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Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration Inc

EIN 74-2338444 · Englewood, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 105 cents.

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

What it says it does

SOCIETY FOR MINING, METALLURGY AND EXPLORATION (SME) SERVES THE MINING, RESOURCES AND UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

Income
$18.5 million
Spending
$17.6 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
18 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
59
Volunteers
780
Highest pay
$663,915, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 105 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 September 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)
  1. $10.5 million spent. THE MINEXCHANGE 2025 SME ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXPO AND SMA 127TH NATIONAL WESTERN MINING CONFERENCE TOOK PLACE AT THE COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER IN DENVER, CO ON FEBRUARY 23-25. IN ADDITION, MINEXCHANGE ATTENDEES WERE ALSO ABLE TO ATTEND SESSIONS FOR THE 2025 WORLD GOLD CONFERENCE. THE EXPO FLOOR FEATURED A LARGE WORLD GOLD PAVILLION. MINEXCHANGE INCLUDED 692 PRESENTATIONS, 9 SHORT COURSES, 103 PREPRINTS, 41 WORLD GOLD MANUSCRIPTS, 601 EXHIBITING COMPANIES AND 78 SPONSORS. OVER 7,035 INDIVIDUALS WERE IN ATTENDANCE. THIS INCLUDED 600 STUDENTS, 973 INTERNATIONAL ATTENDEES FROM 46 COUNTRIES. THOSE FROM THE UNITED STATES HAILED FROM ALL 50 U.S. STATES PLUS PUERTO RICO AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.THE RAPID EXCAVATION AND TUNNELING CONFERENCE (RETC) WAS HELD JUNE 8-11 AT THE SHERATON DALLAS HOTEL IN DALLAS, TX. DRAWING AN ATTENDANCE OF 1,340 ATTENDEES, THE EVENT FEATURED 172 EXHIBITING COMPANIES AND 27 SPONSORING COMPANIES. THE TECHNICAL PROGRAM FEATURED RICH CONTENT AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING NETWORKING EVENTS SPECIFICALLY FOR WONERS AND WOMEN IN TUNNELING.
  2. $1.6 million spent. MEMBERS ARE THE HEART OF SME, CONTRIBUTING TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE, TALENT AND VOLUNTEER RESOURCES TO HELP THE ORGANIZATION ADVANCE. SME ENDED 2025 WITH OVER 14,000 MEMBERS. INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS MADE UP 27% OF TOTAL MEMBERSHIP. SME HAS 49 LOCAL SECTIONS, INCLUDING 42 IN THE UNITED STATES PLUS 7 INTERNATIONAL SECTIONS. SEVEN NEW STUDENT CHAPTERS WERE FORMED IN 2025, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENT CHAPTERS TO 89.
  3. $1.9 million spent. DURING 2025 THE MINING ENGINEERING WEBSITE PUBLISHED INDUSTRY NEWS ON A DAILY BASIS AND DELIVERED EACH ISSUE TO MEMBERS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AS A PDF AND IN FLIPBOOK FORMATS. CLIENTS ALSO EXPANDED DIGITAL ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH MINING ENGINEERING ONLINE, THE SME WEBSITE, CLIENT-PROVIDED CONTENT, SME E-NEWS, AND MINING ENGINEERING DIGITAL NEWSLETTER OPTIONS.
  4. $1.8 million spent. SME PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER CONTINUING EDUCATION SUPPORT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 December 1984.

    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.