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Nonprofit · EIN 53-0193519

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20036

Financials

$232M$212.7M2023$209.3M$220.5M2024$340.5M$222.6M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$340,516,012$222,560,462$117,955,550$2,456,049,733$385,205,273$2,070,844,460
December 31, 2024990$209,304,518$220,522,212-$11,217,694$2,036,115,001$333,140,566$1,702,974,435
December 31, 2023990$231,981,168$212,737,237$19,243,931$1,872,730,796$320,191,109$1,552,539,687
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$189,719,280
Program service revenue
$5,108,023
Investment income
$134,764,896
Royalties
$23,090,855
Net rental income
-$12,167,042
Net gain from sales of assets
$76,255,157
Other revenue
$10,923,813

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$29,945,699
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$8,367,366
Other salaries and wages
$66,833,642
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$93,621,693
Professional fundraising fees
$1,739,313
Legal fees
$987,741
Accounting fees
$844,052
Occupancy
$2,940,000
Travel
$9,489,623
Depreciation
$5,375,000
Program services (functional)
$183,756,701
Management and general (functional)
$27,756,580
Fundraising (functional)
$11,047,181

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$2,036,115,001
Total assets, end of year
$2,456,049,733
Total liabilities, end of year
$385,205,273
Net assets, end of year
$2,070,844,460
Land, buildings and equipment
$357,177,891
Publicly traded securities
$469,820,000
Net assets without donor restrictions
$1,626,539,581
Net assets with donor restrictions
$444,304,879
Gross unrelated business income
$150,000
Gross receipts
$832,506,487
Employees
753
Volunteers
24
Year formed
1888
State of legal domicile
DC

