Asia Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SOCIETY IS AN INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION WHICH CONNECTS PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS IN ASIA AND THE WORLD TO BUILD UNDERSTANDING, ADDRESS CHALLENGES AND MAXIMIZE OPPORTUNITIES.
- Income
- $29.6 million
- Spending
- $32.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- -5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 215
- Volunteers
- 99
- Highest pay
- $521,589, president & ceo
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
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 36% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2565 of 67 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 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 (4)
- $12.1 million spent. POLICY AND BUSINESS PROGRAM DIVISION - THE ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTE HAS BEEN RANKED IN THE TOP 1% OF THINK TANKS AROUND THE WORLD BY THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA'S THINK TANKS AND CIVIL SOCIETY'S PROGRAM. WITH A PROBLEM-SOLVING MANDATE, THE ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTE (ASPI) TACKLES MAJOR POLICY CHALLENGES NOW CONFRONTING THE ASIA-PACIFIC IN SECURITY, PROSPERITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON NORMS AND VALUES FOR THE REGION. POLICY WORK IS ALSO CARRIED OUT BY OUR CENTER ON U.S. CHINA RELATIONS AND OUR NEW YORK PUBLIC PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE SCHEDULE O. POLICY AND BUSINESS PROGRAMS DIVISION THE ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTE HAS BEEN RANKED IN THE TOP 1% OF THINK TANKS AROUND THE WORLD BY THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA'S THINK TANKS AND CIVIL SOCIETY'S PROGRAM. WITH A PROBLEM-SOLVING MANDATE, THE ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTE (ASPI) TACKLES MAJOR POLICY CHALLENGES NOW CONFRONTING THE ASIA-PACIFIC IN SECURITY, PROSPERITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON NORMS AND VALUES FOR THE REGION. POLICY WORK IS ALSO CARRIED OUT BY OUR CENTER ON U.S. CHINA RELATIONS AND OUR NEW YORK PUBLIC PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT. WITH TOP-LEVEL SENIOR STAFF, EXPERT FELLOWS, AND THE PREMIER ASIA-WIDE NETWORK OF ADVISORS AND CONTENT-SPECIFIC EXPERTS, ASPI PROVIDES A UNIQUE PLATFORM FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN EXPLAINING AS WELL AS OFFERING UNIQUE POLICY SOLUTIONS FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES. IT BOASTS AN ASIA-WIDE SCOPE, AND ENGENDERS BROAD INPUT AND PARTICIPATION FROM BUSINESS AND POLICY LEADERS, BRINGING DISPARATE VIEWS TOGETHER THROUGH ITS RENOWNED CONVENING AND RESEARCH CAPABILITIES. THIS FORMULA IS UNIQUELY SUITED TO ADVANCING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND EFFECTIVE POLICYMAKING DURING A CENTURY IN WHICH ASIA'S INFLUENCE IS INCREASINGLY GAINING PROMINENCE. KEY ASPI INITIATIVES AND REPORTS INCLUDE RESEARCH ON THE REGIONAL SECURITY ORDER AND THE EFFECTS OF U.S.-CHINA STRATEGIC COMPETITION ON THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION; PROJECTS TO EXPLORE ECONOMIC SECURITY STRATEGIES AND PROVIDE POLICYMAKERS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO ADVANCE REGIONAL AND BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS IN AN INCREASINGLY COMPLEX TRADE LANDSCAPE; AND A CLIMATE INITIATIVE WHICH SEEKS TO ENCOURAGE AND CONTRIBUTE TO INDIA'S NATIONAL EMISSIONS TRADING SYSTEM POLICY THROUGH PROVIDING INPUT ON DESIGN AND BUILDING REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS. ASPI ALSO OFFERS PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG FEMALE PROFESSIONALS IN TRADE AND OTHER EMERGING LEADERS TO ENABLE THEM TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AND BUILD THEIR NETWORKS. WITHIN ASPI, THE CENTER FOR CHINA ANALYSIS (CCA) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2022 TO PROVIDE POLICY-RELEVANT, OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS OF CHINA'S POLITICS, ECONOMY, AND SOCIETY AND ITS IMPACT ON THE REGION AND THE WORLD. CCA MAJOR INITIATIVES INCLUDE CURE4CANCER, ENCOURAGING MULTI-REGIONAL COLLABORATION FOCUSED ON CLINICAL TRIALS AND INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY HARMONIZATION, DECODING CHINESE POLITICS WHICH MAPS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S INSTITUTIONS, NETWORKS AND DECISION MAKERS, AND THE TAIWAN POLICY DATABASE WHICH PRESENTS TAIWAN POLICY FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF TAIWAN, CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES. THE CENTER ON U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS COMPLEMENTS THE WORK OF THE ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTE, FOCUSING ON DIVERSE ISSUES IN CHINA AND THE U.S. IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO MEET THE NEED FOR A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AND PROMOTE PUBLIC DIALOGUE IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS. THE CENTER ALSO CONVENES STAKEHOLDERS TO WORK ON MAJOR CHALLENGES AND EDUCATES THE AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC ON U.S.-CHINA ISSUES, COMMENTING ON AND DISTRIBUTING TIMELY INFORMATION ON CRITICAL TOPICS AND CURRENT EVENTS. ITS WORK SPANS ARTS AND CULTURE, POLICY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND ECONOMICS. IN ADDITION, ASIA SOCIETY PRODUCES CHINAFILE, AN ONLINE PUBLICATION FEATURING ARTICLES, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND MULTIMEDIA FROM AND ABOUT CHINA.
