Passes our checks

Association of Women Surgeons

EIN 23-2564972 · Lexington, KY

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

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE, ENCOURAGE, AND ENABLE WOMEN SURGEONS TO REALIZE THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL GOALS.

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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 21.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15
Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
29 of 29 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.
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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)

$293,163 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE - AWS IS THE LARGEST ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO WOMEN SURGEONS ACROSS ALL SURGICAL SUBSPECIALTIES. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL CONTENT AND PRESENTATIONS BY LEADERS IN SURGERY, MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT BY FOSTERING THE INTERACTION AMONG AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEN WOMEN SURGEONS.
$307,490 spent. MEMBERSHIP AND OTHER PROGRAMS: MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, MENTORING, PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS TO THE AWS POCKET MENTOR MANUAL FOR SURGICAL INTERNS AND RESIDENTS, THE AWS CAREER CENTER, CAREER DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY, GRANT ELIGIBILITY, AND OTHER EXCLUSIVE OFFERS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ENGAGES WOMEN IN HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH SENIOR SURGICAL LEADERS TO BEGIN AN ENGAGEMENT OF SKILLS, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN THE PIPELINE OF BRINGING WOMEN TO LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE UNITED STATES WITHIN SURGERY. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ENGAGING WOMEN IN SURGERY, TRAINING LEADERS, AND PREPARING SENIOR LEADERS.

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

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 November 6, 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 December 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 May 1990.
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 November 4, 2026.

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