American Heart Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO BE A RELENTLESS FORCE FOR A WORLD OF LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES.
- Income
- $1.1 billion
- Spending
- $1.0 billion
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 4,169
- Volunteers
- 32,641,955
- Highest pay
- $4.6 million, 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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (diseases, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 33% of charities in its peer group (diseases, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 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)
- $337.9 million spent. PUBLIC/CONSUMER EDUCATION INFORMING ALL AMERICANS ABOUT WAYS TO REDUCE THEIR RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND STROKE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. IN 2024-25 THE ASSOCIATION'S PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS PROVIDED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O PUBLIC/CONSUMER EDUCATION CONTINUED -A PERCEPTIONS SURVEY CONDUCTED BY DECISION ANALYST REVEALED THAT - SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THE HEART ASSOCIATION'S NATION OF LIFESAVERS MOVEMENT - BYSTANDER CONFIDENCE IN PERFORMING CPR IN A CARDIAC EMERGENCY INCREASED FROM 33% TO 39%, OR 17.7 MILLION MORE PEOPLE. -STUDENTS ATTENDING THE AMERICAN SCHOOL AND TEIKO UNIVERSITY IN JAPAN ALSO LEARNED LIFESAVING SKILLS AS PART OF A CPR TOUR IN TOKYO LED BY THE HEART ASSOCIATION AND CHASING M'S FOUNDATION. -THE HEART ASSOCIATION MARKED THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE VETERANS AFFAIRS LIPID OPTIMIZATION REIMAGINED QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (VALOR-QI) PROGRAM, A COLLABORATION WITH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION WITH SUPPORT FROM NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED VETERANS WITH EDUCATION, MONITORING AND HEALTH COACHING ON MEDICATION ADHERENCE AND LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT. THE RESULTS EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS, PRODUCING AN AVERAGE DECREASE OF 15 MG/DL IN LDL-C CHOLESTEROL LEVELS AND AN INCREASE IN MEDICATION ADHERENCE FROM 65% TO 77% FOR LIPID-LOWERING THERAPIES. -STROKE IS THE THIRD-LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG HISPANIC WOMEN AND THE FOURTH-LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG HISPANIC MEN. TO RAISE AWARENESS OF STROKE WARNING SIGNS, THE AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION, A DIVISION OF THE HEART ASSOCIATION, DEBUTED THE SPANISH-LANGUAGE WEBSITE DERRAMECEREBRAL.ORG. -WITH OPIOID OVERDOSES CLAIMING MORE THAN 81,000 LIVES IN 2023, THE HEART ASSOCIATION TEAMED WITH THE OPIOID RESPONSE NETWORK ON A SUBSTANCE-USE DISORDERS PROGRAM ENGAGING FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN FY24-25. (Expenses $ 66,771,584 including grants of $ 5,068,999)(Revenue $ 60,964,184)
- $214.7 million spent. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION FUNDS SCIENTIFIC STUDIES SEEKING NEW DISCOVERIES RELATED TO CAUSES, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR AND CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1924, WE'VE INVESTED MORE THAN $6.1 BILLION IN RESEARCH, AS WE CONTINUE FUNDING SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION, SHAPING HEALTH POLICIES, INNOVATING SYSTEMS OF CARE AND TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES. RESEARCH SPENDING FOR FISCAL-YEAR 2024-25 WAS $215 MILLION, OR 18%, AND RESEARCH AWARDS FOR THE YEAR TOTALED $185 MILLION. