Natso Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO ADVANCE, PROMOTE, AND IMPROVE THE TRAVEL PLAZA AND TRUCK STOP INDUSTRY THROUGH EDUCATION, COMMUNICATIONS, MEETINGS, AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. THE FOUNDATION ASSISTS TRAVEL PLAZA AND TRUCK STOP OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT IN ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE FOR THEIR INDUSTRY, CUSTOMERS, COMMUNITIES, AND SOCIETY.
- Income
- $346,497
- Spending
- $521,810
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- -6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 49%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $385,323, president
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
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 51% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 cents.
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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (4)
- $80,798 spent. WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA THE FOUNDATION PRODUCES TOOLS TO ASSIST TRAVEL PLAZAS IN BETTER SERVING THEIR CUSTOMERS, SUCH AS VIDEOS AND WEBSITE EDUCATION.
- $69,698 spent. FAST FORWARD FOCUS IS THE ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE PRODUCED BY THE NATSO FOUNDATION. IT PROVIDES IN DEPTH CONTENT TO ASSIST MEMBERS IMPROVE THEIR TRAVEL PLAZA BUSINESS OPERATIONS AS WELL AS PROVIDE CONTEXT ON TRENDS AND NEWS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY.
- $53,739 spent. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES SPEAKERS AT NATSO CONNECT. THE SPEAKERS ARE CHOSEN FOR THEIR ABILITY TO ASSIST TRAVEL PLAZA AND TRUCK STOP OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT IN ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE FOR THEIR INDUSTRY, CUSTOMERS,COMMUNITIES, AND SOCIETY. THE FOUNDATION ALSO AWARDS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
- $171,326 spent. THE RESEARCH PROGRAM PRODUCED A SET OF FOUR REPORTS THAT BENEFITTED AND INFORMED THE INDUSTRY. THE REPORTS IDENTIFY ISSUES AND TRENDS THAT AFFECT THE INDUSTRY. THE PROGRAM RAISED A SMALL AMOUNT OF REVENUE VIA AD SALES.THE NATSO FOUNDATION'S BILL AND CAROLYN MOON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES $5,000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO TRUCK STOP AND TRAVEL CENTER EMPLOYEES AND THEIR CHILDREN. THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE OPENED IN THE FALL AND REVIEWED BY AN INDEPENDENT REVIEWER.THE NATSO FOUNDATION'S ROADSIDE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAFETY INITIATIVES PROVIDES TRAINING, EDUCATION AND PARTNERSHIPS TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DISABLED TRUCKS AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PERSONNEL.STOPWATCH MAGAZINE IS THE OFFICIAL MEMBER MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTED QUARTERLY TO TRUCKSTOP AND TRAVEL PLAZA OWNERS AND OPERATORS. IT PROVIDES IN DEPTH CONTENT TO ASSIST MEMBERS IMPROVE THEIR TRAVEL PLAZA BUSINESS OPERATIONS AS WELL AS PROVIDE CONTEXT ON TRENDS AND NEWS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY.
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
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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 March 1990.
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 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.