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Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Inc

EIN 59-2891462 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 127 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL GROWTH AND VIABILITY OF THE BALDRIGE PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE PROGRAM, AND TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Income
$512,953
Spending
$251,285
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
12 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 91%
Employees
4
Highest pay
$69,545, president &

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

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 127 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: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 11 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $131,856 spent. FORM 990 - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (REFLECTING FY2024 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FY2025 DIRECTION) AMERICA IS AT A DEFINING MOMENT. GLOBAL COMPETITION, WORKFORCE DISRUPTION, COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY DEMAND LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS CAPABLE OF SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE, RESILIENCE, AND RESULTS. IN FY2024, THE BALDRIGE FOUNDATION ADVANCED ITS MISSION WITH URGENCY AND CLARITY, PROMOTING PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE, STRENGTHENING THE BALDRIGE ECOSYSTEM, EXPANDING ACCESS TO LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES, AND LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE NEXT ERA OF THE MALCOLM BALDRIGE NATIONAL QUALITY AWARD PROGRAM. OUR OBJECTIVE IS SIMPLE AND ESSENTIAL: TO HELP BUILD STRONGER ORGANIZATIONS, STRONGER COMMUNITIES, AND A STRONGER NATION. I. MISSION AND PUBLIC BENEFIT THE BALDRIGE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE MALCOLM BALDRIGE NATIONAL QUALITY AWARD PROGRAM AND TO ADVANCE ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. IN FY2024, THE FOUNDATION, THROUGH ITS INSTITUTE FOR PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE, FULFILLED THIS MISSION BY EXPANDING NATIONAL ACCESS TO BALDRIGE-BASED TOOLS, RESEARCH, EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT BENEFIT THE PUBLIC THROUGH: -IMPROVED ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY -HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES AND CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION -BETTER OUTCOMES IN EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, BUSINESS, NONPROFIT, AND GOVERNMENT SECTORS -A MORE RESILIENT AND COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY THE PUBLIC BENEFITS WHEN ORGANIZATIONS ARE WELL-LED, WELL-MANAGED, AND COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. BY PROMOTING EXCELLENCE THROUGH THE BALDRIGE FRAMEWORK, THE FOUNDATION HELPS STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS, CITIZEN WELL-BEING, AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC STRENGTH. THE BALDRIGE FRAMEWORK REMAINS THE NATION'S MOST RECOGNIZED AND PROVEN MODEL FOR LEADERSHIP, STRATEGY, INNOVATION, OPERATIONS, AND RESULTS. II. NATIONAL ALIGNMENT AND THE BALDRIGE TRANSITION THROUGHOUT FY2024, THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED WORKING IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (NIST) FOLLOWING THEIR MULTI-YEAR "REIMAGINATION" INITIATIVE. WHILE THE OPERATIONAL TRANSITION OF CERTAIN BALDRIGE PROGRAM FUNCTIONS IS ANTICIPATED IN FY2025, THE FOUNDATION DID NOT ASSUME THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES IN FY2024. INSTEAD, ITS ROLE FOCUSED ON: -SUPPORTING COMMUNICATION, CONTINUITY, AND OUTREACH -PARTICIPATING IN PLANNING AND COORDINATION CONVERSATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS -ENGAGING LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE BALDRIGE COMMUNITY -PREPARING THE ECOSYSTEM FOR A SMOOTH FY2025 TRANSITION THE FOUNDATION'S FY2024 EMPHASIS WAS PREPARATORY, COLLABORATIVE, AND STRATEGIC - HELPING LAY ESSENTIAL GROUNDWORK FOR THE BALDRIGE ENTERPRISE TO GROW ITS REACH, MODERNIZE ITS DELIVERY SYSTEMS, AND SCALE NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT IN FY2025 AND