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Phi Beta Kappa Society

EIN 53-0226282 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE PHI BETA KAPPA SOCIETY IS TO CHAMPION EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, FOSTER FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, AND RECOGNIZE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

Income
$8.3 million
Spending
$7.9 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
31
Volunteers
1,225
Highest pay
$625,816, secretary/ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 July 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 (9)
  1. $1.7 million spent. THE AMERICAN SCHOLAR: THE AMERICAN SCHOLAR IS PHI BETA KAPPA'S QUARTERLY PUBLICATION, WITH A CIRCULATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE CURRENT CIRCULATION IS 19,469 (18,044 ACTIVE SUBSCRIPTIONS, 630 NEWSSTAND SALES AND 795 FREE/NOMINAL RATE DISTRIBUTION). THE PUBLICATION PRESENTS ARTICLES ON SUBJECTS OF BROAD INTEREST, CURRENT AFFAIRS, CULTURAL AFFAIRS, PHILOSOPHY, SCIENCE AND ARTS.
  2. $892,697 spent. TRIENNIAL COUNCIL: THE TRIENNIAL COUNCIL IS THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OF PHI BETA KAPPA THAT CONVENES EVERY THREE YEARS TO CONDUCT THE PHI BETA KAPPA BUSINESS. THE MOST RECENT TRIENNIAL COUNCIL WAS HELD IN AUGUST 2024 FOR THE YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 2025
  3. $591,960 spent. NATIONAL ARTS AND SCIENCES INITIATIVE: PHI BETA KAPPA'S NATIONAL ARTS AND SCIENCES INITIATIVE ENGAGES MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO COMMUNICATE THE VALUE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT STRENGTHEN HIGHER EDUCATION, AND AWARDS THE KEY INTO PUBLIC SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP, ALONG WITH TRAINING AND MENTORING, TO PROMISING LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES MAJORS PURSUING GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
  4. $316,952 spent. AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS: ACADEMIC AWARDS CONSIST OF SEVERAL ENDOWED FELLOWSHIP AND AWARD PROGRAMS. BOOK AWARDS ARE GIVEN ANNUALLY TO THREE OUTSTANDING SCHOLARLY BOOKS DRAWN FROM THE FIELDS OF THE HUMANITIES, THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, THE NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS. THEY MUST BE OF BROAD INTEREST AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL, LITERATE READER.
  5. $313,363 spent. THE KEY REPORTER: THE KEY REPORTER IS A NEWSLETTER THAT IS MAILED TO MEMBERS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND KEEPS THEM INFORMED ABOUT CURRENT PHI BETA KAPPA ACTIVITIES.
  6. $260,159 spent. ASSOCIATION SERVICES: COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS OF MEMBERS ARE FORMED TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS OF CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL INTEREST TO THEIR MEMBERS, AND TO PROMOTE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS.
  7. $239,215 spent. CHAPTER SERVICES: THE PHI BETA KAPPA CHAPTERS INDUCT INTO THE SOCIETY THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES UNDERGRADUATES AT APPROXIMATELY 290 COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES ACROSS THE NATION. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 2025, NEARLY 20,645 NEW STUDENTS WERE INDUCTED.
  8. $151,144 spent. VISITING SCHOLAR PROGRAM: THE VISITING SCHOLAR PROGRAM INVITES EMINENT SCHOLARS TO UNDERTAKE A SERIES OF VISITS TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WITH PHI BETA KAPPA CHAPTERS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE INTELLECTUAL LIFE OF THE CAMPUS BY MAKING POSSIBLE THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS BETWEEN DISTINGUISHED VISITING SCHOLARS, THE RESIDENT FACULTY AND STUDENTS.
  9. $25,526 spent. 250TH ANNIVERSARY: THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF PHI BETA KAPPA WILL BE IN 2026, AND MULTIPLE EVENTS AND MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 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 November 6, 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 July 2025.

    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 June 1951.

    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 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.