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Society of Petroleum Engineers Spe Inc

EIN 75-2001539 · Richardson, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONNECT A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS, AND RELATED ENERGY PROFESSIONALS TO EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATE, AND ADVANCE THEIR TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE REGARDING THE EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND PRODUCTION OF OIL AND GAS AND RELATED ENERGY RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE A SAFE, SECURE, AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE.

Income
$15.4 million
Spending
$17.3 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
18.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
0
Volunteers
3,000

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 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. $5.7 million spent. MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, FORUM SERIES, TRAINING COURSES, AND SYMPOSIUMS - SPE'S MEETING STRATEGY IS TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF SPE MEMBERS, AND THE PUBLIC. MEETINGS CAN BE HELD IN VARIOUS FORMATS SUCH AS CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, SYMPOSIA, SUMMITS, FORUMS, TRAINING, TECH TALKS, AND WEBINARS. SPE MANAGES 90-100 EVENTS A YEAR. THE EVENTS RELATE TO TECHNICAL TOPICS BROUGHT FORWARD BY MEMBERS OF SPE THAT ARE RELATED TO THE EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF OIL AND GAS.
  2. $2.5 million spent. PUBLICATIONS - MAGAZINES, ONEPETRO, AND TECHNICAL JOURNALS - PROVIDES JOURNALS AND WEBSITE ACCESS FOR THE SOCIETY'S PUBLICATIONS, WEBSITES, ONLINE CONTENT REPOSITORIES AND TOOLS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AND STIMULATE EFFECTIVE KNOWLEDGE CAPTURE, DISSEMINATION AND ARCHIVING OF SPE'S CONTENT FOR ITS MEMBERS, AND THE PUBLIC. AVENUES OF DELIVERING THE TECHNICAL CONTENT INCLUDE SPE RESEARCH PORTALS (ONEPETRO AND PETROWIKI), SERIAL PUBLICATIONS SUCH AS THE JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY, PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS, SPE BOOKS AND SPE'S DEFINITIONS AND GUIDELINES.
  3. $3.5 million spent. MEMBER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING U.S. SECTIONS AND STUDENT CHAPTERS - SPE MEMBER PROGRAMS INCLUDE BENEFITS AND ACTIVITIES FOR SPE MEMBERS. SPE DELIVERS TO ITS MEMBERS VARIOUS PROGRAMS THROUGH SECTIONS AND STUDENT CHAPTERS. SPE PROVIDES THE FUNDING FOR THE DISTINGUISHED LECTURER PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS SECTIONS TO INVITE UP TO 2 DISTINGUISHED LECTURERS TO THEIR MEETINGS EACH YEAR. THE DISTINGUISHED LECTURER IS A SPE VOLUNTEER WHO IS A TECHNICAL EXPERT IN HIS/HER GIVEN AREA OF OIL AND GAS. SPE COVERS ALL TRAVEL COSTS RELATED TO THE TRAVEL FOR THE DISTINGUISHED LECTURER TO THE SECTION. SPE PRODUCES PROGRAMS FOR ITS STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS. ACTIVITIES SUCH AS STUDENT PAPER CONTESTS, PETRO BOWL, VIRTUAL CAREER PATHWAY AND LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE PROGRAMS ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PROGRAMS OFFERED TO YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AS WELL AS STUDENT MEMBERS.
  4. $428,555 spent. ASSOCIATED STAFF COSTS, MANAGEMENT FEE INCOME, IT INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS AND MISC. REVENUE IN SUPPORT OF THE MAJOR PROGRAMS OF SPE.

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 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 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 March 1985.

    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.