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National Right to Work Legal Defense & Education Foundation Inc

EIN 59-1588825 · Springfield, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT, TAX-EXEMPT, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION PROVIDING FREE LEGAL AID TO EMPLOYEES WHOSE HUMAN OR CIVIL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED BY ABUSES OF COMPULSORY UNIONISM. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS LITIGATION TO ENFORCE AND EXPAND EMPLOYEES' LEGAL RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST FORCED UNIONISM, AND CONDUCTS A PROGRAM TO EDUCATE AND INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT SUCH ISSUES.

Income
$7.9 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
53.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
44
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$338,862, vp/sec-treas/lgl dir

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 53.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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)
  1. $4.4 million spent. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO WORKERS SUFFERING FROM ABUSES OF COMPULSORY UNIONISM IN HUNDREDS OF CASES NATIONWIDE. DURING 2025, FOUNDATION STAFF ATTORNEYS HANDLED 290 CASES AND REPRESENTED 349 INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS IN CASES THAT IMPACTED THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES.
  2. $1.5 million spent. THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTS A PROGRAM OF INFORMING WORKERS, FOUNDATION SUPPORTERS, AND THE PUBLIC OF WORKERS' RIGHTS TO BE FREE FROM ABUSES OF COMPULSORY UNIONISM AND OF LEGAL RECOURSE AVAILABLE TO WORKERS TO SECURE SUCH RIGHTS.
  3. $306,247 spent. THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTS AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, INCLUDING PUBLICATIONS AND SPONSORING DISCUSSION GROUPS, FORUMS, PANELS AND LECTURES, AND MAY PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AID THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS OR OTHER FORMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY OR MERITORIOUS STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO REQUIRE ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS' JOBS OR JOB OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN CURTAILED OR DENIED AS A RESULT OF COMPULSORY UNIONISM, AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN DEFENDING HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS SECURED BY LAW.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.