Nsf International is a global, not-for-profit public health and safety organization.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$11.4M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $19.5M a year · 12% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$11.4M
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $286.6M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.3 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $33K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$141.2M
27% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 27% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$191.9M
+14% vs prior year
Spent
$158.4M
To programs
72%
Net assets
$374.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$191.9M
FY2023▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$123.5M
FY2021$159.5M
FY2022$167.8M
FY2023$191.9M
FY2024$203.1M
Expenses
$158.4M
FY2023▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$107.0M
FY2021$152.2M
FY2022$153.8M
FY2023$158.4M
FY2024$176.8M
Net assets
$374.5M
FY2023▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$313.6M
FY2021$324.0M
FY2022$339.7M
FY2023$374.5M
FY2024$400.0M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 1968.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $114.1M Management & general 28% · $44.3M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

29 people listed on the 990; $11.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
VP CFO to 33123
$2,965,896Pt VII · Sec A
President Ceoboard Member
$1,243,490Pt VII · Sec A
VP Chief HR Officer to 080
$1,144,175Pt VII · Sec A
VP Cicio
$760,191Pt VII · Sec A
SVP Emerging Marketslaborat
$628,869Pt VII · Sec A
VP Chief Legal Officer
$523,937Pt VII · Sec A
VP Global Water Division
$516,177Pt VII · Sec A
VP Global Sales to 080923
$486,883Pt VII · Sec A

Pedro Sancha’s $1.9M as President Ceobod Member is at the 100th percentile of top reported officer pay among 8 $100M+ public safety & disaster nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Kevan P Lawlor to 22822——$4,684,246——
Kevan P Lawlor————$3,581,913
Michael P Walsh—$2,965,896$679,746$711,617$614,454
Thomas Chestnut———$2,862,863$409,267
Kevan Lawlor———$2,077,508—
Pedro Sancha$1,937,069$1,243,490$640,720——
Lichun L Ma$1,650,272$760,191$857,847——
Karen a Kreza—$1,144,175$635,965——

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Protects public health and safety worldwide through rigorous testing and certification.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $99.5M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

The NSF water division certifies products that come into contact with drinking water; such products include plumbing components, water treatment chemicals, drinking water filters, and pool & spa equipment.

$54.1Mprogram expense
02

The NSF global labs division provides engineering, chemistry, microbiology, and toxicology lab and testing services across all major industries. Plastic and plumbing testing services are also provided along with R&D services to assist with market entry for plastic piping products separate from certification testing.

$29.4Mprogram expense
03

The NSF health sciences division offers reference standards, certification, and testing services for the dietary supplement and cosmetics, and functional food industries.

$16.0Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2021
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$33K
Grants paid · 38 grants · $890K · 2020–2024
See all 38 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$191.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$183.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$8.3M
Money outPt IX
$158.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$114.1M
Managementcol C$44.3M
Owns and owesPt X
$374.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$17.4M
Total assetsLn 16$515.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$141.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
29
listed · VII A
PaidVII A27
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Fees for servicesLn 2g$183.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$8.3M
Gains on assetsLn 7$4.0M
Total revenueLn 12$191.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$17.4M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$17.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$286.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$52.3M
Other assetsLn 15$12.2M
Total assetsLn 16$515.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$141.2M
Net assetsLn 32$374.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5761
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$56K$17.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$256.0M$286.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$57.4M$52.3M
Total assetsLn 16$495.6M$515.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$155.9M$141.2M
Net assetsLn 32$339.7M$374.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$189K$189K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$8.5M$3.4M$5.1M
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$49.1M$37.7M$11.3M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$2.7M$1.9M$793K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3.8M$3.2M$564K
Payroll taxesLn 10$3.9M$2.7M$1.1M
Management feesLn 11a$265K$265K
Legal feesLn 11b$1.7M$1.5M$254K
Accounting feesLn 11c$625K$625K
Investment management feesLn 11f$40K$40K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$9.0M$5.7M$3.3M
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1.3M$525K$797K
Office expensesLn 13$3.9M$3.2M$664K
Information technologyLn 14$5.2M$1.2M$4.0M
OccupancyLn 16$3.2M$285K$2.9M
TravelLn 17$2.7M$2.4M$343K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$135K$75K$60K
InterestLn 20$3.2M$3.2M
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$46.2M$46.2M
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$7.6M$1.7M$5.8M
InsuranceLn 23$1.5M$1.5M
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$3.1M$1.2M$1.9M
All other expensesLn 24e$796K$971K−$175K
Total functional expensesLn 25$158.4M$114.1M$44.3M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $203.1M$176.8M$26.3M$400.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $191.9M$158.4M$33.5M$374.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $167.8M$153.8M$14.0M$339.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $159.5M$152.2M$7.3M$324.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $123.5M$107.0M$16.4M$313.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $191,928,817 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grants$0
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $164,407,139$183,612,743
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $3,439,331$8,316,074
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $167,846,470$191,928,817
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $262,451$188,647
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $65,436,535$67,887,008
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $88,143,175$90,328,255
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $153,842,161$158,403,910
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $14,004,309$33,524,907
Part VI · Governance 8 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $191,928,817 across 4 lines filed
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $183,612,743$183,612,743
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $1,796,250 · Excluded from tax $2,553,190$4,349,440
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission −$531,242 · Excluded from tax $4,497,876$3,966,634
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $183,081,501 · Unrelated business $1,796,250 · Excluded from tax $7,051,066$191,928,817
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $158,403,910 across 23 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $188,647$188,647
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $3,386,527 · Management $5,079,790$8,466,317
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $37,743,697 · Management $11,348,465$49,092,162
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,893,418 · Management $793,051$2,686,469
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $3,203,740 · Management $563,692$3,767,432
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $2,725,959 · Management $1,148,669$3,874,628
IX-11a Management feesManagement $265,256$265,256
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $1,455,285 · Management $254,368$1,709,653
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $625,014$625,014
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $39,884$39,884
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $5,671,045 · Management $3,310,669$8,981,714
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $524,967 · Management $797,082$1,322,049
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $3,215,259 · Management $664,098$3,879,357
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,241,149 · Management $3,958,130$5,199,279
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $284,511 · Management $2,895,309$3,179,820
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,356,539 · Management $343,184$2,699,723
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $74,588 · Management $60,379$134,967
IX-20 InterestManagement $3,175,721$3,175,721
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $46,216,395$46,216,395
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,725,394 · Management $5,841,907$7,567,301
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $1,461,789$1,461,789
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,212,262 · Management $1,862,508$3,074,770
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $970,918 · Management −$175,355$795,563
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $114,090,300 · Management $44,313,610 · Fundraising $0$158,403,910
Part X · Balance sheet $515,655,754 assets, 18 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $7,926,893; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $55,927$17,400,903
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $129,630,729$132,947,060
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $6,134,386$6,098,193
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $57,407,363$52,314,757
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $9,898,193$10,909,493
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $246,146,047$275,644,418
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $197,773$167,929
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $11,184,576$12,246,108
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $495,626,450$515,655,754
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $37,693,219$40,577,839
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $933,623$452,483
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $4,438,524$5,939,243
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $85,094,144$70,000,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $27,743,053$24,185,577
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $155,902,563$141,155,142
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $339,723,887$374,500,612
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $339,723,887$374,500,612
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $495,626,450$515,655,754
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $374,500,612 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$191,928,817
XI-2 Total expenses$158,403,910
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$33,524,907
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$339,723,887
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$3,883,411
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$2,631,593
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$374,500,612

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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