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Virginia Sheriffs Institute Inc

EIN 54-1063932 · Richmond, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VSI PROVIDES TRAINING AND EDUCATION AND DOES ANY AND ALL THINGS TO PROMOTE THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AND ORDER AND THE SUPPRESSION OF CRIME.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
27.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25

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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • 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 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 (5)
  1. $659,192 spent. VSI PROVIDED INFORMATIONAL BULLETINS, EMAILS AND EDUCATIONAL NOTICES TO SHERIFFS AND THEIR STAFF. VSI PROVIDED A LAWFUL EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL PROGRAM AND AN EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM. VSI SPONSORED MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT RELATED NON-PROFITS. VSI PROVIDED REPORTS AND STATISTICS TO SUPPORTERS REGARDING CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN VIRGINIA THROUGH DIRECT MAIL, EMAIL AND ON VSI'S WEBSITE.
  2. $92,230 spent. THE INSTITUTE PROVIDES A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER THAT GOES TO ITS MEMBERS FROM THE SHERIFFS THAT CONTAINS INFORMATION ON NEW VIRGINIA LAWS, CRIME PREVENTION TOPICS, AND TRAINING AND EDUCATION UPDATES.
  3. $68,411 spent. THE VIRGINIA SHERIFFS' SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1981 TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS VIRGINIA TO PURSUE AN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA WHO MAJOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT A VIRGINIA COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. VSI PAID FOR 65 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2025-26 TO VIRGINIA'S YOUTH.
  4. $51,602 spent. THE VIRGINIA SHERIFFS' INSTITUTE (VSI), IN COOPERATION WITH THE VIRGINIA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION (VSA), THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT GROUP AT THE L. DOUGLAS WILDER SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY (VCU) AND THE VIRGINIA CENTER FOR POLICING INNOVATION (VCPI), HAS DEVELOPED THE VSI CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TO PROMOTE, RECOGNIZE AND ELEVATE THE CONTINUED INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR VIRGINIA'S SHERIFFS AND DEPUTIES.
  5. THE VIRGINIA SHERIFFS' INSTITUTE (VSI), IN COOPERATION WITH THE VIRGINIA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION (VSA), THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT GROUP AT THE L. DOUGLAS WILDER SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY (VCU) AND THE VIRGINIA CENTER FOR POLICING INNOVATION (VCPI), HAS DEVELOPED THE VSI CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TO PROMOTE, RECOGNIZE AND ELEVATE THE CONTINUED INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR VIRGINIA'S SHERIFFS AND DEPUTIES.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 2026.

    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 November 1977.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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