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Sme Foundation

EIN 84-1175450 · Englewood, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE SME FOUNDATION IS TO BE THE SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OF THE SOCIETY FOR MINING, METALLURGY, AND EXPLORATION (SME) AND THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. THE SME FOUNDATION FULFILLS ITS MISSION BY SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT DISSEMINATE MINING/MINERAL INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY WORLDWIDE; ENCOURAGE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; EDUCATE CHILDREN, TEACHERS, AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE THAT THE MINERALS INDUSTRY PLAYS IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES; BUILD CONSENSUS FOR A STRONG, ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MINERALS INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD; AND SUPPORT COLLEGE-LEVEL STUDENTS AND PROGRAMS MEETING INDUSTRY DEMANDS FOR ENGINEERS AND RESEARCHERS IN THE FUTURE.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
24.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
0
Volunteers
57
Highest pay
$663,914, secretary/treasurer

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 29 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. $811,599 spent. THE PHD-FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WITH INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE AND A DESIRE TO PURSUE AN ACADEMIC CAREER, WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED OR HAVE BEEN FORMALLY ACCEPTED IN A U.S. ACADEMIC INSTITUTION, WITH THE MEANS OF ACQUIRING A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN THE FIELD OF MINING OR EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY/MINERAL PROCESSING AT A U.S. ACRREDITED UNIVERSITY. SME HAS IMPLEMENTED THESE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE LONG-TERM CHALLENGES THAT THREATEN THE SUBSTAINABILITY OF U.S. MINING AND MINERAL PROCESSING/EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY ACADEMIC DEGREE GRANTING PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE LOOMING FUTURE LABOR DEFICIENCIES WITH RETIREMENT OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES.
  2. $245,000 spent. THE MINERAL EDUCATION COALITION (MEC) IS THE SOCIETY FOR MINING, METALLURGY AND EXPLORATION FOUNDATION'S DESIGNATED PROGRAM TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER ACCURATE AND TIMELY K-12 EDUCATION MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES AND CONDUCT PUBLIC AWARENESS OUTREACH ABOUT MINING AND MINERALS. THE MEC IS THE SUCCESSOR ENTITY OF THE MINERAL INFORMATION INSTITUTE (MII) WHICH WAS MERGED AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2008 AND SME'S GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION AND MINING (GEM) PROGRAM.
  3. $65,559 spent. THE PENG GROUND CONTROL MINING AWARD IS GIVEN IN RECOGNITION OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE IN ADVANCING THE UNDERSTANDING OF GROUND CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES OR APPROACHES BY EITHER PUBLICATION OR DIRECT APPLICATIONS IN THE MINING INDUSTRY. THE ANNUAL AWARD WILL BE GIVEN TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP THAT: (1) HAS SHOWN INSIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING OF GROUND CONTROL ISSUES BY DEVELOPING CONCEPTS, THEORIES OR TECHNOLOGIES THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE MINING COMMUNITY, OR (2) HAS SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED A GROUND CONTROL DESIGN OR DESIGNS OR PRACTICES. THE AWARD WILL BE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS/GROUPS THAT HAVE MADE SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS TO GROUND CONTROL RELATED TO COAL AND/OR NONCOAL (METALS, COMMODITIES, ETC.) OR AGGREGATE MINES. IN ADDITION, IN 2009, THE SYD S. PENG FUND ADDED TWO GROUND CONTROL IN MINING SCHOLARSHIPS TO PROMOTE THE SCIENCE OF GROUND CONTROL. RECENT TRENDS IN MINING ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS INDICATE A SHORTAGE OF COMPETENT GROUND CONTROL ENGINEERS. TO HELP REMEDY THIS SITUATION AND PROMOTE THE GROUND CONTROL ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE, AN UNDERGRADUATE AND/OR GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP(S) WILL BE AWARDED ANNUALLY TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF GROUND CONTROL ENGINEERS.
  4. $377,871 spent. EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND EVENTS.

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 October 1991.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Folx Foundation Inc (Miami Beach, FL), EIN 86-3600057. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.