Skip to the page content
Your donations
Check before you give

American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus

EIN 23-7393638 · Brentwood, TN

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong91 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS (AAPOS) IS TO IDENTIFY AND PROMOTE THE HIGHEST QUALITY MEDICAL AND SURGICAL EYE CARE WORLDWIDE FOR ALL CHILDREN, AND FOR ADULTS WITH EYE MISALIGNMENT.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
21.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$120,000, executive vice president

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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.4 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 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $939,792 spent. ANNUAL MEETING: THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS (AAPOS) PRODUCES AN ANNUAL MEETING. THIS FORUM PROVIDES A VENUE FOR THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND INFORMATION. THE ANNUAL MEETING ATTRACTS AN AVERAGE OF 1,152 PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY.
  2. $236,797 spent. JAAPOS: JOURNAL OF AAPOS PRESENTS EXPERT INFORMATION ON CHILDREN'S EYE DISEASES, AND ON STRABISMUS AS IT IMPACTS ALL AGE GROUPS. MAJOR ARTICLES BY LEADING EXPERTS IN THE FIELD COVER CLINICAL AND INVESTIGATIVE STUDIES, TREATMENTS, CASE REPORTS, SURGICAL TECHNIQUES, DESCRIPTIONS OF INSTRUMENTATION, CURRENT CONCEPT REVIEWS, AND NEW DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES. THE JOURNAL IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF AAPOS.
  3. $468,080 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE PROGRAM COMMITTEE, WHICH DEVELOPS CONTENTS FOR LECTURERS AND WORKSHOPS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, AS WELL AS MEMBERSHIP DUES ADMINISTRATION.

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 July 1975.

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

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as delinquent as of December 31, 2005. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    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.