Passes our checks

American Glaucoma Society Foundation

EIN 27-3868699 · San Francisco, CA

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

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT GLAUCOMA RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, AND TO PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH GLAUCOMA.

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
91% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
21 of 21 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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)

$150,000 spent. AGSF PROVIDED AGS $150,000 IN FUNDING TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY AGS AIMED AT MAKING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THE FIGHT TO PREVENT BLINDNESS AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: (I) GRANTS TO YOUNG CLINICIAN SCIENTISTS TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CLINICIAN SCIENTISTS IN GLAUCOMA BY PROVIDING FUNDING FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS WITHIN THE FIRST 5 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, AND (II) GRANTS TO MID-CAREER PHYSICIAN SCIENTISTS TO ALLOW MID-CAREER (BETWEEN 5 AND 20 YEARS AFTER FELLOWSHIP) TO INITIATE NEW RESEARCH OR CONTINUE ONGOING RESEARCH.
$70,000 spent. AGSF PROVIDED AGS $70,000 IN FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE GEORGE L. SPAETH MD ENDOWED INTERNATIONAL GLAUCOMA FELLOWSHIP FUND, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED TO ADVANCE GLAUCOMA CARE TO THE BENEFIT OF HUMANKIND IN PERPETUITY.
$50,000 spent. AGSF PROVIDED AGS $50,000 IN FUNDING TO SUPPORT AGS CARES WHICH IS A PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THE AGS FOUNDATION THAT IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING SURGICAL GLAUCOMA CARE AT NO COST TO UNINSURED OR UNDER-SERVED PATIENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR SUCH CARE. THE GLAUCOMA CARE IS PROVIDED BY MEMBERS OF A NATIONAL NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS COMPRISING GLAUCOMA SURGEONS WHO ARE AGS ACTIVE OR PROVISIONAL MEMBERS.
$5,000 spent. AGSF PROVIDED SUPPORT TO OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS (THE FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY) WHOSE MISSION SUPPORTS EYE HEALTH.

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.