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The Society for Financial Studies

EIN 95-4143302 · Wynnewood, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SFS IS A GLOBAL, NONPROFIT ACADEMIC FINANCE SOCIETY THAT EDITS AND PUBLISHES THREE TOP ACADEMIC JOURNALS IN FINANCE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTS ACADEMIC CONFERENCES IN FINANCE AND AWARDS GRANTS AND PRIZES.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
88.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
2
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$50,949, secretary/tr

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 88.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • 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 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. $1.0 million spent. JOURNALS WE PUBLISH THREE TOP ACADEMIC JOURNALS IN FINANCE: (1) THE REVIEW OF FINANCIAL STUDIES, (2)THE REVIEW OF ASSET PRICING STUDIES, AND (3) THE REVIEW OF CORPORATE FINANCE STUDIES. THE REVIEW OF FINANCIAL STUDIES PUBLISHES ARTICLES ON MAINSTREAM FINANCE TOPICS, THE REVIEW OF ASSET PRICING STUDIES PUBLISHES ARTICLES THAT HAVE A PRIMARILY ASSET PRICING FOCUS, AND THE REVIEW OF CORPORATE FINANCE STUDIES PUBLISHES ARTICLES THAT HAVE A PRIMARILY CORPORATE FINANCE FOCUS. EACH OF THESE JOURNALS ALSO PROVIDES ANNUAL AWARDS FOR BEST PAPER AND BEST REFEREE.
  2. $228,252 spent. CONFERENCES WE ORGANIZE TWO MAJOR ANNUAL FINANCE CONFERENCES: THE SFS CAVALCADE NORTH AMERICA AND THE SFS CAVALCADE ASIA-PACIFIC. THESE CONFERENCES ARE HIGHLY SELECTIVE AND BRING TOGETHER ACADEMICS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THE FIRST IS ORGANIZED ANNUALLY IN THE US, WITH A DIFFERENT HOST SCHOOL EACH YEAR, AND THE SECOND IS ORGANIZED ANNUALLY IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION, AGAIN WITH A DIFFERENT HOST SCHOOL EACH YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, WE ORGANIZE A THIRD CONFERENCE, THE RCFS WINTER CONFERENCE. THIS IS A SMALLER CONFERENCE COMPARED TO THE CAVALCADES, BUT IT HAS BEEN GROWING IN SIZE AND VISIBILITY OVER TIME. THIS IS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON SELECTED FINANCE TOPICS, WITH PARTICIPATION FROM ACADEMICS AROUND THE WORLD.
  3. $5,841 spent. OTHER PROGRAM PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OTHER ACADEMIC FINANCE CONFERENCES. PROVIDED AN ANNUAL AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG RESEARCHER IN FINANCE. PROVIDED TRAVEL AWARDS FOR PHD STUDENTS TRAVELLING TO THE CAVALCADE NORTH AMERICA CONFERENCE.

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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 1988.

    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 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.