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CONTINUED -THE HEART ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCED NOVEL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPROACHES TO ADVANCE CARDIOVASCULAR AND CEREBROVASCULAR/BRAIN HEALTH that included A $12 MILLION FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTIGATORS USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN CARDIOVASCULAR AND BRAIN HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE DELIVERY. -THE HEART ASSOCIATION AND ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION CO-FUNDED $20 MILLION TO LAUNCH THE HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH NETWORK ON COMMUNITY-DRIVEN RESEARCH. SCIENTISTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WILL COLLABORATE TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES IN UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES. -THE HEART ASSOCIATION FUNDED $15 MILLION FOR ITS STRATEGICALLY FOCUSED RESEARCH NETWORK (SFRN) ON CARDIOVASCULAR KIDNEY METABOLIC SYNDROME: HETEROGENEITY IN WOMEN TO IMPROVE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR WOMEN EXPERIENCING CKM SYNDROME - A CLINICAL TERM FOR THE COMBINED HEALTH EFFECTS OF HEART DISEASE, KIDNEY DISEASE, DIABETES AND OBESITY. -THE HEART ASSOCIATION AND ADDITIONAL VENTURES COMMITTED $13 MILLION TO FIVE RESEARCH TEAMS STUDYING SINGLE VENTRICLE HEART DISEASE - A RARE CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT WITH NO CURE THAT REQUIRES MULTIPLE SURGERIES BEGINNING RIGHT AFTER BIRTH. -NEARLY 90% OF THE U.S. POPULATION NOW HAS ACCESS TO OUR GET WITH THE GUIDELINES QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH LOCAL HOSPITALS, ENSURING THAT PATIENTS RECEIVE EVIDENCE-BASED CARE. -THE HEART ASSOCIATION LAUNCHED A THREE-YEAR INITIATIVE - SUPPORTED BY FOUNDING SPONSOR BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB - TO BRIDGE GAPS IN CARE FOR HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY, THE MOST COMMON INHERITED HEART DISEASE. -THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION/AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY ANNOUNCED THE FIRST TWO RECIPIENTS OF THE RALPH L. SACCO SCHOLARSHIPS IN BRAIN HEALTH - POSTHUMOUSLY NAMED FOR THE WORLD-RENOWNED NEUROLOGIST WHO SERVED AS VOLUNTEER PRESIDENT OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS. EACH RESEARCHER RECEIVED A $150,000, TWO-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP FOR THEIR CONTINUING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN BRAIN HEALTH. -THE HEART ASSOCIATION LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE WITH THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY, NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION AND STOP OBESITY ALLIANCE AT THE MILKEN INSTITUTE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO IMPROVE DIAGNOSIS AND CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH CARDIOVASCULAR-KIDNEY-METABOLIC SYNDROME. TOGETHER, WE WILL ENGAGE 150 HOSPITALS AND SITES ACROSS THE NATION, REACHING MORE THAN 265,000 PATIENTS. -THE HEART ASSOCIATION, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE LEONA M. AND HARRY B. HELMSLEY CHARITABLE TRUST, COMMITTED $4.7 MILLION IN MINNESOTA, $5.05 MILLION IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND $5.8 MILLION IN HAWAII TO STRENGTHEN THE FULL SPECTRUM OF STROKE CARE THROUGH THE MISSION: LIFELINE STROKE INITIATIVE -THE HEART ASSOCIATION'S HEALTH CARE BY FOOD INITIATIVE BEGAN ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FOR A PLANNING GRANT TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF TRIAL PROTOCOL AND PROCUREMENT OF $3 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR RIGOROUS RESEARCH ON THE HEALTH IMPACT OF FOOD IS MEDICINE (FIM) INTERVENTIONS. INVESTIGATORS WILL RECEIVE UP TO $100,000 OVER A 12-MONTH PERIOD, INCLUDING UP TO $25,000 FOR PRELIMINARY DATA COLLECTION.
