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American Philatelic Society

EIN 24-0772797 · Bellefonte, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

- TO PROMOTE STAMP COLLECTING FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES- TO OFFER SERVICES TO ITS MEMBERSHIP AND TO PHILATELY IN GENERAL, INCLUDING KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION, WHICH ENHANCE THE PLEASURE AND FRIENDLINESS OF STAMP COLLECTING- TO INITIATE AND COORDINATE NEW PROGRAMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF STAMP COLLECTING AND OF ALL COLLECTORS- TO REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE WORLD BODY OF PHILATELY- TO ASSIST ITS MEMBERS IN ACQUIRING AND DISPOSING OF PHILATELIC MATERIALS

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
11.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
35
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$237,565, executive director

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 74% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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, 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 (7)
  1. $1.1 million spent. SALES - CIRCUITS AND INTERNET SALES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS TO ACQUIRE AND DISPENSE OF PHILATELIC MATERIAL AMONG EACH OTHER WITH PROTECTIONS AGAINST FRAUD AND THE MISREPRESENTATION OF MATERIAL
  2. $409,473 spent. AMERICAN PHILATELIST MAGAZINE - PROVIDES ARTICLES AND RESOURCES TO IMFORM AND EDUCATE MEMBERS ABOUT POSTAGE STAMPS, COVERS, AND OTHER PHILATELIC MATERIAL. IT ALSO PROVIDES A VENUE FOR THE PUBLISHING OF THE LATEST PHILATELIC RESEARCH
  3. $344,817 spent. STAMP SHOWS - APS SHOWS PROVIDE A VENUE FOR COLLECTORS AND STAMP COLLECTING GROUPS TO GET TOGETHER, TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE THROUGH EXHIBITS, EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS AND SEMINARS, AND TO BUY AND SELL STAMPS.
  4. $127,977 spent. EDUCATION - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO HELP INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN COLLECTING STAMPS, INCLUDING: COLLECTING AND SAFE STORAGE TECHNIQUES; IDENTIFYING THE MANY VARIETIES OF STAMPS AND RELATED POSTAL MATERIAL; DISTINGUISHING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIMILAR LOOKING STAMPS (INCLUDING FAKES); AND UNDERSTANDING POSTAL HISTORY.
  5. $204,214 spent. EXPERTIZING - THE APS EXPERTIZING SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO ANY INTERESTED PARTY TO IDENTIFY AND AUTHENTICATE PHILATELIC MATERIAL. THIS SERVICE BENEFITS BOTH SOCIETY MEMBERS AND THE BROADER PHILATELIC COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING PROTECTION AGAINST MISREPRESENTATION OF MATERIALS.
  6. $268,196 spent. LIBRARY SERVICES - SERVES THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE LENDING AND PRESERVATION OF PHILATELIC LITERATURE; CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF INDICES; MAINTENANCE OF ARCHIVES AND PHILATELIC MEMORABILIA; AND THE CREATION OF EXHIBITS.
  7. $760,942 spent. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS

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 August 1984.

    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.

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