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Ssp International Inc

EIN 94-3341965 · Wilmington, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 118 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

SSPI PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH IMMERSIVE, TRANSFORMATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN, DO, AND BELONG IN SCIENCE. WE AIM TO IGNITE THE PASSION AND IMAGINATION OF YOUNG MINDS, OFFERING IMMERSIVE AND TRANSFORMATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE SCIENCE INSPIRES AND INFORMS HUMANITY, WHERE EVERY STUDENT FEELS THE THRILL OF DISCOVERY AND THE JOY OF SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION.

Income
$962,702
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 84%
Employees
122
Volunteers
108
Highest pay
$345,039, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $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

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 90% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 118 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $521,209 spent. SUMMER SCIENCE PROGRAM - SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1959, THE SUMMER SCIENCE PROGRAM HAS EMPOWERED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH RIGOROUS STEM EXPERIENCES THAT IGNITE CURIOSITY AND INSPIRE DISCOVERY. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON RESEARCH PROJECTS IN FIELDS SUCH AS ASTROPHYSICS, BIOCHEMISTRY, BACTERIAL GENOMICS, AND SYNTHETIC CHEMISTRY GUIDED BY EXPERT FACULTY AND RESEARCHERS. THESE SPECIALISTS IN THEIR FIELDS MENTOR STUDENTS, HELPING THEM BUILD CONFIDENCE, HONE THEIR CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, AND PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF THEIR SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE. EACH PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 12 TO 36 PARTICIPANTS AND 8 FACULTY MEMBERS WHO FORM A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF LEARNING. THE FACULTY INCLUDES AN ACADEMIC DIRECTOR, AN ASSOCIATE ACADEMIC DIRECTOR (BOTH PHD SCIENTIST-EDUCATORS), A SITE DIRECTOR, AND FOUR TEACHING ASSISTANTS AND MENTORS. EVERYONE WORKS TOGETHER, IMMERSED IN THE CULTURE AND VALUES OF SCIENCE. FOR FIVE WEEKS, THEY LIVE AND LEARN TOGETHER ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS FOSTERING ANALYTICAL SKILLS, TEAMWORK, RESILIENCE, AND CREATIVITY IN A VIBRANT, IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENT. PARTICIPANTS SPEND MANY HOURS EACH DAY IN THE CLASSROOM LEARNING THE THEORIES AND TECHNIQUES UNDERLYING THEIR RESEARCH, AND IN THE LABS AND OBSERVATORIES COLLECTING THE DATA THEY WILL ANALYZE. THE SUMMER SCIENCE PROGRAM IS INTENSE AND CHALLENGING MATERIAL IS PRESENTED AT A PACE FASTER THAN COLLEGE COURSES. THE SCHEDULE IS JAM-PACKED BUT EVERY PARTICIPANT RECEIVES A HIGH LEVEL OF PERSONAL ATTENTION FROM THE FACULTY, SO NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND. IN SUMMER 2024, WE HAD 368 PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED ACROSS 12 PROGRAMS RUN AT 8 UNIVERSITIES IN 7 STATES. FOR FY 2024, SSPI INCREASED OUR COMMITMENT TO ALL PARTICIPANTS BY SUBSIDIZING 30% OF THE PROGRAM'S COST FOR EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED. ADDITIONALLY, OVER 40% OF PROGRAM FEES WERE WAIVED THROUGH OUR FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS.
  2. $34,298 spent. OUTREACH - SSPI PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND STEM NETWORKS TO IDENTIFY AND ENCOURAGE APPLICATIONS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS, ENSURING A BROAD AND DIVERSE APPLICANT POOL. SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY, PRINCIPLES, AND PRACTICES LAY A POWERFUL FOUNDATION FOR STUDENTS, EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO THRIVE IN AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR RAPIDLY EVOLVING WORLD. YET, STEM EDUCATION INEQUALITY REMAINS A CRITICAL ISSUE IN THE UNITED STATES. OVER THE NEXT DECADE, SSP AIMS TO REACH 10,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY, WITH AT LEAST 50% COMING FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, OFFERING THEM RIGOROUS, ENGAGING, AND TRANSFORMATIVE SCIENCE EXPERIENCES. BY BROADENING ACCESS, DEEPENING COLLABORATION, ADVANCING EQUITY, AND LEVERAGING OUR STRENGTHS, WE AIM TO DRIVE LASTING CHANGE THAT EXTENDS BEYOND SUMMER AND BEYOND SCIENCE. MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS AMPLIFY SSPI'S MISSION BY RAISING AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT AND INSPIRING SUPPORT FROM A BROAD GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS. THROUGH THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, STORYTELLING, AND STRATEGIC OUTREACH, SSPI HIGHLIGHTS THE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES OF ITS PARTICIPANTS, GALVANIZING COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT WHILE ATTRACTING RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT EXPAND ITS REACH AND SUSTAINABILITY.
  3. $3,486 spent. SSP CONNECT - IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SUMMER SCIENCE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS ARE OFFERED PARTICIPATION IN A FREE ONLINE PROGRAM CALLED SSPI CONNECT. SSPI CONNECT PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP THROUGHOUT THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SEASON IN THE FALL OF A PARTICIPANT'S SENIOR YEAR. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS STUDENTS AS THEY NAVIGATE COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, SELECT SCHOOLS AND MAJORS, REFINE ESSAYS, PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS, AND MORE - ENSURING THEY ARE EQUIPPED TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. TO DATE, SSP CONNECT HAS MATCHED 676 MENTEES WITH 581 VOLUNTEER MENTORS, OFFERING UNPARALLELED GUIDANCE IN NAVIGATING THE OFTEN-CONFUSING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS. MANY OF THESE STUDENTS ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE ASPIRANTS, FOR WHOM THE JOURNEY TO HIGHER EDUCATION CAN BE ESPECIALLY DAUNTING. BY OFFERING TAILORED SUPPORT AND MENTORSHIP, SSPI CONNECT HELPS LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD, GIVING THESE STUDENTS THE TOOLS, CONFIDENCE, AND INSIGHT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN THEIR COLLEGE SEARCH AND BEYOND. THIS ADDITIONAL LAYER OF SUPPORT DEMONSTRATES SSPI'S COMMITMENT TO EACH PARTICIPANT'S SUCCESS, HELPING THEM OVERCOME BARRIERS AND SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES WELL BEYOND THEIR SUMMER EXPERIENCE.

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 November 1999.

    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.

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

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Sae International (Warrendale, PA), EIN 25-1494402. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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