Distributive Education Clubs of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DISTRIBUTIVE EDUCATION CLUBS OF AMERICA, INC. (DECA) PREPARES EMERGING LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN MARKETING, FINANCE, HOSPITALITY AND MANAGEMENT.
- Income
- $14.7 million
- Spending
- $10.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 14.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 53%
- Employees
- 49
- Volunteers
- 1,500
- Highest pay
- $309,936, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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 June 30, 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)
- $8.3 million spent. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND SCHOLARSHIPS - DECA PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AROUND THE GLOBE THROUGH ITS VARIOUS CONFERENCES, COMPETITIVE EVENTS, PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCE MATERIALS. DECA IS ORGANIZED INTO TWO UNIQUE STUDENT DIVISIONS, THE HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION AND COLLEGIATE DIVISION, EACH WITH PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE LEARNING STYLES, INTERESTS AND FOCUS OF ITS MEMBERS. DECA'S STUDENT MEMBERS LEVERAGE THEIR DECA EXPERIENCE TO BECOME ACADEMICALLY PREPARED, COMMUNITY ORIENTED, PROFESSIONALLY RESPONSIBLE, AND EXPERIENCED LEADERS. DECA ENHANCES THE PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS BY PROVIDING CO-CURRICULAR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT INTEGRATE INTO CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, APPLYING LEARNING IN THE CONTEXT OF BUSINESS, CONNECTING TO BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY AND PROMOTING COMPETITION. DECA SPONSORS CONFERENCES AND COMPETITIVE EVENTS EACH YEAR TO BRING THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGIATE MEMBERS INTO THE LARGER DECA COMMUNITY WHILE PROVIDING UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXTEND CLASSROOM LEARNING. ADVISORY BOARD AND OTHER PROJECTS - DECA'S BUSINESS PARTNERS PROVIDE STRATEGIC ADVICE ON ORGANIZATIONAL POLICY, PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT ON CONTENT AND CRUCIAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMMING. SOME OF DECA'S BUSINESS PARTNERS PARTICIPATE ON ITS NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD. THESE PARTNERS ENHANCE THE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE BY PROVIDING "REAL WORLD" APPLICATIONS TO LEARNING. PROFESSIONALS AND ALUMNI-DECA ADVISORS HAVE UNPARALLELED ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO ENHANCE THE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE, BRING LEARNING TO LIFE AND MOTIVATE STUDENTS. PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER ADVISORS ENSURE EFFECTIVE USE OF DECA'S COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENHANCE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. DECA'S PROFESSIONAL NETWORK ALSO ALLOWS DECA ADVISORS TO SHARE RESOURCES AND IDEAS AMONG COLLEAGUES AND ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS THROUGH ADVISOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
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 September 1951.
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 November 4, 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.