US Civilian Research and Development Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CRDF GLOBAL FACILITATES SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN COUNTRIES, PROMOTES SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE SCIENCE, ENCOURAGES ENTREPRENEURSHIP THAT SUPPORTS ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND IMPROVES THE CAPACITY OF INDIVIDUAL SCIENTISTS AND INSTITUTIONS.
- Income
- $73.6 million
- Spending
- $71.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 90%
- Employees
- 208
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $741,263, ceo & 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
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 91% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 13 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 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 (2)
- $53.0 million spent. SECURITY ASSISTANCE:CRDF GLOBAL PARTNERS WITH INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE THE PROLIFERATION OF CBRNE THREATS AND THE INTENTIONAL AND ACCIDENTAL MISUSE OF THESE MATERIALS. OUR PROJECTS STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY CULTURE BY ENHANCING RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, IMPROVING IN-COUNTRY DETECTION AND RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, SECURING FACILITIES, AND ENCOURAGING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS TO REDUCE RISK. IN ADDITION, OUR PROGRAMS ENHANCE NATIONAL EXPORT CONTROL REGULATION AND THE INTERDICTION AND DETECTION CAPABILITIES OF BORDER SECURITY FORCES. WE ENHANCE REGIONAL, INTERAGENCY, AND INDUSTRY COORDINATION AMONG STAKEHOLDERS, BUILDING PARTNER NATION CAPACITY TO PREVENT TRANSSHIPMENT OF ILLICIT GOODS, DETECT FALSIFIED INFORMATION AND IMPROVE THE SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE OF LAND, AIR, AND SEA BORDERS.
- $16.9 million spent. DEVELOPMENT & EXCHANGES:CRDF GLOBAL BUILDS AND MANAGES COMPREHENSIVE, SUSTAINABLE CYBERSECURITY PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPROVE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR CYBER WORKFORCES, AND BUILD RESILIENT CYBERSECURITY INSTITUTIONS. OUR PROJECTS FOSTER ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURES AND STRENGTHEN IN-COUNTRY CAPACITIES TO CATALYZE LOCAL INNOVATION. BY SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES WITH ACCESS TO INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES AND GATEWAYS TO LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS; AND ANALYZING REGIONAL BARRIERS AND CONSTRAINTS THAT IMPEDE INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. CRDF DEVELOPS TAILORED GROWTH STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM WITHIN A COUNTRY, MARKET SECTOR, OR REGION.
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 January 1996.
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.