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Society for the Study of Social Problems

EIN 35-1263022 · Knoxville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 42% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

TO ENCOURAGE THE WORK OF YOUNG SOCIOLOGISTS; TO STIMULATE THE APPLICATION OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND THEORY TO THE STUDY OF VITAL SOCIAL PROBLEMS; TO ENCOURAGE PROBLEM CENTERED SOCIAL RESEARCH; TO FOSTER COOPERATIVE RELATIONS AMONG PERSONS AND ORGANIZATIONS; TO ENGAGE IN THE APPLICATION OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIOLOGICAL FINDINGS TO THE FORMULATION OF SOCIAL POLICIES; TO FOSTER HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE, SOCIAL WELFARE, AND POSITIVE SOCIAL RELATIONS IN SOCIETY AND THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY AND TO UNDERTAKE ANY ACTIVITY RELATED THERETO OR NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE FOREGOING PURPOSES.

Income
$634,685
Spending
$711,657
Spent on programs
42%
Reserves
10.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
229
Highest pay
$164,601, administrative officer

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    42% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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 (3)
  1. $84,384 spent. THE ORGANIZATION SPONSORS A QUARTERLY JOURNAL TITLED "SOCIAL PROBLEMS." THE JOURNAL PRESENTS ACCESSIBLE, RELEVANT AND THEORETICALLY INNOVATIVE ARTICLES WHICH EMBODY CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES.
  2. $148,080 spent. THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL MEETING PROVIDES ATTENDEES WITH LITERATURE, WORKSHOPS, AND INTERACTION WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
  3. $63,539 spent. THE ORGANIZATION GIVES AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND SUBSIDIES TO ATTEND THE SSSP ANNUAL MEETING TO STUDENTS WHO EXEMPLIFY THE SSSP HISTORY AND ARE COMMITTED TO THE SCHOLAR ACTIVISM WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING THE POOL OF MINORITY SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS.

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 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 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 January 1973.

    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.

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