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American Medical Writers Association

EIN 35-1058129 · Gaithersburg, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 101 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 ADVANCE EXCELLENCE IN MEDICAL COMMUNICATION BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND AN INCLUSIVE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
22.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
10
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$222,540, executive director

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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% 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 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 101 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.1 million spent. CONFERENCE & EDUCATION.ANNUAL CONFERENCE: AMWA'S ANNUAL MEDICAL WRITING & COMMUNICATION CONFERENCE FEATURES VARIOUS SESSION FORMATS, EXPERT SPEAKERS, PRESENTATIONS ON TIMELY TOPICS, AND A HOST OF NETWORKING EVENTS.ONLINE EDUCATION: OUR FOCUSED APPROACH TO ADDING ONLINE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IS BASED ON AMWA'S CONTENT STRATEGY AND LEARNER-CENTERED CURRICULUM THAT ALIGNS WITH MEMBERS' PROFESSIONAL FOCUS AREAS ENSURING THE RELEVANCY OF CONTENT. AMWA OFFERS MORE THAN 140 EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE ONLINE LEARNING CATALOG, INCLUDING INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. AMWA'S LIVE WEBINARS CONTINUALLY FEED THE CATALOG, AS THE WEBINARS ARE ARCHIVED AND MADE AVAILABLE AS ON-DEMAND VIDEOS
  2. $522,826 spent. MEMBERSHIP: AMWA IS THE LEADING PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WRITERS, EDITORS, AND OTHER COMMUNICATORS OF MEDICAL INFORMATION. WITH APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MEMBERS IN THE US, CANADA, AND 30 OTHER COUNTRIES, AMWA MEMBERS WORK ON STAFF OR AS FREELANCES FOR A WIDE RANGE OF BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS. AMWA MEMBERS ARE COMMITTED TO ACCURATELY AND ETHICALLY MAKING INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH AND MEDICINE CLEAR AND MEANINGFUL. THE EXTENSIVE MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE ACCESS TO AN ONLINE COMMUNITY, AMWA MEMBER DIRECTORY, AMWA UPDATE AND MEDCOMM ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS, CHAPTERS, AND THE PEER REVIEWED QUARTERLY AMWA JOURNAL.
  3. PUBLICATIONS: THE AMWA JOURNAL IS A NATIONALLY CIRCULATED, PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION THAT AIMS TO BE THE AUTHORITATIVE, COMPREHENSIVE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FIELD OF MEDICAL COMMUNICATION WORLDWIDE. THIS INCLUDES MEDICAL WRITERS, EDITORS, VISUAL COMMUNICATORS, MARKETERS, HEALTH COMMUNICATORS, CME PROFESSIONALS, GRANT WRITERS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH THE FIELD. IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION (AMWA), THE AMWA JOURNAL WORKS TO ADVANCE THE BROADER PROFESSION THROUGH THE PUBLICATION OF CONTENT THAT REFLECTS THE INTERESTS, CONCERNS, AND EXPERTISE OF MEDICAL COMMUNICATORS. ITS PURPOSE IS TO INFORM, INSPIRE, AND MOTIVATE MEDICAL COMMUNICATORS.
  4. $181,191 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE CAREER SERVICES AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1952.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: American Medical Association (Chicago, IL), EIN 36-0727175. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.