Institute of Navigation
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
ADVANCING THE ART AND SCIENCE OF NAVIGATION, POSITIONING, AND TIMING (PNT). THE INSTITUTE OF NAVIGATION (ION) IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED IN JANUARY 1967 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVANCING THE ART AND SCIENCE OF NAVIGATION THROUGH PUBLICATIONS, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL MEETINGS, THE EDUCATION OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF NAVIGATION PROFESSIONALS, AND THROUGH ITS OFFICERS AND WORKING COMMITTEES.
- Income
- $6.8 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 58%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 328
- Highest pay
- $486,441, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 57% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2537 of 37 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 March 31, 2026, 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 (8)
- $629,020 spent. JOINT NAVIGATION CONFERENCE - THE LARGEST U.S. MILITARY POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING (PNT) CONFERENCE OF THE YEAR WITH JOINT SERVICE AND GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION. THE EVENT FOCUSES ON TECHNICAL ADVANCES IN PNT WITH EMPHASIS ON JOINT DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE PNT SYSTEMS, LOGISTICS AND INTEGRATION. FROM AN OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE THE CONFERENCE WILL FOCUS ON ADVANCES IN BATTLEFIELD APPLICATIONS OF GPS; CRITICAL STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF FIELD NAVIGATION DEVICES; WARFIGHTER PNT REQUIREMENTS AND SOLUTIONS; AND NAVIGATION WARFARE.
- $622,600 spent. SATELLITE DIVISION'S TECHNICAL MEETING - THE WORLD'S LARGEST TECHNICAL MEETING AND SHOWCASE OF GNSS TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES. THE CONFERENCE UNITES INTERNATIONAL LEADERS IN GNSS AND RELATED POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING FIELDS TO PRESENT NEW RESEARCH, INTRODUCE NEW TECHNOLOGIES, DISCUSS CURRENT POLICY, DEMONSTRATE PRODUCTS AND EXCHANGE IDEAS.
- $516,958 spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES - MEMBERSHIP CONSISTED OF BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS, FROM INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT AND ACADEMIA WHO SEEK TO PROMOTE THE ART AND SCIENCE OF NAVIGATION, POSITIONING AND TIMING. THIS INCLUDES THE PUBLICATION OF NAVIGATION: JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF NAVIGATION, THE ORGANIZATION'S OPEN ACCESS, PEER REVIEWED, AND INDEXED TECHNICAL PUBLICATION.
- $312,058 spent. PLANS
- $267,664 spent. INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL MEETING/PTTI
- $50,086 spent. COUNCIL AND CHAPTERS
- $14,896 spent. AWARDS
- $14,477 spent. PUBLICATIONS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 March 2026.
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 October 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.
California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of March 31, 2006. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.
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.