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International Society for Human Ethology

EIN 84-1249067 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE THE EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE AND OPINIONS CONCERNING HUMAN ETHOLOGY AMONG SCIENTISTS IN A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES.

Income
$485,083
Spending
$145,736
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 95%
Employees
0
Volunteers
11

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 70% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 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 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 (1)
  1. $118,624 spent. THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR HUMAN ETHOLOGY (ISHE) PROMOTES ETHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES IN THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF HUMANS WORLDWIDE. ISHE AIMS TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL THROUGH:1. ENCOURAGING EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR, USING THE FULL RANGE OF METHODS DEVELOPED IN BIOLOGY AND THE HUMAN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AND OPERATING WITHIN THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK PROVIDED BY EVOLUTIONARY THEORY.2. PROMOTING THE EXCHANGE OF ETHOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND OPINIONS WITH THE OTHER EMPIRICAL SCIENCES OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR.WE ADMINISTER OUR FUNDS IN ORDER TO PURSUE THESE GOALS.IN 2024, TWO NEW "OWEN F ALDIS" SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TO GRADUATE STUDENTS STUDYING IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN ETHOLOGY TO ENABLE THEM TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES THEY WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO COMPLETE. TRAVEL SUPPORT WAS ALSO PROVIDED FOR A PREVIOUS YEAR'S AWARDEE TO ENABLE THE PRESENTATION OF FUNDED WORK TO THE MEMBERSHIP. ONE "LINDA MEALEY" AWARD WAS GRANTED TO A JUNIOR RESEARCHER FOR NEW RESEARCH IN HUMAN ETHOLOGY WITH A FOCUS ON DIRECT OBSERVATION OF BEHAVIOR. THIS AWARD SUPPORTS JUNIOR SCIENTISTS IN A CRITICAL PERIOD OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT. WE PUBLISHED VOLUME 39 OF THE SOCIETY'S FLAGSHIP JOURNAL, HUMAN ETHOLOGY, AN OPEN-ACCESS, PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION. ISHE INCURS THE HOSTING AND EDITORIAL COSTS OF MAINTAINING AN OPEN-ACCESS JOURNAL RATHER THAN TRANSFERRING ANY OF THAT COST TO AUTHORS (VIA ARTICLE PROCESSING CHARGES COMMON TO MANY PUBLICATIONS) IN ORDER TO FACILITATE AND ENCOURAGE SUBMISSIONS FROM RESEARCHERS AT UNDER-FUNDED INSTITUTIONS AND/OR STUDENT OR EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS WHO DO NOT HAVE SUPPORT FUNDS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ISHE THAT THEY REMOVE BARRIERS TO THE DISSEMINATION OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE. A SUPPLEMENTAL VOLUME COVERING THE FULL BODY OF RESEARCH PRESENTED AT THE SOCIETY'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE WAS ALSO PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL. THE BI-ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS (CONFERENCE) EVENT WAS HOSTED IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA. THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS DRAWS STUDENTS, JUNIOR RESEARCHERS, AND SENIOR RESEARCHERS IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN ETHOLOGY AND PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF SCIENTIFIC WORK AND DEVELOPMENT OF COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH RELATIONSHIPS. THE MEETING INCLUDED 5 KEYNOTE TALKS, 11 TOPIC-FOCUSED TALK SESSIONS, A POSTER SESSION, AND AN APPLIED ETHOLOGY SYMPOSIUM.

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 January 2002.

    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.