Cfa Institute
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
SEE STATEMENT O
- Income
- $534.0 million
- Spending
- $321.6 million
- Employees
- 457
- Volunteers
- 4,160
- Highest pay
- $1.5 million, pres & ceo & resrch fdn bd mem
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- THE CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST (CFA) PROGRAM: THE ORGANIZATION ADMINISTERS THE CFA PROGRAM, A THREE-LEVEL, EDUCATION AND EXAMINATION PROGRAM COVERING TOPICS ESSENTIAL TO THE INVESTMENT DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. PROGRAM TOPICS FORM THE CANDIDATE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE AND INCLUDE ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, QUANTITATIVE METHODS, ECONOMICS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT REPORTING AND ANALYSIS, CORPORATE FINANCE, EQUITY AND FIXED-INCOME ANALYSIS, ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS, DERIVATIVES, PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT, AND WEALTH PLANNING.
- PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: THE ORGANIZATION PROMOTES LIFELONG LEARNING BY DEVELOPING AND DISSEMINATING A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL COURSES AND CERTIFICATES TO INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS ON TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE PROFESSION, INCLUDING SUSTAINABLE INVESTING CERTIFICATE; CLIMATE RISK, VALUATION AND INVESTING CERTIFICATE, PRIVATE MARKETS AND ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS CERTIFICATES, DATA SCIENCE FOR INVESTMENT PROFESSIONS CERTIFICATE, THE CERTIFICATE IN INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, PRIVATE EQUITY CERTIFICATE AND INVESTMENT FOUNDATIONS CERTIFICATE.
- STANDARDS ADVOCACY, AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: THE ORGANIZATION IS A LEADING VOICE ON ISSUES OF FAIRNESS, EFFICIENCY, AND INVESTOR PROTECTION IN GLOBAL CAPITAL MARKETS AND PROMOTES HIGH STANDARDS OF ETHICS, INTEGRITY, AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE WITHIN THE INVESTMENT COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROMOTES AND ENFORCES THE CFA INSTITUTE CODE OF ETHICS AND STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT. ALL MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND CANDIDATES IN THE CFA PROGRAM ARE REQUIRED TO ADHERE TO THIS CODE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
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? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 August 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 December 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.