American Institute of Graphic Arts
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 165 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO SET THE NATIONAL AGENDA FOR THE ROLE OF DESIGN IN ITS ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXTS.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 97%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $156,679, sr. director of membership
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 19 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 59% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 165 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (3)
- $1.1 million spent. PROGRAMS & EVENTS: AIGA CONVENED THE AIGA DESIGN CONFERENCE ONLINE IN OCTOBER 2024 BRINGING TOGETHER 992 ATTENDEES FOR AN IMMERSIVE EXPLORATION OF THE CONFERENCE THEME, MARGINS, FEATURING APPROXIMATELY 80 SESSIONS AND 11 ADDITIONAL POSTERS/VISUAL ESSAYS FROM THE DESIGN EDUCATORS COMMUNITY TRACK;THE AIGA WORLDSTUDIO SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM RECEIVED OVER 200 APPLICATIONS, 13 STUDENTS WERE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $26,500;THE 50 BOOKS / 50 COVERS COMPETITION RECEIVED 523 ENTRIES; THE 365: AIGA YEAR IN DESIGN COMPETITION RECEIVED 348 ENTRIES;24 DESIGNERS PURSUED THE AIGA PROFESSIONAL DESIGN CERTIFICATION, WITH 10 DESIGNERS BECOMING AIGA-PD CERTIFIED DESIGNERS AND 14 DESIGNERS BECOMING AIGA-DL CERTIFIED DESIGNERS.
- $417,670 spent. MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT: THROUGHOUT FY 2025 AIGA CHAPTERS HAD THE OPTION TO SET THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL CHAPTER DUES RATES. FOR CHAPTERS THAT OPTED IN, AIGA COLLECTS AND RETURNS THOSE FUNDS TO EACH RESPECTIVE CHAPTER, LESS A 3% CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEE. CHAPTER DUES ARE USED TO FUND LOCAL EVENTS WITH INVITED SPEAKERS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, EXHIBITIONS AND ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL PROFESSIONAL DESIGN COMMUNITY. CHAPTERS ARE RUN BY VOLUNTEER BOARDS AND ADD TO THE VITALITY OF THE ORGANIZATION BY PROVIDING OCCASIONS FOR NETWORKING AND CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
- $13,939 spent. PUBLISHING: AIGA'S PUBLICATIONS PROVIDE A CRITICAL FORUM FOR INTELLECTUAL ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN AND THE PROFESSION. NUMEROUS RESOURCES ARE PROVIDED ON THE WEBSITE AS PART OF AIGA'S AUTHORITATIVE VOICE ON PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.