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The American Ceramic Society Inc

EIN 31-4379422 · Westerville, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 102 cents.

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

What it says it does

TO FOSTER THE STUDY, UNDERSTANDING, DEVELOPMENT, AND APPLICATION OF CERAMICS, GLASSES, AND RELATED MATERIALS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR MEMBERS, INDUSTRY, AND THE GLOBAL SOCIETY.

Income
$8.6 million
Spending
$8.1 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
17.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 66%
Employees
39
Volunteers
360
Highest pay
$323,338, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 102 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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, 2025, 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. $7.3 million spent. THE SOCIETY PUBLISHED FOUR PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS AND THREE MAGAZINES RELATED TO CERAMICS IN THE APPLICATION OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES. NUMEROUS BOOKS WERE PUBLISHED, MEDIA CONTENT PRODUCED, AND MEDIA STREAMED ON THE APPLICATIONS OF CERAMIC ARTS AND ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF MEETING LECTURES AND PAPERS PRESENTED AT MEETINGS. THE SOCIETY'S 2025 MEETINGS INCLUDED THE 49TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND EXPO ON ADVANCED CERAMICS AND COMPOSITES (ICACC) IN DAYTONA BEACH, FL. THE SOCIETY'S 127TH ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD IN COLUMBUS, OH, AS PART OF THE MATERIALS, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (MS&T) CONFERENCES AND EXHIBITION. THE 16TH PACIFIC RIM CONFERENCE ON CERAMIC AND GLASS TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING ANNUAL GLASS AND OPTICAL MATERIALS DIVISION (PACRIM WITH GOMD) WAS HELD IN VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA. SEVERAL OTHER MEETINGS AND TWO CERAMIC ARTS CULTURAL TOURS IN JAPAN AND PORTUGAL WERE HELD. THE SOCIETY'S FOUNDATION PROVIDED GRANTS FOR STUDENT OUTREACH AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE, SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS STUDYING MATERIALS SCIENCE, AND DISTRIBUTED MATERIALS SCIENCE CLASSROOM KITS TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 1982.

    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.