American Camping Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION'S (ACA) PURPOSE IS TO FURTHER CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULT WELFARE AND EDUCATION THROUGH THE CAMP EXPERIENCE AND TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF CAMP AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS BY PROVIDING LEADING PRACTICES AND STANDARDS.
- Income
- $16.5 million
- Spending
- $16.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 6.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 50%
- Employees
- 60
- Volunteers
- 2,300
- Highest pay
- $321,876, president/chief executive officer (partial year)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 72% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (8)
- $4.7 million spent. CAMP AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION REFLECTS ACA'S COMMUNITY OF PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS WHO JOIN TOGETHER TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE TO ENHANCE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. AS A RESULT OF ACA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, YOUTH AND ADULTS LEARN POWERFUL LESSONS IN COMMUNITY, CHARACTER-BUILDING, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, AND HEALTHY LIVING . A PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR DISSEMINATING EDUCATION AND INFORMATION TO CAMP PROFESSIONALS IS THROUGH THE ANNUAL ACA NATIONAL CONFERENCE. MORE THAN 2,100 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED THE FOUR-DAY CONFERENCE IN DALLAS TEXAS IN FEBRUARY 2025. NUMEROUS LOCAL AND REGIONAL EVENTS ARE OFFERED. IN ADDITION, ONLINE EDUCATION, INCLUDING ASYNCHRONOUS COURSES, WEBINARS, AND CERTIFICATES OF ADDED QUALIFICATION EXTEND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO NON-TRAVELING LEARNERS. MORE THAN 12,000 LEARNERS PARTICIPATED IN 2024-2025 OFFERINGS. CAMP AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ALSO INCLUDES ACA'S RESEARCH PROGRAMS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. (Expenses $ 1,715,883 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) ACA received a six year grant to support Fostering Character through Camp Experiences, a national approach to improve, expand, and elevate character development in day and overnight camps across the US. Through this project, ACA will implement a competitive grant program through which camps pursue character-related projects, provide training and technical assistance for grant recipients before and during the grant program, and develop systems, tools, and resources to support character development in camps beyond the grant period. (Expenses $ 1,689,868 including grants of $ 1,702,940)(Revenue $ 144,033) CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS NOT OTHERWISE ABLE TO AFFORD A CAMP EXPERIENCE AND FACILITATE INTERACTION IN A CAMP SETTING OF PERSONS FROM DIFFERENT SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, RACIAL, NATIONAL, AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. CAMPERS LEARN INTIMACY WITH NATURE, BUILD HEALTHY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND GET TO EXERCISE THEIR MINDS AND BODIES IN WAYS THAT CREATE HEALTHY HABITS. OVER 400 CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED IN FY 2025. (Expenses $ 743,831 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) PUBLIC RELATIONS AND AWARENESS ACTIVELY PROVIDES INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH PRINT, BROADCAST, AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. A WEBSITE FOR FAMILIES IS MAINTAINED THAT ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT CAMP FROM THE PARENT/GUARDIAN PERSPECTIVE. MANY ACA RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT ACACAMPS.ORG. ACA'S FIND A CAMP IS AN ONLINE TOOL AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO HELP FIND THE RIGHT CAMP FOR EVERY CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT. AN ETHICS COMMISSION MANAGES THE INTERFACE WITH THE PUBLIC CONSUMER, PAVING THE WAY TOWARD BETTER CAMPING BY ALLOWING PARENTS A FORUM IN WHICH TO ADDRESS CONCERNS AND RECEIVE MEDIATION AND GUIDANCE ON THOSE ISSUES IMPACTING THE CAMP PROFESSIONAL. (Expenses $ 368,071 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PROVIDES INFORMATION TO CAMP PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT LAWS AND REGULATIONS RELEVANT TO THE CAMP EXPERIENCE. ACA PARTNERS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK WITH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES TO ADVOCATE FOR REGULATIONS AND LAWS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND CHILD PROTECTION. (Expenses $ 160,393 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 183,710) PERIODICALS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ON TOPICS DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL, AFTERSCHOOL, RECREATION, AND CAMP PROGRAMS - MANY OF WHICH ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH ACA - CAN BE FOUND THROUGH ITS PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE BOOKSTORE. PUBLISHED SIX TIMES A YEAR, CAMPING MAGAZINE PROVIDES ARTICLES ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, STAFF TRAINING, HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING IDEAS, AND IS DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS AND OVER 200 NONMEMBER SUBSCRIBERS. ADDITIONALLY, WE SELL OVER 10,000 COPIES OF THE MAY/JUNE CAMPING MAGAZINE ISSUE IN BULK TO OVER 300 CAMPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF STAFF TRAINING. ACA'S WEBSITE, WWW.ACACAMPS.ORG, IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR TIMELY NEWS AND CRITICAL REPORTS AND ARE VISITED BY AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 800,000 ANNUALLY.
