The Nelac Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The mission of The NELAC Institute is to foster the generation of environmental data of known and documented quality through an open, inclusive, and transparent process that is
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 88%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 800
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
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 1148% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 251133 of 1133 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (6)
- $651,507 spent. MEETINGS AND SYMPOSIUMS Each year, TNI sponsors two meetings where scientists, regulators and the general public gather to engage in dialogue about building a national program for the accreditation of environmental testing laboratories and related organizations. In 2025, the meetings included a focus on building a quality culture and continued discussion on the analysis of the forever chemicals, polyfluorinated alkyl substances. Over 800 individuals participated in the 2025 meetings. For the 21st year, the summer meeting was combined with the National Environmental Monitoring Conference.
- $61,501 spent. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM TNIs National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program(NELAP) now has 14 states and 15 Accreditation Bodies(ABs) that accredit over 2000 laboratories in the US and internationally. In 2025,the major focus of NELAP was revise the process for approving accreditation bodies by incorporating ISE/IEC 17011:2017.
- $96,876 spent. CONSENSUS STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT In 2025, TNIs Consensus Standards Development Program initiated a major effort to completely revise the accreditations standards for both environmental laboratories and field sampling and measurement organizations with a goal of completing these revisions by 2028.
- $52,891 spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- $26,816 spent. NGAB INCOME
- PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 52891. 0. 66020.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.