Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Association for Academic Surgery Inc

EIN 04-3242181 · Encino, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 37% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

TO CONDUCT MEDICAL CONFERENCES AND DISSEMINATE PUBLICATIONS UPDATING MEMBERS ON NEW MEDICAL PROCEDURES AND DEVELOPMENTS.

Income
$677,325
Spending
$561,825
Spent on programs
37%
Reserves
12.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
0
Volunteers
217

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    37% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    57 of 57 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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. $154,918 spent. ANNUAL MEETING - TO PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH PRESENTATIONS AND FORUMS FEATURING DISCUSSION PERTAINING TO SURGERY. ASSOCIATION FOR ACADEMIC SURGERY HOSTS A VARIETY OF FORUMS AND PRESENTATIONS INCLUDING THE ACADEMIC SURGICAL CONGRESS. THROUGH THESE CONFERENCES, AAS SERVES ITS MISSION TO INSPIRE AND DEVELOP YOUNG ACADEMIC SURGEONS. AAS PROVIDES OTHER RESOURCES TO MEMBERS THROUGH A VARIETY OF CLASSES, FROM SURGICAL INVESTIGATIVE COURSES TO INTERNATIONAL COURSES.
  2. $51,500 spent. FELLOWSHIP AWARDS - TO SUPPORT PROMISING YOUNG RESEARCH FELLOWS ENGAGED IN PRODUCTIVE SURGICAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES. FELLOWSHIP AWARDS ARE INTENDED TO SUPPORT YOUNG SURGEONS IN THEIR RESEARCH AND HELP SET THE FOUNDATION FOR THEIR CAREER. AWARDS INCLUDE ASSISTANCE TO YOUNG FACULTY IN RESEARCH, TRAVEL AWARDS, AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR COURSES PROVIDED BY AAS.
  3. PUBLICATIONS - VARIOUS NEWSLETTERS, ROSTER DISTRIBUTION, AND A MONTHLY JOURNAL UPDATING MEMBERS ON MEDICAL RELATED MATTERS. ASSOCIATION FOR ACADEMIC SURGERY PROVIDES VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS TO PROVIDE NEW RESEARCH AND INFORMATION TO THE GROWING FIELD OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY. AAS PUBLISHED FOUR NEW PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO GLOBAL SURGERY, LEADERSHIP IN SURGERY, AND SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOP A CAREER AS A SURGEON. SINCE 1961, AAS HAS PROVIDED MONTHLY JOURNALS CONTAINING MONTHLY UPDATES OF SURGICAL RESEARCH.

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 August 1994.

    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.

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.