- $5.8 million spent. ART AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS DIVISION - THE SOCIETY'S ART AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS DIVISION EXPLORES THE VITAL EXPRESSIONS OF DIVERSE ASIAN CULTURES THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, FILMS, LECTURES, AND SYMPOSIA. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE SCHEDULE O. ART AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS DIVISION THE SOCIETY'S ART AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS DIVISION EXPLORES THE VITAL EXPRESSIONS OF DIVERSE ASIAN CULTURES THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, FILMS, LECTURES, AND SYMPOSIA. THE ASIA SOCIETY MUSEUM, LOCATED AT 725 PARK AVENUE, PRESENTS A WIDE RANGE OF ART EXHIBITIONS SHOWCASING THE WORK OF ASIAN AND ASIAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS, RANGING FROM TRADITIONAL TO CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND TAKING NEW APPROACHES TO FAMILIAR MASTERPIECES AS WELL AS INTRODUCING UNDER-RECOGNIZED ARTISTS. SEVERAL MAJOR THEMATIC EXHIBITIONS ARE PRESENTED EACH YEAR, DRAWING ON LOANS FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AS WELL AS THE SOCIETY'S PERMANENT COLLECTION, THE MR. AND MRS. JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER 3RD COLLECTION OF ASIAN ART. THESE EXHIBITIONS ARE USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY CATALOGUES AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS, AND SOME EXHIBITIONS TOUR NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. ASIA SOCIETY ALSO HOSTS PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS OF MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER, AND FILM FOCUSING ON TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCE GENRES OF ASIA, CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE FROM ASIA, AND WORKS BY ASIAN AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTISTS. ADDITIONALLY, A WIDE RANGE OF LECTURES, AUTHOR PROGRAMS, FILMS, AND SYMPOSIA FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE PRESENTED, EITHER RELATED TO THE CURRENT MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS OR TO FURTHER THE SOCIETY'S GOAL OF PROMOTING GREATER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PEOPLES BY SHARING ASIAN AND ASIAN AMERICAN ARTS AND CULTURE. OUR CULTURE AS DIPLOMACY INITIATIVE SPECIFICALLY LOOKS TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING AND CONNECTIONS AMONG CULTURES AS A SAFE HARBOR, UNCOMPROMISED BY POLITICAL, NATIONAL, OR OTHER DIFFERENCES.
- $1.9 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION - THE SOCIETY PURSUES ITS MISSION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THROUGH INNOVATIVE ONLINE PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES. THE WORK OF THE ONLINE OUTREACH DIVISION INCLUDES CONTRIBUTIONS FROM HEADQUARTERS AS WELL AS OUR SIXTEEN OTHER CENTERS AND BRANCHES AROUND THE WORLD. IT OVERSEES THE WEBSITE WHICH PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT ASIA SOCIETY PROGRAMS AS WELL AS CONTENT GENERATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SITE ON TOPICS OF CURRENT INTEREST. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE SCHEDULE O. COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION THE SOCIETY PURSUES ITS MISSION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THROUGH INNOVATIVE ONLINE PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES. THE WORK OF THE ONLINE OUTREACH DIVISION INCLUDES CONTRIBUTIONS FROM HEADQUARTERS AS WELL AS OUR THIRTEEN OTHER CENTERS AND BRANCHES AROUND THE WORLD. IT OVERSEES THE WEBSITE WHICH PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT ASIA SOCIETY PROGRAMS AS WELL AS CONTENT GENERATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SITE ON TOPICS OF CURRENT INTEREST. WEB TRAFFIC HAS EXPANDED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND CURRENTLY HAS MORE THAN 3 MILLION ANNUAL VISITS. ASIA SOCIETY'S WEBSITE (WWW.ASIASOCIETY.ORG) INCLUDES NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE ASIA SOCIETY, HOSTS INFORMATION ON THE INSTITUTION'S PROGRAMS, EVENTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND DEPARTMENTS; OFFERS USERS A VIEW OF SOCIETY MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS AND COLLECTIONS; PROVIDES A RAPIDLY EXPANDING COLLECTION OF RESOURCES ON ASIAN AND ASIAN AMERICAN CONTENT FROM THE ARTS, CULTURE, RELIGION AND SOCIETY TO BUSINESS, ECONOMICS, POLICY AND GOVERNMENT; AND PRESENTS LIVE WEBCASTS OF PROGRAMS OFFERED AT THE NEW YORK HEADQUARTERS AS WELL AS ARCHIVES PROGRAMS FOR FUTURE VIEWING.
