Acoustical Society of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO GENERATE, DISSEMINATE, AND PROMOTE THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF ACOUSTICS.
- Income
- $7.4 million
- Spending
- $5.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 47.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 60%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 1,100
- Highest pay
- $357,330, executive director
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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 47.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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, 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 (4)
- $1.2 million spent. PUBLISHING:THE ASA PUBLISHES (A) THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA WITH A CIRCULATION TO 5,000 MEMBERS AND 800 INSTITUTIONS WORLDWIDE; (B) JASA EXPRESS LETTERS, AN OPEN ACCESS PUBLICATION THAT CAN BE ACCESSED BY THE PUBLIC; (C) PROCEEDINGS OF MEETINGS ON ACOUSTICS, AN OPEN ACCESS PUBLICATION THAT CAN BE ACCESSED BY THE PUBLIC; (D) ACOUSTICS TODAY MAGAZINE IN PRINT AND ONLINE IN OPEN ACCESS FORMAT. CIRCULATION TO 5,000 MEMBERS AND APPROXIMATELY 800 INSTITUTIONS WORLDWIDE; (E) STANDARDS ON ACOUSTICS AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE PURCHASE AND DOWNLOAD. ONLINE ARCHIVAL PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ECHOES, ACOUSTICS RESEARCH LETTERS ONLINE, NOISE ITS USES AND CONTROL MAGAZINE, AND SOUND MAGAZINE.
- $1.1 million spent. MEETINGS: THE ASA HOLDS TWO MEETINGS EACH YEAR, ATTRACTING BETWEEN 1,000 AND 2,000 ATTENDEES AT EACH. MEETINGS INCLUDE BETWEEN 800 TO 1,300 INDIVIDUAL TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS, TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS, STANDARDS COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND NETWORKING EVENTS. STUDENT AWARD COMPETITIONS ARE CONDUCTED FOR BEST PAPER AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS. TRAVEL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND MEETINGS. ASA ALSO PROVIDES ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT TO ENCOURAGE ATTENDANCE BY EARLY-CAREER ACOUSTICIANS AND WOMEN ACOUSTICIANS SUCH AS EARLY-CAREER RETREATS, FELLOWSHIP AND GRANT PANELS, WOMEN YOUNG INVESTIGATOR GRANTS AND DEPENDENT CARE GRANTS. SOCIAL EVENTS INCLUDE A RECEPTION FOR ALL ATTENDEES, A STUDENTS RECEPTION AND A WOMEN IN ACOUSTICS RECEPTION.
- $518,792 spent. THE ASA'S OUTREACH ENCOMPASSES ACTIVITIES AIMED AT K-12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE PRESS, ACOUSTICIANS IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS, OTHER ACOUSTICAL SOCIETIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS IN SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES OTHER THAN ACOUSTICS. OUTREACH EVENTS ARE HELD AT ASA MEETINGS, COSPONSORS' SYMPOSIUMS, WORKSHOPS, AND CONFERENCES ORGANIZED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS BOTH IN THE US AND ABROAD. OTHER OUTREACH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED VIA ASA WEBSITES INCLUDING ACOUSTICS.ORG, EXPLORESOUND.ORG, ACOUSTICSTODAY.ORG, AND ACOUSTICALSOCIETY.ORG.OUTREACH TO SCIENCE REPORTERS IS PROVIDED VIA PRESS CONFERENCES BROADCAST LIVE OVER THE INTERNET DURING ASA MEETINGS. REPORTERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THESE PRESS CONFERENCES AND INTERACT WITH THE PRESENTERS. PRIOR TO MEETINGS, PRESS RELEASES AND LAY VERSIONS OF PRESENTATIONS ARE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE ASA WEBSITE, ACOUSTICS.ORG.ASA SPONSORS BIENNIAL SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AWARDS FOR PROFESSIONALS IN ACOUSTICS AND FOR JOURNALISTS WHICH ARE INTENDED TO RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE IN THE PRESENTATION OF ACOUSTICS RELATED TOPICS TO A POPULAR AUDIENCE. CASH PRIZES AND TRAVEL SUPPORT TO AN ASA MEETING ARE PROVIDED TO WINNING ENTRIES.ASA AUTHORIZES THE FORMATION OF REGIONAL AND STUDENT CHAPTERS WHICH PROVIDE OUTREACH TO ACOUSTICIANS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. THESE GROUPS HOLD PERIODIC MEETINGS FOR ACOUSTICS STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS AND DEMONSTRATION SESSIONS FOR K-12 STUDENTS. ASA PROVIDES ANNUAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR CHAPTER ACTIVITIES.ASA PROVIDES A PROGRAM OF FELLOWSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS AND GRANTS FOR STUDENTS AND POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS WORKING IN THE FIELD OF ACOUSTICS. THESE INCLUDE THE FREDERICK V. HUNT POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP IN ACOUSTICS, THE LEO AND GABRIELLA BERANEK SCHOLARSHIP IN ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS AND NOISE CONTROL, THE JAMES E. WEST MINORITY FELLOWSHIP, RAYMOND H. STETSON SCHOLARSHIP IN PHONETICS AND SPEECH SCIENCE, THE FRANK AND VIRGINIA WINKER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR GRADUATE STUDY IN ACOUSTICS, THE ROBERT W. YOUNG AWARD FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH IN ACOUSTICS, THE DAOMA AND MURRAY STRASBERG MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP IN OCEAN ACOUSTICS, THE ACOUSTICAL OCEANOGRAPHY TRAVEL AWARD, THE ROBERT B. NEWMAN MEDAL, THE WENGER PRIZE, AND THE ROYSTER AWARD. THESE AWARDS INCLUDE STIPENDS OF VARIOUS AMOUNTS, AND SOME INCLUDE TRAVEL SUPPORT TO ATTEND ASA MEETINGS.
- $1.3 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE:- STANDARDS- THE FOUNDATION FUND- BOOKS- ACOUSTICS TODAY
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1957.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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