BEYOND. III. FY2024 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MISSION ADVANCEMENT 1. INSTITUTE FOR PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE THE BALDRIGE FOUNDATION INSTITUTE FOR PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE EXPANDED ITS ROLE AS A NATIONAL RESOURCE HUB FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, EXECUTIVE EDUCATION, ORGANIZATIONAL TRAINING, BENCHMARKING, AND RESEARCH. IN FY2024, THE INSTITUTE: -DELIVERED ONLINE COURSES, CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, BEST-PRACTICE TOOLS, WEBINARS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT -EXPANDED ACCESS TO SELF-PACED LEARNING AND BALDRIGE-ALIGNED LEADERSHIP CONTENT -BUILT MOMENTUM TOWARD MEMBERSHIP-BASED LEARNING COMMUNITIES -CONTINUED WORK TOWARD FUTURE BENCHMARKING, ASSESSMENT, AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING SUPPORTS THESE ACTIVITIES STRENGTHENED THE FOUNDATION'S PUBLIC BENEFIT BY HELPING LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS APPLY PROVEN SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE STRATEGY EXECUTION, WORKFORCE ENGAGEMENT, CUSTOMER VALUE, OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE, AND RESULTS. 2. NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ADVISORY COUNCILS (NLAC) IN FY2024, THE FOUNDATION ADVANCED PLANNING FOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ADVISORY COUNCILS, A NATIONWIDE SYSTEM OF SECTOR-BASED LEADERSHIP NETWORKS DESIGNED TO FOSTER PEER LEARNING, SHARED IMPROVEMENT, AND CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION. FY2024 ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON: -STRUCTURE, CURRICULUM, AND ENGAGEMENT DESIGN -EXECUTIVE CHAIR DEVELOPMENT AND ONBOARDING FRAMEWORK -NATIONAL SCALING AND SECTOR SEQUENCING FOR FY2025 AND BEYOND 3. QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE - SUPPORT ROLE THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTED NIST AND BALDRIGE PROGRAM STAKEHOLDERS IN FY2024 BY ASSISTING IN COMMUNICATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND CONTINUITY CONNECTED TO THE QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE. THE FOUNDATION DID NOT HOLD OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR QUEST IN FY2024; HOWEVER, WE HAVE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR FY2025 IN ANTICIPATION OF TAKING OVER THIS PROGRAM. 4. COMMUNITY AS THE 7TH SECTOR THE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONED THE NEWLY RECOGNIZED COMMUNITY SECTOR OF THE BALDRIGE AWARD, EXPANDING BALDRIGE IMPACT TO COMMUNITY COALITIONS FOCUSED ON CROSS-SECTOR RESULTS IN ECONOMIC VITALITY, HEALTH, WORKFORCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. 5. ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED SUSTAINED OUTREACH TO CONGRESS, PARTICULARLY THE COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE (CJS) APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEES, TO COMMUNICATE THE NATIONAL VALUE OF BALDRIGE AND REINFORCE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. THE FOUNDATION ALSO CONTINUED ITS LONGSTANDING PRACTICE OF RECOGNIZING STATE-LEVEL AWARD RECIPIENTS AND CORRESPONDING WITH CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF EXCELLENCE WITHIN THEIR STATES. 6. PHILANTHROPY AND THE MAC BALDRIGE SOCIETY FY2024 PHILANTHROPY INCLUDED SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUAL DONORS, CORPORATE PARTNERS, INSTITUTE MEMBERS, AND MAC BALDRIGE SOCIETY CONTRIBUTORS. THESE INVESTMENTS HELP SUSTAIN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, ADVOCACY, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND PUBLIC-BENEFIT INITIATIVES ALIGNED WITH THE BALDRIGE MISSION. IV. THANKING OUR COMMUNITY WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO THE MANY PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE OUR MISSION POSSIBLE, INCLUDING OUR VOLUNTEERS, STRATEGIC PARTNERS, DONORS, INSTITUTE MEMBERS, MAC BALDRIGE SOCIETY SUPPORTERS, STATE-LEVEL COLLABORATORS, AND COMMUNITY CHAMP

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 October 13, 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 August 1988.

    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 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.