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
JILL TIEFENTHALERCEO
Trustee or director, Officer
45$1,531,988$39,588
KRISTI CRAIGCHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
Highest-paid employee
45$1,307,860$38,862
DARIEN WRIGHTCFO & COO
Officer
45$665,546$14,166
KARA RAMIREZ MULLINSCHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER
Key employee
45$639,317$37,466
SUMEET SEAMCHIEF LEGAL OFFICER
Officer
45$631,612$38,728
JOHN COOMBEDIRECTOR, INVESTMENTS
Highest-paid employee
45$637,308$13,514
CRYSTAL BROWNCHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Key employee
45$593,153$1,597
IAN MILLERCHIEF SCIENCE & INNOVATION OFFICER
Key employee
45$559,333$31,689
SHANNON BARTLETTCHIEF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & SOCIAL
Key employee
45$358,772$208,172
MARA DELLCHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
Key employee
45$490,937$27,001
EMILY DUNHAMCHIEF CAMPUS AND EXPERIENCES
Key employee
45$472,088$30,285
ENRIC SALAEXPLORER IN RESIDENCE
Highest-paid employee
45$450,380$22,574
KIM WALDRONCHIEF OF STAFF & PROGRAM ALIGNMENT
Key employee
45$433,248$31,226
DEBORAH GRAYSONCHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER
Key employee
45$429,468$21,954
KAITLIN YARNALLCHIEF STORYTELLING OFFICER & SVP
Highest-paid employee
45$411,030$39,357
28 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
ALEX MOENCHIEF EXPLORER & ENGAGEMENT OFFICER
Highest-paid employee
45$397,851$39,534
JASON SOUTHERNCHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
Key employee
45$391,676$37,459
ANGELA TAYLORFORMER INTERIM CFO
Officer
45$338,899$36,036
MICHAEL ULICAFORMER PRESIDENT/COO/TREASURER
Former
0$334,476$0
SANDESH KADURTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$48,500$0
AFSANEH BESCHLOSSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
ANGEL CABRERATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
ANTHONY A WILLIAMSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
BRENDAN P BECHTELTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
CLAUDIA MADRAZOTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
DAMBISA MOYOTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
DAVID MARRIOTTTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
DEBORAH LEHRTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
DINA POWELL MCCORMICKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
ELLEN R STOFANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
EVAN G GREENBERGTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
FREDERICK J RYAN JRTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
HENRY ELLENBOGENTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
JEAN CASECHAIRMAN
Trustee or director
4$0$0
JOHN K DELANEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
JOSEPH M DESIMONETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
KATE BRANDTTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
KATHERINE BRADLEYVICE CHAIRMAN
Trustee or director
4$0$0
KEVIN J MARONIVICE CHAIRMAN
Trustee or director
4$0$0
MARK MOORETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
NANCY PFUNDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
RAJIV SHAHTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
STRIVE MASIYIWATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 42 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Jill TiefenthalerCEO
Trustee or director, Officer
45$2,039,099$39,025
Kristi CraigChief Investment Officer
Highest-paid employee
45$1,159,875$26,525
MICHAEL ULICAFormer PRESIDENT/COO/TREASURER
Former
45$840,287$18,545
Kara Ramirez MullinsChief Advancement Officer
Key employee
45$631,692$36,595
Sumeet SeamChief Legal Officer
Officer
45$586,464$37,755
Crystal BrownChief Communications Officer
Key employee
45$592,929$14,752
Ian MillerChief Science & Innovation Officer
Key employee
45$562,822$30,867
John CoombeDirector, Investments
Highest-paid employee
45$520,886$2,259
Mara DellChief Human Resources Officer
Key employee
45$476,117$26,607
Kim WaldronChief of Staff & Program Alignment
Key employee
45$427,107$30,465
Darien WrightCFO & COO
Officer
45$445,068$6,661
Enric SalaExplorer in Residence
Highest-paid employee
45$437,600$10,887
Deborah GraysonChief Education Officer
Key employee
45$416,972$21,775
Jason SouthernChief Technology Officer
Key employee
45$382,786$36,493
Kaitlin YarnallChief Storytelling Officer & SVP
Highest-paid employee
45$391,114$26,882
Alex MoenChief Explorer & Engagement Officer
Highest-paid employee
45$388,550$26,525
EMILY DUNHAMCHIEF CAMPUS AND EXPERIENCES OFFICER
Key employee
45$379,562$26,824
ANGELA TAYLORINTERIM CFO JAN-APR
Officer
45$348,201$34,144
Shannon BartlettChief Community Engagement & Social Impact Officer
Key employee
45$342,479$36,562
Robert YoungCFO
Former
45$111,236$0
Sandesh KadurTrustee
Trustee or director
4$50,909$0
Angel CabreraTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$9,124$0
ANTHONY A WILLIAMSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$6,200$0
Evan G GreenbergTrustee
Trustee or director
4$6,200$0
JEAN CASEChairman
Trustee or director
4$6,200$0
JOSEPH M DESIMONETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$6,200$0
Kate BrandtTrustee
Trustee or director
4$6,200$0
Katherine BradleyVice Chairman
Trustee or director
4$6,200$0
Mark MooreTrustee
Trustee or director
4$6,200$0
Nancy PfundTrustee
Trustee or director
4$6,200$0
RAJIV SHAHTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$6,200$0
Afsaneh BeschlossTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
BRENDAN P BECHTELTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Claudia MadrazoTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Deborah LehrTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Dina Powell McCormickTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
ELLEN R STOFANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
FREDERICK J RYAN JRTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
GEORGE MUNOZTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
John K DelaneyTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Kevin J MaroniTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Strive MasiyiwaTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 38 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
MICHAEL ULICAPRESIDENT/COO/TREASURER
Officer
45$832,955$663,501
Jill TiefenthalerCEO
Trustee or director, Officer
45$1,351,593$26,408
Kristi CraigChief Investment Officer
Highest-paid employee
45$956,383$24,918
Kara Ramirez MullinsChief Advancement Officer
Key employee
45$602,736$24,076
Sumeet SeamChief Legal Officer
Officer
45$567,735$25,169
Crystal BrownChief Communications Officer
Key employee
45$573,984$3,159
Ian MillerChief Science & Innovation Officer
Key employee
45$526,180$18,753
Robert YoungCFO
Officer
45$403,421$118,379
Mara DellChief Human Resources Officer
Key employee
45$458,525$14,530
Enric SalaExplorer in Residence
Highest-paid employee
45$428,809$10,422
Kim WaldronChief of Staff & Program Alignment
Key employee
45$402,023$18,121
Kaitlin YarnallChief Storytelling Officer & SVP
Highest-paid employee
45$380,434$25,708
Deborah GraysonChief Education Officer
Key employee
45$396,083$9,817
Alex MoenChief Explorer & Engagement Officer
Highest-paid employee
45$374,095$25,632
Jason SouthernChief Technology Officer
Key employee
45$368,518$24,193
John CoombeDirector, Investments
Highest-paid employee
45$352,648$2,255
Shannon BartlettChief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer
Key employee
45$323,620$23,979
FRANK BORMANTRUSTEE EMERITUS
Former
–$11,917$0
Afsaneh BeschlossTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Angel CabreraTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
ANTHONY A WILLIAMSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Beth ComstockTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
BRENDAN P BECHTELTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Claudia MadrazoTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Deborah LehrTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Dina Powell McCormickTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
ELLEN R STOFANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
FREDERICK J RYAN JRTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
GEORGE MUNOZTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
JEAN CASEChairman
Trustee or director
4$0$0
JOSEPH M DESIMONETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Katherine BradleyVice Chairman
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Kevin J MaroniTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Mark MooreTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Nancy PfundTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Paula KahumbuTrustee
Trustee or director
4$0$0
RAJIV SHAHTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0
Strive MasiyiwaTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
4$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1600 M ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-3208
In care of
% PAYROLL DIVISION-MR DOWDY
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
Jill Tiefenthaler, 1600 M St NW, WASHINGTON, DC 200364688
Signed the 990
Darien Wright, CFO
Phone
(202) 857-7000
Return prepared by
BDO USA

