The Tau Beta Pi Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
As the only academic honor society that confers recognition on eligible individuals from all engineering disciplines, Tau Beta Pi recognizes those who have conferred honor upon their Alma Maters by distinguished scholarship and exemplary character as students in engineering, or by their attainments as alumni in the field of engineering, provides leadership and professional development training for engineering students and alumni members, and promotes lifelong alumnus member involvement and cultivates a community of dedicated high achievers.
- Income
- $6.1 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 75.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 51%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 140
- Highest pay
- $156,826, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 75.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 259 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 July 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 (4)
- $894,807 spent. Awarded $10,000 fellowships to 30 students for a year of graduate study. Awarded 11 $1,000, and 241 $2,000, and 2 $3,000 scholarships to 254 engineering seniors. 6 college freshman received $1,500 for engineering study. $4,000 in scholarships were available to students selected by 8 chapters.
- $471,161 spent. Published a quarterly magazine with a circulation of over 80,000 for members. Features include news of the Association, chapters, and members and articles on engineering. Also published an online newsletter on college activities and leadership information with a circulation of 11,000 engineering juniors and seniors.
- $1.0 million spent. Convention, District, Engineering Futures, MindSET, Greater Interest in Government (GIG), Student Assistance Held national and regional meetings of its members where collegiate chapter officers receive leadership training, professional development, and chapter operations training. Students receive training in possible service activities including tutoring students, counseling high-schoolers, training K-12 math and science students, and providing volunteers and funds to other charities.
- $833,273 spent. Members elected and initiated by college chapters received material to denote their lifetime affiliation with Tau Beta Pi. Various Association awards were presented to selected members and chapters for outstanding service and achievements. (See Schedule I)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 January 1949.
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.
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.