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Autism Speaks Inc

EIN 20-2329938 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OWE ACHIEVE OUR ORGANIZATIONAL MISSION BY ENSURING ACCESS TO RELIABLE INFORMATION AND SERVICES ACROSS THE LIFESPAN; SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION THAT DRIVES TOWARD IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELL-BEING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES; THROUGH ADVOCACY, PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION, LEVERAGING OUR ASSETS TO SUPPORT, EXTEND, AND CONVENE THE WORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS; ACCELERATING DELIVERY OF SOLUTIONS FOR ADULT QUALITY OF LIFE NEEDS, INCLUDING TRANSITION, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS; AND LIVING AND PROMOTING PRINCIPLES OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESS AND INCLUSION BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE THE ORGANIZATION.

Income
$28.8 million
Spending
$34.2 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
168
Volunteers
35,000
Highest pay
$472,064, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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 March 31, 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 (3)
  1. $10.9 million spent. AIDED MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION PEOPLE. AUTISM RESPONSE TEAM AND EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM PROVIDED SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO OVER 66,431 PEOPLE SEEKING AUTISM INFORMATION AND RESOURCES INCLUDING 9,662 CONTACTS FROM THE SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY; LAUNCHED A NATIONAL AUTISM INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICE PROVIDER NETWORK WITH 12 ORGANIZATIONS AND LED BIMONTHLY CAPACITY BUILDING TRAININGS TO ADDRESS GAPS IN AUTISM CARE COORDINATION AND SERVICE ACCESS. WE EXPANDED RESOURCES FOR AUTISTIC ADULTS, INCLUDING A TOOLKIT FOR ADULTS SEEKING AN AUTISM DIAGNOSIS - WRITTEN BY AUTISTIC ADULTS - THAT WAS DOWNLOADED OVER 33,800 TIMES. WE LAUNCHED A DRIVING WITH AUTISM DIGITAL TRAINING AND A SUITE OF TRANSITION RESOURCES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.WE ALSO RELEASED A HEALTHCARE TRANSITION ROADMAP TO SUPPORT THE SHIFT FROM PEDIATRIC TO ADULT CARE, A CHANGE SHOWN TO IMPROVE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES. PROVIDED 26 NEW TRANSLATED RESOURCES, SPANISH RESOURCES ALONE WERE DOWNLOADED AND VIEWED OVER 25,000 TIMES. LED REGULATORY CHARGE FOR ACCESS TO ALL EVIDENCED BASED AUTISM THERAPIES FOR MEDICAID ENROLLED CHILDREN. OVER 6,000 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS 46 BUSINESSES HAVE ACCESSED THE WORKPLACE INCLUSION NOW (WIN) DIGITAL TRAININGS TO DEVELOP INCLUSIVE WORKPLACES. FUNDED $208,846 IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT NEXT GEN AUTISM SCIENCE LEADERS WORKING TO DEVELOP MODELS OF CARE.
  2. $6.4 million spent. WE INCREASE KNOWLEDGE THROUGH RESEARCH TO DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF AUTISM AND LEAD TO ADVANCEMENTS IN AUTISM DIAGNOSIS, EARLY INTERVENTION, AND PERSONALIZED HEALTHCARE. CONNECTED FAMILIES IN 50 STATES AND 37 COUNTRIES WITH RESOURCES AND ACCESS TO AUTISM EXPERTS. WE UNVEILED A NEW RESOURCE FOR THE TREATMENT OF ADHD, ANXIETY AND IRRITABILITY IN AUTISM, PROVIDING CLINICIANS WITH A STRUCTURED, EVIDENCE-INFORMED APPROACH THAT WILL ULTIMATELY IMPROVE CARE FOR PEOPLE ON THE SPECTRUM. WE FUNDED THREE NEW RESEARCH PROJECTS TO REVEAL HOW AUDITORY PROCESSING DIFFERENCES AFFECT AUTISTIC PEOPLE, UNLOCKING INSIGHTS THAT COULD TRANSFORM DIAGNOSIS, COMMUNICATION, AND DAILY SUPPORT. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.WE ALSO SUPPORTED FELLOWSHIPS FOR TWO EARLY CAREER AUTISTIC SCIENTISTS TO ADVANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF AUTISM, AMPLIFY AUTISTIC VOICES AND REFLECT THE REAL EXPERIENCES OF AUTISTIC PEOPLE. AS RESULT FROM THE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP SUMMIT OF AUTISM AGING, WE JOINED FORCES WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION TO FUND PIONEERING RESEARCH TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CARDIOVASCULAR AND CEREBROVASCULAR HEALTH IN AUTISTIC PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, WE CO-ORGANIZED A WORKSHOP WITH ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION TO EXPLORE THE EMERGING RESEARCH ON DEMENTIA AND OLDER AUTISTIC ADULTS. AUTISM SPEAKS' MSSNG PROJECT, THE WORLD'S LARGEST AUTISM GENOME DATABASE, EXPANDED BY ADDING 2,489 FULLY SEQUENCED GENOMES, FUELING GLOBAL DISCOVERIES AND ACCELERATING PROGRESS TOWARD MORE PERSONALIZED CARE FOR AUTISTIC PEOPLE. WE RELEASED ABN 2.0, AN EXPANSION OF THE ORIGINAL ABN 1.0. THE UPDATED REPORT INCLUDES MORE RECENT STATISTICS, AN INCREASED FOCUS ON ISSUES AFFECTING ADULTS, SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH AND HEART HEALTH, AND NEW DATA ON VARIOUS TOPICS.
  3. $6.2 million spent. WE ARE STEADFAST IN OUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE LIFELONG OUTCOMES AND INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE OF PEOPLE WITH AUTISM. EXPANDED E-CAREGIVERS SKILLS TRAINING ENABLING UNDERSERVED FAMILIES TO BUILD THEIR AUTISTIC CHILD'S COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIOR SKILLS. 47 BUSINESSES EARNED THEIR AUTISM FRIENDLY DESIGNATION, OUR PROGRAM CO-DEVELOPED BY PEOPLE WITH AUTISM TO HELP ORGANIZATIONS WELCOME AND BUILD COMMUNITY WITH AUTISTIC PEOPLE. SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR STATE LICENCING LAWS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH AUTISM GREATER ACCESS TO MEDICALLY NECESSARY INTERVENTIONS. ENGAGED 3.2 MILLION PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS WHERE WE PROVIDED RESOURCES AND A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR AUTISTIC PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES. EDUCATED OVER 2,100 PEOPLE ON FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY CHANGES AND ACCESSING RESOURCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 May 2011.

    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.

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.