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Archaeological Institute of America

EIN 13-5669180 · Auburndale, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA (AIA) PROMOTES ARCHAEOLOGICAL INQUIRY AND PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE MATERIAL RECORD OF THE HUMAN PAST TO FOSTER AN APPRECIATION OF THE DIVERSE CULTURES AND OUR SHARED HUMANITY. THE AIA SUPPORTS ARCHAEOLOGISTS, THEIR RESEARCH AND ITS DISSEMINATION, AND THE ETHICAL PRACTICE OF ARCHAEOLOGY. THE AIA EDUCATES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OR ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERY AND ADVOCATES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE WORLD'S ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE.

Income
$6.1 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 66%
Employees
27
Volunteers
594
Highest pay
$241,941, executive director

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

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    37 of 38 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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)
  1. $3.4 million spent. ARCHAEOLOGY MAGAZINE:OUR GREATEST OUTREACH TOOL IS OUR AWARD-WINNING POPULAR MAGAZINE WHICH ENTERED ITS SEVENTH DECADE OF PUBLICATION COMMITTED TO BRINGING THE EXCITEMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERY TO A POPULAR AUDIENCE. FILLED WITH INCISIVE ARTICLES, COLORFUL GRAPHICS, AND STUNNING PHOTOS, EACH OF ARCHAEOLOGY'S BIMONTHLY ISSUES IS ENJOYED BY NEARLY 500,000 READERS WORLDWIDE.
  2. $425,825 spent. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY:THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST DISTINGUISHED AND WIDELY DISTRIBUTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL JOURNALS. IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1885 AND IS A LEADER IN GROUND-BREAKING ARTICLES ON ARCHAEOLOGY AND THOUGHTFUL BOOK AND MUSEUM EXHIBITION REVIEWS. CIRCULATION OF THE AJA REACHES MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES AND ALMOST 1,000 UNIVERSITIES, LEARNED SOCIETIES, DEPARTMENTS OF ANTIQUITIES, AND MUSEUMS.
  3. $271,060 spent. SOCIETIES AND NATIONAL LECTURE PROGRAM :AIA HEADQUARTERS SPONSORS NATIONAL LECTURES ANNUALLY FOR EACH SOCIETY. BUT THE HEART OF EVERY AIA SOCIETY IS THE LOCALLY PLANNED PROGRAMS' FIELD TRIPS, LOCAL TOURS, SYMPOSIA, FILM FESTIVALS, AND STUDY GROUPS-AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL LECTURES ORGANIZED INDEPENDENTLY BY EACH SOCIETY. SOCIETY MEMBERS ENJOY A FULL PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT SERVE TO FOSTER AND ENHANCE THEIR INTEREST IN ARCHAEOLOGY. OUR MOST POPULAR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY, THE NATIONAL LECTURE PROGRAM CONNECTS PRACTICING ARCHAEOLOGISTS WITH OVER 30,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR FOR STIMULATING ONE-ON-ONE DISCUSSION.
  4. $669,196 spent. SITE PRESERVATION: THE INSTITUTE'S SITE PRESERVATION FUND AWARDS GRANTS TO AIA MEMBER-SPONSORED APPLICANTS TO ASSIST WITH REPAIRS, DOCUMENT ENDANGERED SITES, ENHANCE VISITORS' UNDERSTANDING, AND/OR HELP ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE SITE. OUR PROGRAM FOCUSES ON GRANT GIVING, RECOGNITION AND DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES, ADVOCACY, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH.ANNUAL MEETING: IN JANUARY, THOUSANDS OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS, PHILOLOGISTS, STUDENTS, ARCHAEOLOGY ENTHUSIASTS, AND ARCHAEOLOGY MAGAZINE SUBSCRIBERS FROM THE US, CANADA, AND 35 OTHER COUNTRIES GATHER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AIA-SCS JOINT ANNUAL MEETING. THE 2025 MEETING WAS HELD OVER FOUR DAYS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY IN PHILADELPHIA. THE PROGRAM FEATURES ACADEMIC SESSIONS THAT PRESENT THE LATEST RESEARCH FROM THE FIELD, WORKSHOPS, INNOVATIVE SITE PRESERVATION STRATEGIES, AND THE LATEST DISCOVERIES; AND PRESIDENTIAL PLENARY SESSIONS ORGANIZED BY AIA AND SCS LEADERSHIP. IN ADDITION TO THE ACADEMIC SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS, THE MEETING HOSTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1958.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

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