- $176.9 million spent. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCH, ADVANCES IN MEDICINE, AND GUIDELINES FOR BEST PRACTICES ARE MOST USEFUL WHEN MADE AVAILABLE TO SCIENTISTS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. THE American heart Association HOSTED MORE THAN A DOZEN SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES INCLUDING SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS AND THE INTERNATIONAL STROKE CONFERENCE, AS WELL AS MEETINGS FOCUSED ON SPECIALTY AREAS. EACH OFFERED CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) CREDITS, WHICH ARE ALSO AVAILABLE THROUGH the American Heart Association's ONLINE LEARNING PROGRAMS. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CONTINUED -WITH STROKE RATES RISING IN INDIA, THE AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCED THE COUNTRY'S FIRST CERTIFIED COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CENTERS: APOLLO HOSPITAL IN HYDERABAD, TELANGANA, AND ASTER HOSPITAL IN CALICUT, KERALA. CERTIFICATIONS RECOGNIZE HOSPITALS THAT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, STAFF AND TRAINING TO QUICKLY DIAGNOSE AND BEST TREAT PATIENTS WITH THE MOST COMPLEX STROKES. -NEWLY CERTIFIED CHEST PAIN CENTERS IN INDIA AND MEXICO ARE THE MOST RECENT TO JOIN THE GLOBAL GROUP RECOGNIZED BY THE HEART ASSOCIATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN CARDIAC EMERGENCY CARE. THE ASSOCIATION DEVELOPED ITS INTERNATIONAL CHEST PAIN CENTER CERTIFICATION TO ENSURE HOSPITALS IMPLEMENT COORDINATED SYSTEMS OF CARE THAT REDUCE TIME TO TREATMENT AND IMPROVE LONG-TERM CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH. -THE AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION, A DIVISION OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, PUBLISHED THE 2024 GUIDELINE FOR THE PRIMARY PREVENTION OF STROKE AS A RESOURCE FOR CLINICIANS. THE GUIDELINE HIGHLIGHTS THE ASSOCIATION'S LIFE'S ESSENTIAL 8 METRICS FOR OPTIMAL CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, UNDERSCORES STROKE RISKS SPECIFIC TO WOMEN SUCH AS PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS AND EARLY MENOPAUSE. -FUELED BY INCREASES IN HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, OBESITY AND OTHER RISK FACTORS, HEART DISEASE AND STROKE REMAIN THE NO. 1 AND NO. 5 CAUSES OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES ACCORDING TO 2025 HEART DISEASE AND STROKE STATISTICS: A REPORT OF U.S. AND GLOBAL DATA FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. THE HEART ASSOCIATION PUBLISHES AN UPDATED REPORT ANNUALLY. -AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CEO NANCY BROWN ADDRESSED EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONALS DURING A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE 48TH U.S TEN-DAY SEMINAR ON EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND STROKE HOSTED BY THE HEART ASSOCIATION IN COLLABORATION WITH NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION AND OTHERS. (Expenses $ 66,771,584 including grants of $ 5,068,999)(Revenue $ 60,964,184)
- COMMUNITY SERVICES -HEARTCORPS, CREATED BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND AMERICORPS TO INCREASE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, CELEBRATED THE END OF YEAR 2 HAVING INVESTED 74,000 HOURS SERVING NEARLY 18,000 PATIENTS. HEARTCORPS MEMBERS WORK AT HOST SITES PROVIDING RESOURCES AND CARE TO PATIENTS STRUGGLING WITH HYPERTENSION, DIABETES, SMOKING, NUTRITION INSECURITY AND MORE. -THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RECEIVED THREE PHASE 2 GRANTS TOTALING $8,385,135 AS PART OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)NATIONAL PARTNERS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT. THE 5-YEAR INITIATIVE IS AIMED at HELPING ORGANIZATIONS AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS OPERATE MORE COMPREHENSIVELY AND EFFECTIVELY TO ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUITIES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION. -THE HEART ASSOCIATION AND PENN MEDICINE LAUNCHED 'TEAM UP TO TAKE DOWN HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,' A THREE-YEAR INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON WEST AND SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA WHERE THE CITY'S HYPERTENSION RATES ARE HIGHEST. THE PROGRAM ENGAGES COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND HEALTH CARE PRACTICES TO IMPROVE BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING, SELF-MEASUREMENT AND MANAGEMENT. -AS THE WORLD HEART FEDERATION CONVENED THE WORLD HEART