- $2.3 million spent. MEMBER AND FIELD SERVICES IS THE MEMBER AND CUSTOMER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OF ACA. TELEPHONE AND EMAIL SUPPORT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, OPERATIONAL COMPONENTS, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT ARE PROVIDED THROUGH A NATIONAL STAFF OF ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS TO 23 LOCAL OFFICES, WHICH IN TURN, PROVIDE SERVICES LOCALLY TO THE PUBLIC, CAMPS, AND CAMP PROFESSIONALS. ACA HAS ALMOST 10,700 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.
- $2.2 million spent. ACCREDITATION IS A VOLUNTARY PROCESS THAT ALMOST 2,700 CAMPS HAVE CHOSEN TO GO THROUGH. THIS COMMUNICATES TO PARENTS THAT A CAMP HAS VOLUNTARILY UNDERGONE A PEER TO PEER REVIEW OF OVER 250 HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO OVERNIGHT AND DAY CAMPS. THE AIM OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO EDUCATE CAMP STAFF IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF KEY ASPECTS OF CAMP OPERATION, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATED TO PROGRAM QUALITY AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CAMPERS AND STAFF. (Expenses $ 1,715,883 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) ACA received a six year grant to support Fostering Character through Camp Experiences, a national approach to improve, expand, and elevate character development in day and overnight camps across the US. Through this project, ACA will implement a competitive grant program through which camps pursue character-related projects, provide training and technical assistance for grant recipients before and during the grant program, and develop systems, tools, and resources to support character development in camps beyond the grant period. (Expenses $ 1,689,868 including grants of $ 1,702,940)(Revenue $ 144,033) CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS NOT OTHERWISE ABLE TO AFFORD A CAMP EXPERIENCE AND FACILITATE INTERACTION IN A CAMP SETTING OF PERSONS FROM DIFFERENT SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, RACIAL, NATIONAL, AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. CAMPERS LEARN INTIMACY WITH NATURE, BUILD HEALTHY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND GET TO EXERCISE THEIR MINDS AND BODIES IN WAYS THAT CREATE HEALTHY HABITS. OVER 400 CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED IN FY 2025. (Expenses $ 743,831 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) PUBLIC RELATIONS AND AWARENESS ACTIVELY PROVIDES INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH PRINT, BROADCAST, AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. A WEBSITE FOR FAMILIES IS MAINTAINED THAT ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT CAMP FROM THE PARENT/GUARDIAN PERSPECTIVE. MANY ACA RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT ACACAMPS.ORG. ACA'S FIND A CAMP IS AN ONLINE TOOL AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO HELP FIND THE RIGHT CAMP FOR EVERY CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT. AN ETHICS COMMISSION MANAGES THE INTERFACE WITH THE PUBLIC CONSUMER, PAVING THE WAY TOWARD BETTER CAMPING BY ALLOWING PARENTS A FORUM IN WHICH TO ADDRESS CONCERNS AND RECEIVE MEDIATION AND GUIDANCE ON THOSE ISSUES IMPACTING THE CAMP PROFESSIONAL. (Expenses $ 368,071 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PROVIDES INFORMATION TO CAMP PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT LAWS AND REGULATIONS RELEVANT TO THE CAMP EXPERIENCE. ACA PARTNERS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK WITH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES TO ADVOCATE FOR REGULATIONS AND LAWS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND CHILD PROTECTION. (Expenses $ 160,393 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 183,710) PERIODICALS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ON TOPICS DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL, AFTERSCHOOL, RECREATION, AND CAMP PROGRAMS - MANY OF WHICH ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH ACA - CAN BE FOUND THROUGH ITS PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE BOOKSTORE. PUBLISHED SIX TIMES A YEAR, CAMPING MAGAZINE PROVIDES ARTICLES ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, STAFF TRAINING, HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING IDEAS, AND IS DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS AND OVER 200 NONMEMBER SUBSCRIBERS. ADDITIONALLY, WE SELL OVER 10,000 COPIES OF THE MAY/JUNE CAMPING MAGAZINE ISSUE IN BULK TO OVER 300 CAMPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF STAFF TRAINING. ACA'S WEBSITE, WWW.ACACAMPS.ORG, IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR TIMELY NEWS AND CRITICAL REPORTS AND ARE VISITED BY AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 800,000 ANNUALLY.
