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Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc

EIN 54-1163134 · Manassas, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES' (CALEA) OVERALL PURPOSE IS TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES, PRIMARILY THROUGH THE SET OF INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALING PROGRAMS, ORGANIZED AND MAINTAINED IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

Income
$7.4 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
13.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
180
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$440,817, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $4.1 million spent. CLIENT AGENCY FEES AND REVIEWS: AGENCIES UNDER CONTRACT WITH CALEA ARE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH SITE-BASED REVIEW EVERY FOUR YEARS TO MAINTAIN ACCREDITED STATUS. THE FOUR-YEAR PERIOD IS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL ACCREDITATION AWARD DATE FOR THE AGENCY. IN 2024, CALEA CONDUCTED 406 ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER CREDENTIALING REVIEWS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, TRAINING ACADEMIES, COMMUNICATION CENTERS, AND CAMPUS SECURITY AGENCIES.
  2. $1.1 million spent. MARKETING AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: CALEA TRACKS POTENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER CREDENTIAL ORGANIZATIONS, REVIEWS OF EXISTING PROGRAMS, PROMOTIONAL PLANS FOR NEW CLIENTS, AND ASSESSES RETENTION STRATEGIES FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS. IN 2024, CALEA RECOGNIZED A NET GAIN OF 17 AGENCIES PARTICIPATING IN ITS ACCREDITATION PROGRAMMING.
  3. $819,066 spent. CONFERENCES: IN 2024, CALEA HELD THREE CONFERENCES, DURING WHICH CALEA CONSIDERED ACCREDITATION AWARDS, CONDUCTED CALEA BUSINESS MEETINGS, AND OFFERED PROGRAM-SPECIFIC AND GENERAL TRAINING. IN 2024, CALEA ACCREDITED OR REACCREDITED 351 PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS DURING ITS THREE CONFERENCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 1982.

    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.