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American Society of Naturalists

EIN 23-7309347 · Urbana, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE AND DIFFUSE KNOWLEDGE OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION AND OTHER BROAD BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES SO AS TO EHHANCE THE CONCEPTUAL UNIFICATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY PUBLISHING THE AMERICAN NATURALIST AND BY HOLDING ANNUAL MEETINGS

Income
$127,341
Spending
$159,644
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
105.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 61%
Employees
0
Volunteers
21

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: 70 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 105.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 62 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (6)
  1. $136,481 spent. AWARDS - TO HONOR SCIENTISTS OF GREAT DISTINCTION WHO CONTRIBUTE FUNDAMENTALLY TO ADVANCE AND DIFFUSE KNOWLEDGE OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION AND BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES. AWARDS INCLUDE: 1. ASN AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT IN THE CONCEPTUAL UNIFICATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (FORMERLY THE SEWALL WRIGHT AWARD): ACTIVE SENIOR INVESTIGATORS MAKING FUNDAMENTAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOCIETYS GOALS (INCLUDES A $2,000 AWARD). ONE AWARD WAS GIVEN IN 2024 FOR A TOTAL OF $2,000. 2. ASN DISTINGUISHED NATURALIST AWARD (FORMERLY THE E. O. WILSON AWARD): ACTIVE MID-CAREER INVESTIGATOR WHO HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF A PARTICULAR ECOSYSTEM OR GROUP OF ORGANISMS (INCLUDES A $2,000 AWARD). ONE AWARD WAS GIVEN IN 2024 FOR A TOTAL OF $2,000. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR A CONTINUATION OF ALL THE AWARDS
  2. GRADUATE STUDENT PROGRAMS THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NATURALISTS HAS A VIBRANT GRADUATE STUDENT GROUP. THE GROUP HAS CREATED PODCASTS, HIGHLIGHTED UNDER-REPRESENTED EARLY CAREER SCIENTISTS, HELD A MIXER AT THE ANNUAL EVOLUTION MEETING, AND MAINTAINED AN ACTIVE WEBSITE AND TWITTER FEED. THE TOTAL SPENT ON THESE PROGRAMS IN 2024 WAS $7,000
  3. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TRAVEL THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NATURALISTS VALUES INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY AND GOOD STEWARDSHIP. TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE ASN PAYS FOR TRAVEL OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO THE ANNUAL EVOLUTION MEETING PLUS ONE NIGHT OF HOTEL. THE TOTAL PAID IN 2024 WAS $9,081.27
  4. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSIONTHE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NATURALISTS HAS RECENTLY INCREASED THE WORK THAT IT DOES IN THE AREA OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI). ASN NOW HAS AN ACTIVE DIVERSITY COUNCIL THAT IMPLEMENTS PROGRAMS IN THE ANNUAL SUMMER EVOLUTION MEETING AND THE STANDALONE BIENNIAL MEETING. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE MIXERS AT THE MEETINGS, A CLIMATE SURVEY, AND AN INVESTMENT IN A CONSULTANT TO HELP PLAN ACTIVITIES IN THIS AREA. THE TOTAL SPENT ON DEI INITIATIVES IN 2024 WAS $12,980.24
  5. THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NATURALISTS HOLDS TWO MEETINGS. WE CONTRIBUTE TO A TRI-SOCIETY ANNUAL SUMMER EVOLUTION MEETING WITH TWO OTHER SOCIETIES: THE SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF EVOLUTION AND THE SOCIETY FOR SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY.
  6. PUBLICATIONS - SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1867, THE AMERICAN NATURALIST MAINTAINED ITS POSITION AS ONE OF THE WORLDS PREMIER PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS IN ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND BEHAVIOR RESEARCH. ITS GOALS ARE TO PUBLISH ARTICLES THAT ARE OF BROAD INTEREST TO THE READERSHIP, POSE NEW AND SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS, INTRODUCE NOVEL SUBJECTS, DEVELOP CONCEPTUAL UNIFICATION, AND CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE THINK. THE AMERICAN NATURALIST EMPHASIZES SOPHISTICATED METHODOLOGIES AND INNOVATIVETHEORETICAL SYNTHESES - ALL IN AN EFFORT TO ADVANCE THE KNOWLEDGE OFORGANIC EVOLUTION AND OTHER BROAD BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES. TWELVE ISSUESARE PUBLISHED EACH YEAR IN TWO VOLUMES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1985.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.