- $1.7 million spent. ACA received a six year grant to support Fostering Character through Camp Experiences, a national approach to improve, expand, and elevate character development in day and overnight camps across the US. Through this project, ACA will implement a competitive grant program through which camps pursue character-related projects, provide training and technical assistance for grant recipients before and during the grant program, and develop systems, tools, and resources to support character development in camps beyond the grant period.
- $1.7 million spent. CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS NOT OTHERWISE ABLE TO AFFORD A CAMP EXPERIENCE AND FACILITATE INTERACTION IN A CAMP SETTING OF PERSONS FROM DIFFERENT SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, RACIAL, NATIONAL, AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. CAMPERS LEARN INTIMACY WITH NATURE, BUILD HEALTHY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND GET TO EXERCISE THEIR MINDS AND BODIES IN WAYS THAT CREATE HEALTHY HABITS. OVER 400 CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED IN FY 2025.
- $743,831 spent. PUBLIC RELATIONS AND AWARENESS ACTIVELY PROVIDES INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH PRINT, BROADCAST, AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. A WEBSITE FOR FAMILIES IS MAINTAINED THAT ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT CAMP FROM THE PARENT/GUARDIAN PERSPECTIVE. MANY ACA RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT ACACAMPS.ORG. ACA'S FIND A CAMP IS AN ONLINE TOOL AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO HELP FIND THE RIGHT CAMP FOR EVERY CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT. AN ETHICS COMMISSION MANAGES THE INTERFACE WITH THE PUBLIC CONSUMER, PAVING THE WAY TOWARD BETTER CAMPING BY ALLOWING PARENTS A FORUM IN WHICH TO ADDRESS CONCERNS AND RECEIVE MEDIATION AND GUIDANCE ON THOSE ISSUES IMPACTING THE CAMP PROFESSIONAL.
- $368,071 spent. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PROVIDES INFORMATION TO CAMP PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT LAWS AND REGULATIONS RELEVANT TO THE CAMP EXPERIENCE. ACA PARTNERS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK WITH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES TO ADVOCATE FOR REGULATIONS AND LAWS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND CHILD PROTECTION.
- $160,393 spent. PERIODICALS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ON TOPICS DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL, AFTERSCHOOL, RECREATION, AND CAMP PROGRAMS - MANY OF WHICH ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH ACA - CAN BE FOUND THROUGH ITS PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE BOOKSTORE. PUBLISHED SIX TIMES A YEAR, CAMPING MAGAZINE PROVIDES ARTICLES ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, STAFF TRAINING, HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING IDEAS, AND IS DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS AND OVER 200 NONMEMBER SUBSCRIBERS. ADDITIONALLY, WE SELL OVER 10,000 COPIES OF THE MAY/JUNE CAMPING MAGAZINE ISSUE IN BULK TO OVER 300 CAMPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF STAFF TRAINING. ACA'S WEBSITE, WWW.ACACAMPS.ORG, IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR TIMELY NEWS AND CRITICAL REPORTS AND ARE VISITED BY AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 800,000 ANNUALLY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1976.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.