SUMMIT IN GENEVA, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION LEADERS JOINED DISCUSSIONS WITH GLOBAL CHANGEMAKERS ON WAYS TO IMPROVE CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH ACROSS CONTINENTS. PUBLIC ADVOCACY -THE CARDIOMYOPATHY HEALTH EDUCATION, AWARENESS, RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN SCHOOLS (HEARTS) ACT BECAME LAW, PROVIDING U.S. PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH RESOURCES TO DEVELOP CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS, INCLUDING CPR-TRAINED STUDENTS AND STAFF AND READILY ACCESSIBLE AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS. THE BILL WAS INSPIRED AND CHAMPIONED BY BUFFALO BILLS SAFETY DAMAR HAMLIN, NATIONAL AMBASSADOR FOR THE HEART ASSOCIATION'S NATION OF LIFESAVERS MOVEMENT. -NEARLY 3,300 AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HEART POWERED GRASSROOTS ADVOCATES MOBILIZED IN 44 U.S. CITIES, MEETING WITH LAWMAKERS TO SECURE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OF LIFESAVING LEGISLATION AROUND CARDIAC READINESS IN SCHOOLS, ACCESS TO CARE, TOBACCO CONTROL AND NUTRITION SECURITY. -TO PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN LIGHT OF FEDERAL BUDGETS CUTS AND REORGANIZATION, THE HEART ASSOCIATION RELEASED THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY, PRINCIPLES FOR THE FUTURE OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES AND OPTIMIZING THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH. -THE SUPREME COURT RULED UNANIMOUSLY THAT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION PROPERLY REJECTED APPLICATIONS FROM TWO MANUFACTURERS OF E-CIGARETTE LIQUIDS TO MARKET FRUIT- AND DESSERT-FLAVORED PRODUCTS. -AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION ADVOCATES ALONGSIDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR NUTRITION & ACTIVITY AND THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN A BRIEFING TO ASK CONGRESS TO PROTECT NUTRITION STANDARDS IN SCHOOL MEALS AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND TO OPPOSE EFFORTS TO WEAKEN THEM. -THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED TWO PROPOSED RULES MARKING MAJOR STEPS FORWARD IN SUPPORTING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. -ONE PROPOSED RULE WOULD REQUIRE THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY TO LOWER NICOTINE LEVELS IN CIGARETTES TO MINIMALLY ADDICTIVE OR NON-ADDICTIVE LEVELS. -PROPOSED RULE WOULD REQUIRE FRONT-OF-PACK NUTRITION LABELING FOR FOODS AND BEVERAGES, TO MAKE NUTRITION FACTS CLEARER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE, AND TO EMPOWER CONSUMERS TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES. -THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION UPDATED ITS STANDARDS FOR NUTRITION CONTENT LABELING TO ALIGN WITH THE LATEST SCIENCE AND FEDERAL GUIDANCE. -AFTER A SEVEN-YEAR BATTLE, SANTA CRUZ BECAME THE FIRST CALIFORNIA CITY TO IMPLEMENT A SUGARY DRINK TAX SINCE 2018. TAXES ON SUGARY DRINKS HAVE PROVEN EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING THEIR PURCHASE AND CONSUMPTION. -THE CONGENITAL HEART FUTURES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024 BECAME LAW, EXTENDING FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH 2029 FOR RESEARCH TO IMPROVE PREVENTION AND CARE FOR CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE. HEART ASSOCIATION ADVOCATES WERE VITAL TO SECURING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, WHICH REAUTHORIZES THE NATIONAL CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH, SURVEILLANCE, AND AWARENESS PROGRAM. -HEART ASSOCIATION ADVOCATES FROM OHIO, IOWA AND WASHINGTON JOINED MEMBERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP TO PROTECT COVERAGE FOR A VIRTUAL "HILL DAY" TO URGE LAWMAKERS TO PRESERVE MEDICAID AND EXTEND THE ENHANCED ADVANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS (EAPTC), WHICH REDUCE THE PREMIUMS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE PURCHASED THROUGH THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE BASED ON HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND INCOME. -THE HEART ASSOCIATION PARTICIPATED IN THE COALITION TO TRANSFORM ADVANCED CARE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., TO UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVANCING POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILY CAREGIVERS.
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 July 1949.
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.
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