American Trauma Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ATS is dedicated to creating a world without preventable injury, yet when injury does occur, helping the survivors thrive. It is the key national organization committed to supporting and empowering survivors of trauma, educating and supporting members of the trauma care team and decreasing death and disability through injury prevention.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 16.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 75
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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% 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
Governance
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 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)
- $661,496 spent. ATS provides continuing educational courses and webinars for trauma registrars related to trauma reporting and data management. ATS is the only organization to provide a national certification process for trauma registrars (CSTR - Certified Specialist in Trauma Registries). Our registry faculty writes the CSTR exam and coordinates its administration through a certification company. ATS provides courses for trauma program managers focused on their individual roles in a trauma center. ATS provides educational courses for injury prevention professionals and partners with other major professional organizations in a Trauma Prevention Coalition.
- $608,921 spent. ATS provides educational information on traumatic injuries to the public and professional sectors. ATS provides membership support through a website and two newsletters to desimminate information and legislative updates related to the trauma care profession.ATS maintains a data registry of trauma centers, Trauma Information Exchange Program (TIEP)available to the professional sector.ATS members communicate daily through a real time engagement platform, ATSConnect, sharing resources and updates.
- $339,217 spent. Trauma Survivors Network (TSN) - a program dedicated to helping trauma survivors and their family members rebuild their lives after a serious injury. TSN makes available ways for connecting with others, establishing and locating programs at trauma centers, a peer support program and a resource center for learning from the experts.
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
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 October 13, 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 November 1973.
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 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.