American Association for Cancer Research

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE AACR IS TO PREVENT AND CURE CANCER THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION, AND COLLABORATION. THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, THE AACR FOSTERS RESEARCH IN CANCER AND RELATED BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE; ACCELERATES THE DISSEMINATION OF NEW RESEARCH FINDINGS AMONG SCIENTISTS AND OTHERS DEDICATED TO THE CONQUEST OF CANCER; PROMOTES SCIENCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING; AND ADVANCES THE UNDERSTANDING OF CANCER ETIOLOGY, PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Income

$129.5 million

Spending

$97.7 million

Spent on programs

87%

Reserves

31.4 months of spending

Largest source of income

fees for its services, 50%

Employees

295

Volunteers

5,500

Highest pay

$1.7 million, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (medical research, over $100m).

• Reserves

  35 of 35

  Spendable reserves would cover 31.4 months of spending.

• Debt

  16 of 20

  It owes 22% of what it owns.

• Living within its means

  15 of 15

  Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

• Income trend

  10 of 15

  Income fell 6% on the year before.

• Spending floor

  15 of 15

  87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (medical research, over $100m).

• Independent board

  25 of 25

  24 of 24 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, 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.

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

Legitimacy checks

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   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.

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   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.

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   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.

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   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.

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   How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

   Recognized by the IRS since January 1965.

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

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   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.