American Parkinson Disease Assoc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $12.1 million
- Spending
- $8.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 32.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 73
- Volunteers
- 678
- Highest pay
- $408,810, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 32.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 December 31, 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)
- $3.1 million spent. PUBLIC AWARENESS - APDA CURRENTLY PROVIDES (ON-LINE AND IN PRINT) MORE THAN 71 FREE EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS, 39 IN ENGLISH, 24 IN SPANISH, AND 8 IN SIMPLIFIED CHINESE TO ADDRESS MEDICAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND CARE OF PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON DISEASE. THESE PUBLICATIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DISTRIBUTED THROUGH APDA'S 12 ACTIVE CHAPTERS, 17 INFORMATION & REFERRAL CENTER GRANTS (7 TRADITIONAL CENTERS AND 10 PROJECTS), EXTENSIVE WEBSITE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND "800" TELEPHONE HELPLINE IN SEVERAL LANGUAGES. APDA ALSO RAISES AWARENESS THROUGH TELEVISION PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (PSA) CAMPAIGNS ENTITLED "LIVE WITH OPTIMISM," "LOOK CLOSER, AND "MIRA MAS DE CERCA" THAT HAVE AIRED NATIONWIDE SINCE 2015. APPROXIMATELY 240,000 NEWSLETTERS ARE MAILED ANNUALLY
- $2.0 million spent. PATIENT SERVICES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - APDA AIMS TO SUPPORT EVERY PERSON AND EVERY FAMILY IMPACTED BY PARKINSON'S. THROUGH ITS NATIONWIDE SYSTEM OF CHAPTERS, INFORMATION & REFERRAL (I&R) CENTERS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. APDA UNIQUELY DELIVERS INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO ANYONE WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND THEIR FAMILIES EACH DAY. 17 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL CENTERS ARE GRANT FUNDED ALONG WITH COMMUNITY GRANTS ACROSS THE US TO EXPAND THE REACH IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. APDA CONDUCTED OVER 35 PATIENT EDUCATION WEBINARS VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON REGARDING EDUCATION ON TOPICS THAT ADDRESS THE SYMPTOMS, TREATMENTS, AND CHALLENGES OF LIVING WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE. APDA OFFERED MORE THAN 30 NATIONAL SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS "PRESS", PARKINSON'S ROADMAP FOR EDUCATION AND SUPPORT, PRESS ON, AND CARE PARTNER CONNECTION IN 15 STATES.
- $1.1 million spent. RESEARCH - APDA PROUDLY INVESTS IN EIGHT CENTERS FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH AND SUPPORTS GRANTS TO FUND THE MOST PROMISING SCIENCE FOCUSED ON DISCOVERING THE CAUSE(S) AND FINDING THE CURE FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1961, APDA HAS BEEN A FUNDING PARTNER IN MANY OF THE MAJOR PD SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 December 1963.
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.