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The George and Barbara Bush Foundation

EIN 76-0345781 · College Sta, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$17.0 million
Spending
$11.9 million
Spent on programs
55%
Reserves
11.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
50
Volunteers
135
Highest pay
$426,600, ceo/director began 01/2024

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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% 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 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    55% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 (4)
  1. $2.1 million spent. GEORGE BUSH SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE:THE SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE LEADING PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS GRADUATE SCHOOLS IN THE NATION. ONE OF THE 16 SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES WITHIN TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, THE SCHOOL OFFERS BOTH BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S LEVEL EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WANTING CAREERS IN PUBLIC SERVICE. THE SCHOOL IS STILL RANKED IN THE TOP 12 PERCENT OF THE GRADUATE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SCHOOLS IN THE NATION. THE SCHOOL'S PHILOSOPHY IS BASED ON THE BELIEF OF ITS FOUNDER, GEORGE H.W. BUSH, THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS A NOBLE CALLING, A BELIEF THAT CONTINUES TO SHAPE ALL ASPECTS OF THE CURRICULUM, RESEARCH, AND STUDENT EXPERIENCE. THERE ARE THREE ELEMENTS THAT FORM ALL ACTIVITIES AT THE SCHOOL. FIRST IS THE CULTIVATION OF PRINCIPLED LEADERS. SECOND, THE SCHOOL RECOGNIZES THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY ITS FACULTY AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES. THIRD, THE SCHOOL HAS AS ONE OF ITS CORNERSTONES THE IDEA OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE. AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE BUSH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC SERVICE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, INCLUDING A SUMMER INTERNSHIP AND STUDENT-LED PUBLIC SERVICE PROJECTS THAT ENABLE STUDENTS TO APPLY WHAT THEY LEARN IN EXTERNAL SETTINGS.
  2. $978,183 spent. INTERACTIVE LEARNING PROGRAMS: THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES A DYNAMIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS AND LECTURES, THE PUBLIC IS ABLE TO EXPERIENCE INSIGHT INTO THE COMPLEX DYNAMICS OF DIPLOMACY AND DOMESTIC POLICY MAKING, AND HOW THE OFFICES AND THE INDIVIDUALS SERVING THE PEOPLE PERFORM THEIR DUTIES. THE LIBRARY AND MUSEUM INFORM AND ENRICH LEARNING FOR ALL AGES REGARDING U.S. HISTORY, THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENCY WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF GEORGE H.W. BUSH, AND ENHANCE THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF LITERACY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. ALL OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED TO SCHOOL GROUPS FREE OF CHARGE BOTH ON SITE AND THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING. STORIES ARE DRAMATICALLY TOLD ABOUT AMERICAN AND TEXAS HISTORY BRINGING PAST EVENTS ALIVE AND PROVIDING BENEFICIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR ALL AGES. THE BUSH LIBRARY AND MUSEUM OFFERS FREE PRESENTATIONS AT THE MUSEUM OR AS OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND ONLINE APPLICATIONS TO AREA SCHOOLS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS. AT THE MUSEUM OR AT THE SCHOOL, CUSTOM-DESIGNED STORYTELLING PROGRAMS MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS. THE MUSEUM'S CORE EXHIBITS REVEAL THE UNIQUE INFLUENCES AND CHALLENGES THAT SHAPED GEORGE BUSH'S LIFE AND PRESIDENCY, AND FREQUENTLY CHANGING TEMPORARY EXHIBITS PRESENT VISITORS NEW AND INTERESTING PERSPECTIVES ON PRESIDENT BUSH, HIS LIFE AND WORK. SEE A WORLD WAR II AVENGER TORPEDO BOMBER, A 1947 STUDEBAKER, A SLAB OF THE BERLIN WALL, AND PRECISE REPLICAS OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S CAMP DAVID AND SITUATION ROOM. VISITORS CAN HAVE THEIR PICTURE MADE WHILE SEATED AT THE DESK IN THE REPLICA OVAL OFFICE. IN ADDITION, A SPECIAL SECTION IS DEDICATED TO FIRST LADY BARBARA BUSH AND HER EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF LITERACY, AIDS AWARENESS AND PREVENTION, AND VOLUNTEERISM.
  3. $134,000 spent. THE FOUNDATION AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT AND MRS. BUSH AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND EDUCATION. SOME OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS INCLUDE THE USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN 77) SCHOLARSHIP FOR CREW OR FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE SHIP, THE GEORGE BUSH HIGH SCHOOL PUBLIC SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP THAT RECOGNIZES HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND SEVERAL SCHOLARSHIPS THAT SUPPORT THE ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES OF A STUDENT AT THE BUSH SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION GIVES TO THE MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL PHILANTHROPY PROGRAM AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY TO PROVIDE FOR LOCAL AREA COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS ARE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BASED IN THE BRAZOS VALLEY OR A TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZED STUDENT ORGANIZATION. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES ANNUAL TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM EACH OF THE ACADEMIC COLLEGES AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY FOR VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
  4. $3.3 million spent. FOUNDATION EVENTS, LECTURE SERIES, AND HISTORIC DOCUMENTATION.

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 1991.

    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.