- U.S. ACTIVITIES THE SOCIETY OPERATES OUT OF TWO ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF ITS LOCATION IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTE AND THE PACIFIC COAST IS SERVED BY THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CENTER IN LOS ANGELES. THE CALIFORNIA CENTER IS ADVISED BY A LOCALLY RECRUITED ADVISORY COUNCIL. (IN ADDITION, THE SOCIETY IS AFFILIATED WITH A SEPARATE 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, WHICH OPENED A BUILDING OF ITS OWN IN MARCH 2012 AND BY AN ORGANIZATION IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WHICH HAS A SEATTLE, WASHINGTON BRANCH.) ASIAN ACTIVITIES ASIA SOCIETY IS ASSOCIATED WITH SIX ASIAN AFFILIATES, THAT OPERATE ASIA SOCIETY CENTERS IN AUSTRALIA, WITH OFFICES IN SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE; MUMBAI AND DELHI INDIA; SEOUL, KOREA; MANILA, PHILIPPINES; TOKYO, JAPAN; AND IN HONG KONG. THEY ARE EACH SEPARATE, LEGAL AND FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT ENTITIES AND OPERATE IN CONCERT WITH THE ASIA SOCIETY BASED ON A GLOBAL OPERATING AGREEMENT. EUROPEAN ACTIVITIES THERE ARE TWO AFFILIATE CENTERS IN EUROPE, ONE IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND AND A CENTER IN PARIS, FRANCE BOTH OF WHICH ARE SEPARATE, LEGAL AND FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT ENTITIES THAT OPERATE IN CONCERT WITH ASIA SOCIETY BASED ON A GLOBAL OPERATING AGREEMENT. LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP DIVISION THE DIVISION SEEKS TO PROMOTE AN UNDERSTANDING OF ASIA THROUGH FAMILY, LEARNING, AND LIFESTYLE PROGRAMS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF AUDIENCES. THE WORK ENABLES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BROADEN THE SCOPE OF OFFERINGS TO FOCUS ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIANS AND ASIAN AMERICANS AND TO GROW PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ASIA'S DIVERSE ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS. ASIA SOCIETY'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR RISING ASIAN AND ASIAN AMERICAN LEADERS TO CONVENE, NETWORK AND ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS. IN THE U.S., THE GLOBAL TALENT AND DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION SYMPOSIUM PROVIDES A VITAL PLATFORM FOR CORPORATIONS TO DISCUSS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ISSUES AND BEST PRACTICES IN REGARD TO ASIAN PROFESSIONALS. THE ASIA 21 INITIATIVE BRINGS TOGETHER SOME OF THE MOST DYNAMIC NEXT GENERATION LEADERS, ALL UNDER THE AGE OF 40 FROM ASIA AND THE U.S., TO EXPLORE IMAGINATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUES FACING THE ASIA-PACIFIC COMMUNITY TODAY, DEVELOP COMMON APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING THESE SHARED CHALLENGES, AND CULTIVATE THE LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS NECESSARY FOR DEVELOPING RESPONSES. AUXILIARY SERVICES THE SOCIETY OPERATES A SPECIALIZED STORE AND CAFE AND PROVIDES RENTAL AND CONFERENCE FACILITIES AT ITS HEADQUARTERS BUILDING IN NEW YORK. THE STORE, ASIASTORE, OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF BOOKS AND ASIAN-INSPIRED GIFT ITEMS AND SERVES THE MEMBERSHIP, VISITORS TO THE MUSEUM, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ATTENDING THE SOCIETY'S PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK. THE AUDITORIUM, CAFE, AND CONFERENCE FACILITIES IN THE HEADQUARTERS BUILDING SERVE PRIMARILY AS VENUES FOR THE SOCIETY'S PROGRAMS AND ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL TO OUTSIDE PARTIES.
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
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 June 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 August 1985.
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.