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American College of Cardiology Foundation

EIN 13-5641985 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO TRANSFORM CARDIOVASCULAR CARE AND IMPROVE HEART HEALTH FOR ALL.

Income
$125.8 million
Spending
$130.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 70%
Employees
559
Volunteers
2,050
Highest pay
$1.2 million, ceo

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (diseases, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (diseases, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (13)
  1. $28.2 million spent. REGISTRY PRODUCTS & RESEARCH - RESOURCES FOR MEASURING CV QUALITY OUTCOMES & GAPS (Expenses $ 11,626,989 including grants of $ 169,401)(Revenue $ 7,944,904) ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC SESSION - EDUCATION, INNOVATION, LECTURES, DISUCSSIONS, CLINICAL DEMONSTRATIONS (Expenses $ 9,502,596 including grants of $ 10,000)(Revenue $ 4,127,549) Publishing (Expenses $ 7,827,679 including grants of $ 10,000)(Revenue $ 1,521,336) Other Education Activities (Expenses $ 7,026,137 including grants of $ 317,196)(Revenue $ 7,048,838) Accreditation (Expenses $ 5,489,759 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 8,635,669) Educational Products (Expenses $ 3,736,473 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 3,515,074) Educational Programs (Expenses $ 2,412,877 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) ACC Web & Digital Strategy (Expenses $ 1,556,219 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 0) Leadership and Governance (70/30 split) (Expenses $ 1,480,896 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) Member engagement (Expenses $ 849,820 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) Federal Grants
  2. $15.8 million spent. SCIENCE and QUALITY IMPROVEMENT - DEVELOPMENT OF CV CLINICAL GUIDELINES AND TOOLS
  3. $12.0 million spent. Other Programs and Awards (Expenses $ 11,626,989 including grants of $ 169,401)(Revenue $ 7,944,904) ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC SESSION - EDUCATION, INNOVATION, LECTURES, DISUCSSIONS, CLINICAL DEMONSTRATIONS (Expenses $ 9,502,596 including grants of $ 10,000)(Revenue $ 4,127,549) Publishing (Expenses $ 7,827,679 including grants of $ 10,000)(Revenue $ 1,521,336) Other Education Activities (Expenses $ 7,026,137 including grants of $ 317,196)(Revenue $ 7,048,838) Accreditation (Expenses $ 5,489,759 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 8,635,669) Educational Products (Expenses $ 3,736,473 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 3,515,074) Educational Programs (Expenses $ 2,412,877 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) ACC Web & Digital Strategy (Expenses $ 1,556,219 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 0) Leadership and Governance (70/30 split) (Expenses $ 1,480,896 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) Member engagement (Expenses $ 849,820 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) Federal Grants
  4. $11.6 million spent. ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC SESSION - EDUCATION, INNOVATION, LECTURES, DISUCSSIONS, CLINICAL DEMONSTRATIONS
  5. $9.5 million spent. Publishing
  6. $7.8 million spent. Other Education Activities
  7. $7.0 million spent. Accreditation
  8. $5.5 million spent. Educational Products
  9. $3.7 million spent. Educational Programs
  10. $2.4 million spent. ACC Web & Digital Strategy
  11. $1.6 million spent. Leadership and Governance (70/30 split)
  12. $1.5 million spent. Member engagement
  13. $849,820 spent. Federal Grants

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 April 1952.

    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.