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International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

EIN 31-1129675 · Brentwood, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ISTSS IS AN INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY, PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES ADVANCEMENT AND EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SEVERE STRESS AND TRAUMA. THIS KNOWLEDGE INCLUDES UNDERSTANDING THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCES OF TRAUMATIC EXPOSURE, PREVENTING TRAUMATIC EVENTS AND AMELIORATING THEIR CONSEQUENCES, AND ADVOCATING FOR THE FIELD OF TRAUMATIC STRESS.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
0
Volunteers
365

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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% 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

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

  • 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

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 (5)
  1. $625,751 spent. THE ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD IN PERSON IN 2024. IT WAS ATTENDED BY 1,456 INDIVIDUALS. THE ANNUAL MEETING PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION ON THE LATEST RESEARCH, CLINICAL TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NETWORKING.
  2. $109,444 spent. THE JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR TRAUMATIC STRESS STUDIES, IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY FORUM FOR THE PUBLICATION OF PEER-REVIEWED ORIGINAL PAPERS ON BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF TRAUMA. THE JOURNAL PUBLISHES ORIGINAL ARTICLES, BRIEF REPORTS, REVIEW PAPERS, COMMENTARIES, AND, FROM TIME TO TIME, SPECIAL ISSUES DEVOTED TO A SINGLE TOPIC. THE JOURNAL IS PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY AND IS PROVIDED TO ISTSS MEMBERS, INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIBERS.
  3. $29,495 spent. STRESSPOINTS IS THE QUARTERLY ONLINE NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR TRAUMATIC STRESS STUDIES. STRESSPOINTS CONTAINS NEWS AND OPINIONS ABOUT THE TRAUMATIC STRESS FIELD, ISTSS ACTIVITIES, ACTIVITIES OF RELATED ORGANIZATIONS, RESOURCES AND FEATURE ARTICLES ON TOPICS OF INTEREST. THE ISTSS WEBSITE PROVIDES GENERAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT TRAUMATIC STRESS, AS WELL AS SPECIFIC INFORMATION TO MEMBERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS REGARDING RESEARCH AND TREATMENT OF TRAUMATIC STRESS.
  4. $14,089 spent. DISTANCE EDUCATION
  5. $5,000 spent. AWARDS & RECOGNITION

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 November 6, 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 March 1986.

    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 November 4, 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.