Mathcounts Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MATHCOUNTS provides engaging math programs for US middle school students of all ability levels to build confidence and improve attitudes towards math and problem solving.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $3.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 17.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 50%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 17,000
- Highest pay
- $267,618, executive director & secretary
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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 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 (3)
- $2.8 million spent. MATHCOUNTS Competition Series and Support:MATHCOUNTS cultivates talent in the nation's brightest minds through the MATHCOUNTS Competition Series. Students are brought together from 56 "states" (50 states, Washington D.C., DoD overseas schools, State Department overseas schools, Guam, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands) at hundreds of local in-person contests - the only program of its kind to do so. Winners advance through 4 levels of competition - school, chapter, state, and national - until the overall national individual and team champions are determined.
- $268,643 spent. The National Math Club:MATHCOUNTS inspires curiosity and builds confidence in students of all math ability levels through The National Math Club. The program creates a space where math learning is fun, social and supportive, so that every student becomes a lifelong math learner. Any individual can sign up to be a club leader and receive free materials to conduct fun math games with their students. Clubs with active participation receive extra recognition and rewards.
- $29,771 spent. School Recruitment, Public Relations and Newsletter:MATHCOUNTS conducts an extensive campaign to share our wide array of educational resources to teachers, school administrators, students, and parents throughout the country. This campaign includes an annual, online newsletter and postcards that are distributed to every middle school in the United States.
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
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 October 13, 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 July 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 August 1986.
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 October 21, 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.