Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Society of American Military Engineers

EIN 53-0196491 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE TRAINING, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO THE MILITARY AND UNIFORMED SERVICES AND OTHER FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE, AND TO ADVANCE COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL SECURITY PRIORITIES.

Income
$15.0 million
Spending
$12.6 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
41
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$329,926, executive director, secretary

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

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    57 of 58 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

    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, 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 (3)
  1. $6.8 million spent. SAME'S ONGOING MISSION IS TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY WITH A FOCUS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. SAME MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS TO EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE, COLLABORATE TO FIND SOLUTIONS, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. IN 2025, SAME HOSTED MORE THAN 5 EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ONE IN EUROPE, INCLUDING THE JOINT ENGINEER TRAINING CONFERENCE AND EXPO, SMALL BUSINESS CONFERENCE, CAPITAL WEEK, POST LEADERS' WORKSHOP, CAREER TRANSITION WORKSHOP AND JOB FAIR, AND EUROPE TRI-SERVICES INDUSTRY GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOP.
  2. $1.5 million spent. MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES AND POST(CHAPTER) OPERATIONS - SAME MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY OF MORE THAN 22,000 A/E/C, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FACILITY MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE RECRUITING AND RETAINING MEMBERS, UPDATING MEMBER RECORDS, RENEWING MEMBERSHIPS, RECOGNIZING MEMBERS FOR PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AND LONGEVITY IN SAME, AND INTERFACING WITH SAME CHAPTERS TO SUPPORT THEIR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS. IN SUPPORT OF THE OFFICERS, SAME PROVIDES TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR CHAPTER LEADERS.
  3. $701,586 spent. SAME PUBLISHES A HIGH-QUALITY PRINT PUBLICATION - THE MILITARY ENGINEER MAGAZINE. IN PUBLICATION FOR OVER 100 YEARS, THE MILITARY ENGINEER (TME) MAGAZINE KEEPS MEMBERS INFORMED ABOUT ISSUES IMPACTING THE A/E/C INDUSTRY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FACILITY MANAGEMENT FIELDS, AS THEY RELATE TO DOD AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. TME IS PUBLISHED SIX TIMES PER YEAR. TME HAS A DISTRIBUTION OF NEARLY 25,000. ON AVERAGE, TME HAS 100 NON-MEMBER SUBSCRIBERS, WHICH INCLUDES LIBRARIES, UNIVERSITIES, DEFENSE AGENCIES AND INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS. MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS RANGE FROM ONE MAGAZINE TO BULK SUBSCRIPTIONS OF UP TO 15 MAGAZINES. TME MAIN THEMES INCLUDED ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, INFRASTRUCTURE, ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY, PROJECT DELIVERY, ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 November 1954.

    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.