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American Academy of Arts and Sciences

EIN 04-2103651 · Cambridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1780, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES HONORS EXCELLENCE AND CONVENES LEADERS FROM EVERY FIELD OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR TO EXAMINE NEW IDEAS, ADDRESS ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THE NATION AND THE WORLD, AND WORK TOGETHER "TO CULTIVATE EVERY ART AND SCIENCE WHICH MAY TEND TO ADVANCE THE INTEREST, HONOR, DIGNITY, AND HAPPINESS OF A FREE, INDEPENDENT, AND VIRTUOUS PEOPLE." THE ACADEMY CURRENTLY UNDERTAKES A BROAD ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES IN FIVE PROJECT CATEGORIES: SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY; GLOBAL SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS; EDUCATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE; THE HUMANITIES, ARTS, AND CULTURE; AND AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS, SOCIETY, AND THE PUBLIC GOOD.

Income
$10.4 million
Spending
$16.8 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
20 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
69
Volunteers
700
Highest pay
$408,718, executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (social science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 61% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (social science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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

    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 June 30, 2025, 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 (7)
  1. $5.9 million spent. ACADEMY PROJECTS AND STUDIES - DRAWING FROM EVERY FIELD OF RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE, THE ACADEMY BRINGS TOGETHER SCHOLARS, ARTISTS, POLICY-MAKERS, BUSINESS LEADERS, AND OTHER EXPERTS TO EXAMINE THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS FACING OUR WORLD. OFTEN, THE ACADEMY'S INFLUENTIAL STUDIES HELP PIONEER NEW FIELDS THAT TRANSCEND DISCIPLINARY BOUNDARIES.
  2. $1.8 million spent. PROJECT OUTREACH AND EVENTS - THE ACADEMY REGULARLY SPONSORS MEETINGS, LECTURES, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND INFORMAL GATHERINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY. TOPICS ARE DRAWN FROM ACADEMY PROJECTS AS WELL AS THE RESEARCH AND WRITINGS OF ACADEMY MEMBERS.
  3. $1.2 million spent. PUBLICATIONS - THE ACADEMY MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE PUBLICATIONS PROGRAM TO DISSEMINATE NEW KNOWLEDGE AS WELL AS RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ACADEMY RESEARCH. OUR PUBLICATIONS INFLUENCE SCHOLARS, POLICY-MAKERS, AND OTHER LEADERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT, THE ARTS, BUSINESS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AND PHILANTHROPY.
  4. $553,902 spent. MEMBERSHIP ELECTIONS - ACTIVITIES INVOLVED IN ANNUAL ELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS TO THE ACADEMY
  5. $341,723 spent. ARCHIVES - ACTIVITIES RELATED TO STORING AND MAINTAINING ACADEMY HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
  6. $516,505 spent. COMMUNICATIONS - ACTIVITIES RELATED TO COMMUNICATION OF ACADEMY ACTIVITY TO MEMBERS AND PUBLIC
  7. $175,394 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 July 1934.

    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.

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