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American Indian Science and Engineering Society

EIN 73-1023474 · Albuquerque, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AISES IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASING THE REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) STUDIES AND CAREERS.

Income
$19.0 million
Spending
$13.3 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
69
Volunteers
333
Highest pay
$346,260, 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

Good: 71 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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, 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 (5)
  1. $1.3 million spent. PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS: THE FOCUS OF AISES'S PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAM IS TO BUILD AWARENESS AND INCREASE RETENTION IN K-12 STEM BY PROVIDING NATIVE K-12 STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND EDUCATORS EXPOSURE AND ACCESS TO QUALITY CURRICULUM, PROGRAMS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO INTEREST AND ENGAGE THEM IN STEM.
  2. $2.8 million spent. EVENTS AND LEADERSHIP: AISES PRODUCES LARGE SCALE EVENTS FOR ITS MEMBERS AND OTHERS THAT SERVE AS A FORUM FOR NETWORKING, LEARNING, LEADERSHIP, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, AND SHARING OF RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES IN STEM FIELDS. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND EVENTS AND TO GAIN EXPOSURE TO STEM ACTIVITIES AT AN ANNUAL STEM DAY EVENT. COLLEGE STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS ARE EXPOSED TO POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS ALONG WITH RESUME SUPPORT AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES. ALL EVENTS OFFER A CULTURAL COMPONENT WHICH MAKES AISES EVENTS UNIQUE.
  3. $2.6 million spent. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND RESEARCH: THE FOCUS OF AISES' STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND RESEARCH IS TO IDENTIFY AND LEVERAGE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND CONDUCT RESEARCH IN STEM ISSUES SPECIFIC TO NATIVE PEOPLE BY IDENTIFYING THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES IN NATIVE STEM EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH RESEARCH, DATA COLLECTION, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER KEY STEM STAKEHOLDERS.
  4. $3.0 million spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, WHO ARE MEMBERS OF AISES, FOR LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. AISES ADMINISTERS ACADEMIC AND TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS AS WELL AS AN EMERGENCY FUND TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC RELIEF THAT WOULD ENABLE A STUDENT TO CONTINUE PURSUING THEIR EDUCATION. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS: AISES UTILIZES AN ARRAY OF COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, TRIBES, SCHOOLS, NONPROFITS, CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ABOUT THE NEED FOR INCREASED STEM EDUCATION AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIVE PEOPLE. AISES ALSO CONDUCTS OUTREACH TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND TRIBES TO PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF STEM. MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER MANAGEMENT: AISES MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO STUDENTS, PROFESSIONALS, AND RETIREES. IT IS ABOUT CONNECTING AND RELATING WITH OTHERS, SHARING STORIES, ENGAGING IN RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIPS, GAINING RESOURCES, AND ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS. AISES COLLEGE, PROFESSIONAL, AND TRIBAL CHAPTERS ARE LOCATED ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND MADE UP OF AISES MEMBERS. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF CHAPTERS ARE TO ENRICH THE PROFESSIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, SERVICE, AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE MEMBERSHIP. CHAPTERS EMPHASIZE STEM EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONS AS A TOOL THAT WILL FACILITATE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MENTOR PROGRAMS, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND EVENT PARTICIPATION. COLLEGE PROGRAMS: THE FOCUS OF AISES'S COLLEGE PROGRAMS IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AND SUCCESS IN STEM HIGHER EDUCATION BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES TO NATIVE COLLEGE STUDENTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF SUCCESSFUL NATIVE STEM MAJORS. ADDITIONALLY, AISES OFFERS INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE CAREERS WITH CORPORATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.
  5. SCHOLARSHIPS: SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, WHO ARE MEMBERS OF AISES, FOR LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. AISES ADMINISTERS ACADEMIC AND TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS AS WELL AS AN EMERGENCY FUND TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC RELIEF THAT WOULD ENABLE A STUDENT TO CONTINUE PURSUING THEIR EDUCATION. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS: AISES UTILIZES AN ARRAY OF COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, TRIBES, SCHOOLS, NONPROFITS, CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ABOUT THE NEED FOR INCREASED STEM EDUCATION AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIVE PEOPLE. AISES ALSO CONDUCTS OUTREACH TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND TRIBES TO PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF STEM. MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER MANAGEMENT: AISES MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO STUDENTS, PROFESSIONALS, AND RETIREES. IT IS ABOUT CONNECTING AND RELATING WITH OTHERS, SHARING STORIES, ENGAGING IN RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIPS, GAINING RESOURCES, AND ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS. AISES COLLEGE, PROFESSIONAL, AND TRIBAL CHAPTERS ARE LOCATED ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND MADE UP OF AISES MEMBERS. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF CHAPTERS ARE TO ENRICH THE PROFESSIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, SERVICE, AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE MEMBERSHIP. CHAPTERS EMPHASIZE STEM EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONS AS A TOOL THAT WILL FACILITATE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MENTOR PROGRAMS, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND EVENT PARTICIPATION. COLLEGE PROGRAMS: THE FOCUS OF AISES'S COLLEGE PROGRAMS IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AND SUCCESS IN STEM HIGHER EDUCATION BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES TO NATIVE COLLEGE STUDENTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF SUCCESSFUL NATIVE STEM MAJORS. ADDITIONALLY, AISES OFFERS INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE CAREERS WITH CORPORATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.