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Aats Foundation

EIN 23-7288866 · Fairfax, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUPPORT CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS IN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
21 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
0
Volunteers
142
Highest pay
$474,375, chief executive officer

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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. $1.7 million spent. TO PERFORM AND CARRY OUT SUCH OTHER EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND CHARITABLE FUNCTIONS AND PURPOSES OF AATS SUCH AS: EVERY HEART BEAT MATTERS, SIR MAGDI YACOUB HOM PROGRAM, WTS MID-CAREER INVESTIGATOR AWARD, MARC R. DE LEVAL HOM PROGRAM, INTUITIVE SURGICAL ROBOTICS FELLOWSHIP, INTUITIVE ADVANCED LOBECTOMY COURSE, DAVID J. SUGARBAKER HOM PROGRAM, RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS, LAWRENCE H. COHN HOM PROGRAM, ATRICURE JAMES L. COX FELLOWSHIP, TIRONE DAVID HOM PROGRAM, AATS FOUNDATION EQUITY AWARD, VALERIE W. RUSCH HOM PROGRAM, RESIDENT RESEARCH CARDIAC SCHOLARSHIP, CLEVELAND CLINIC HOM PROGRAM, JACK A. ROTH HOM PROGRAM, SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM, TIMOTHY J. GARDNER HOM PROGRAM, ALDO R. CASTANEDA HOM PROGRAM, GLOBAL ACADEMIC EXCHANGE FUND, MEDTRONIC ADVANCED VALVE, ALAIN CARPENTIER HOM PROGRAM, F. GRIFFITH PEARSON HOM PROGRAM
  2. $250,000 spent. SURGICAL INVESTIGATOR PROGRAM - THE SURGICAL INVESTIGATOR PROGRAM SUPPORTS CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH BY YOUNG CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS, INCLUDING TOPICS RELATED TO QUALITY AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH, AND STUDIES OF NEW AND INNOVATIVE THERAPIES, PROCEDURES, AND TECHNOLOGIES IN CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY.
  3. $201,314 spent. GRAHAM TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP - THE EVARTS A. GRAHAM MEMORIAL TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1951 BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THORACIC SURGERY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING STUDY WITHIN NORTH AMERICA BY PROMISING YOUNG ACADEMIC CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS FROM OUTSIDE THE REGION TO BROADEN THEIR OVERALL TRAINING AND INCREASE INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS.
  4. $194,000 spent. MEDICAL STUDENT DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP - THESE SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT MEDICAL STUDENTS PLANNING TO PURSUE A CAREER IN CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY AND WHO ARE FROM AN UNDERREPRESENTED IN MEDICINE POPULATION. UNDERREPRESENTED IN MEDICINE MEANS THOSE RACIAL AND ETHNIC POPULATIONSTHAT ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION RELATIVE TO THEIR NUMBERS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 1973.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: AARP Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 52-0794300. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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