Mission

TO INCREASE AND DIFFUSE GEOGRAPHIC KNOWLEDGE IN THE BROADEST SENSE, USING THE POWER OF SCIENCE, EXPLORATION, EDUCATION AND STORYTELLING TO ILLUMINATE AND PROTECT THE WONDER OF THE WORLD.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • THE STORYTELLING TEAM OVERSEES THE SOCIETY'S GRANT MAKING EFFORTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY, JOURNALISM, FILM, IMMERSIVE MEDIA, PODCASTS AND OTHER MEDIA. ITS PROGRAMS ALSO SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING, AMBITIOUS MEDIA PROJECTS FOR IMPACT AND EFFORTS TO AMPLIFY VOICES IN THE MEDIA. STORYTELLING AND OUTREACH PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS CONTINUED ON SCH. O
    Expenses $90,942,200 · grants $7,930,288 · revenue $4,469,348
  • The Science & Innovation team oversees the Society's grantmaking efforts in science, conservation and technology, develops and manages major programs, and establishes programmatic partnerships with like-minded non-governmental organizations (NGOs). SCIENCE & INNOVATION PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS CONTINUED ON SCH. O
    Expenses $67,038,216 · grants $19,620,431 · revenue $332,546
  • For more than 40 years, National Geographic's Education and Community Engagement division has extended the work of Explorers and educators into classrooms and communities around the world, inspiring meaningful and lasting change. We support educators, researchers and learners of all ages by expanding access to knowledge, developing learning resources and GIS modules, and creating opportunities for live engagement with National Geographic Explorers. Together, these efforts nurture creativity, curiosity, and resilience while helping people connect global challenges to local action. EDUCATION PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS CONT. ON SCH.O
    Expenses $25,772,267 · grants $2,390,962 · revenue $10,206
  • OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
    Expenses $4,018 · grants $4,018 · revenue $295,923

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
53-0193519
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1938
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Education (B030)
Assets (IRS master file)
$2,456,049,733
Income (IRS master file)
$832,506,487

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$340,516,012$222,560,462$2,456,049,733XML
990December 2024$209,304,518$220,522,212$2,036,115,001XML
990-TDecember 2024–––IRS
990December 2023$231,981,168$212,737,237$1,872,730,796XML
990-TDecember 2023–––IRS
990December 2022$157,560,446$188,921,145$1,790,673,716IRS
990-TDecember 2022–––IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990-TDecember 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990-TDecember 2020–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 53-0193519).

Questions about NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

What is the EIN of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY?
The employer identification number (EIN) of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY is 53-0193519.
Is NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1938.
Are donations to NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Jill Tiefenthaler.
Who are the officers and directors of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 43 people; 20 received compensation from the organization, the highest $1,531,988 (JILL TIEFENTHALER, CEO).
How much revenue does NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $340,516,012, expenses of $222,560,462 and total assets of $2,456,049,733 at year end.

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