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American Archaeology Abroad Inc

EIN 27-3527655 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceWeak31 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY ABROAD IS A U.S. 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED TO ADVANCE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE PAST AND HOW IT IS STUDIED. WE PURSUE THESE GOALS THROUGH ENGAGING IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND EXCAVATION, SPONSORING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS, AND INCLUDING STUDENTS AND PUBLIC VOLUNTEERS IN OUR LECTURE AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Income
$568,983
Spending
$350,542
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
28.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    0 of 10

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
  1. $327,286 spent. ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH - IN COOPERATION WITH ITS BOARD AND MEMBERS, AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY ABROAD PARTICIPATES IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH ABROAD. RESEARCH AND EXCAVATION ARE CARRIED OUT BY CREDENTIALED MEMBERS WHO HAVE ACTIVE LEGAL PROJECTS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. TEAMS CONSIST OF AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND ARE OFTEN CONDUCTED IN COLLABORATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH THE WORK IS CARRIED OUT. OUR ON-SITE PROGRAMMING INCLUDES EDUCATING PUBLIC AND STUDENT VOLUNTEERS ABOUT ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE ANCIENT HUMAN PAST THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE. VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENTS WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH PROFESSIONAL ARCHAEOLOGISTS, ATTEND REGULAR INSTRUCTIONAL SESSIONS AND TOPICAL LECTURES, AND PARTICIPATE IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE EXCAVATION. ADDITIONALLY, VOLUNTEERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES ON TOURS.STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EXCAVATION ABROAD - AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY ABROAD HOLDS AN ANNUAL COMPETITION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TO ATTEND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS ABROAD. CURRENT FUNDING ALLOWS FOR TWO AWARDS OF $500 EACH, BUT WE INTEND TO DEVELOP THIS PROGRAM IN FUTURE YEARS TO ACCOMMODATE ADDITIONAL STUDENTS. TWO WERE GRANTED IN THE CURRENT YEAR.LECTURE SPONSORSHIP - AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY ABROAD ALLOCATES FUNDS TO SPONSOR PUBLIC LECTURES OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL NATURE IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. WE COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SPONSOR LECTURES AND OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS. WE OFTEN SEEK OUT ORGANIZATIONS WHICH WOULD NOT NORMALLY CONSIDER ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANCIENT HISTORY WITHIN THEIR PURVIEW. SUCH COLLABORATIONS EXPOSE ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANCIENT HISTORY TO A COMMUNITY THAT NORMALLY WOULD NOT SEEK IT OUT, BROADENS THE EXPOSURE OF OUR ORGANIZATION, AND OPENS OUR OWN MEMBERSHIP TO NEW DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS.

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 December 2010.

    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.

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.