Golden Key International Honour Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENABLE MEMBERS TO REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL THROUGH THE ADVANCEMENT OF ACADEMICS, LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 71%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 3,000
- Highest pay
- $195,507, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 258 of 9 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 June 30, 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 (4)
- $802,898 spent. STUDENT RECOGNITION: STUDENT RECOGNITION IS THE SERVICE ASSOCIATED WITH RECOGNIZING THE TOP ACHIEVING SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, SENIORS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS GLOBALLY AT OUR OVER 350 UNIVERSITIES IN 6 COUNTRIES. GOLDEN KEY AND ITS UNIVERSITY PARTNERS RECOGNIZE ALL STUDENTS, WHO MEET THE CRITERIA, PRESENTED TO THE ORGANIZATION BY THE UNIVERSITY FOR THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE COMMUNICATING THE VALUE ADDED BY JOINING THE SOCIETY, RECRUITING ACCREDITED UNIVERSITIES GLOBALLY TO JOIN THE GOLDEN KEY NETWORK AND FURTHER THE MISSION BY OFFERING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, MEMBER BENEFITS, SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP.
- $481,761 spent. MEMBER BENEFITS: MEMBER BENEFITS IS THE PROGRAM SERVICE ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING BENEFITS TO THE STUDENT MEMBERS, ALUMNI, ADVISORS AND HONORARY MEMBERS. MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE 1) SCHOLARSHIPS, 2) RECOGNITION, 3) LEADERSHIP, 4) CAREER BENEFITS AND TRAINING, 5) MERCHANDISE, 6) MENTORING, 7) REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, 8) STUDY ABROAD, 9) JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS, AND 10) DISCOUNTED PROGRAMS.
- $348,863 spent. UNIVERSITY ACTIVITIES: UNIVERSITY ACTIVITIES IS THE PROGRAM SERVICE ASSOCIATED WITH FUNDING AND OVERALL SUPPORT OF OVER 350 CHAPTERS LOCATED ON THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN 6 COUNTRIES TO FURTHER THE GK MISSION OF 1) PROVIDING BENEFITS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, 2) PROMOTING GK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, 3) FUNDING ALLOCATED TO CHAPTERS FOR LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE ATIENDANCE AT BOTH REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WITH THE CHAPTER MODEL, 4) MENTORING ACTIVITIES FOR BOTH ADVISORS AND STUDENTS, AND 5) PROMOTING SERVICE ACTIVITIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
- $118,193 spent. LEADERSHIP/VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1978.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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