OPERATING COSTS OF RELATED ORGANIZATION, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NACORF). NACORF'S CHARITABLE MISSION IS TO ASCERTAIN, DEVELOP, AND DISTRIBUTE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL, AND FOR THE SPECIFIC EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND PROSPECTIVE PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
- $2.8 million spent. Membership Services
- $2.0 million spent. PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(4) social welfare organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1950.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.