Navigation Charitable Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NAVIGATION FUND IS ADVANCING BOLD SOLUTIONS TO THE WORLD'S MOST URGENT PROBLEMS.
- Income
- $19.0 million
- Spending
- $39.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 100%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $397,923, president
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 107% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 99% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs.
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $37.9 million spent. NAVIGATION CHARITABLE FUND PROVIDED $14.24 MILLION TO HUMANE AMERICA ANIMAL FOUNDATION, ALONG WITH NON-BINDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO FUND ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING FARM ANIMAL WELFARE AND CLIMATE WORK THROUGH MOVEMENT-BUILDING, RESEARCH, AND NOVEL PROJECTS.NCF PROVIDED $15.375 MILLION TO VANGUARD CHARITABLE, ALONG WITH NON-BINDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO FUND ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO TRANSFORMING CRIMINAL JUSTICE, CLIMATE, OPEN SCIENCE, AND DIGITAL SENTIENCE THROUGH RESEARCH, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT, AND MORE.NCF ALSO PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING:- $6,030,457 TO THREE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING DIGITAL SENTIENCE WORK, INCLUDING AN ENDOWMENT FOR A NEW PROGRAM AREA AT NYU, A NUCLEAR SAFETY AND SECURITY PROJECT, AND EXPANDING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF DIGITAL SENTIENCE.- $500,000 TO ONE ORGANIZATION WORKING ON CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION.- $300,500 TO TWO ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO TRANSFORM CRIMINAL JUSTICE THROUGH THE ADVANCEMENT OF SOLUTIONS THAT ENHANCE SAFETY AND JUSTICE, AND WORK TO UNDERSTAND THE INTERSECTION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. - $81,482 TO THREE ORGANIZATIONS AND ONE INDIVIDUAL TO SUPPORT DIGITAL SENTIENCE PROJECT.- $70,000 TO ONE ORGANIZATION WORKING TO MAKE SHARING SCIENTIFIC DATA MORE ACCESSIBLE AND LESS CENTRALIZED. - $64,200 TO THREE ORGANIZATIONS FOR MOVEMENT SUPPORT.- $3,500 TO TWO ORGANIZATIONS AS SPONSORSHIPS FOR EVENTS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT CASH BAIL AND TO GENERATE IDEAS FOR MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE.- $350,000 TO ONE ORGANIZATION FOR CLIMATE RESEARCH.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2023.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.