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American Osteopathic Association

EIN 36-2170786 · Chicago, IL

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

THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION (AOA) IS A MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING MORE THAN 168,000 OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS (DO) AND OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL STUDENTS. AS THE PRIMARY CERTIFYING BODY FOR DO AND THE ACCREDITING AGENCY FOR ALL OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOLS, THE AOA WORKS TO ACCENTUATE THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF OSTEOPATHIC PRINCIPLES AND THE DIVERSITY OF THE PROFESSION. THE AOA FURTHER, THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES AND OTHERS, PROMOTES PUBLIC HEALTH, WORKS TO MEET PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS THROUGH OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE AND ENCOURAGES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. IN ADDITION, THE AOA ADVOCATES AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT DO, OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL STUDENTS AND PATIENTS.

Income
$35.8 million
Spending
$35.1 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
24.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
153
Volunteers
700
Highest pay
$560,272, ceo, board secretary

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

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 28 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 May 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 (4)
  1. $16.2 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS:THE AOA PROMOTES EXCELLENCE IN OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE THROUGH EDUCATION. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE AOA:DIVISION OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE SERVICES- MONITORED AND RECORDED THE PROGRESS OF TRAINEES IN 3 RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAMS.- MONITORED THE CONTINUING APPROVAL OF AOA ACCREDITED POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING PROGRAMS- OVER 6000 PHYSICIANS TOOK PART IN AOA SPONSORED EDUCATION COURSESCERTIFYING BOARDS- AOA AWARDED 1,292 NEW PRIMARY CERTIFICATIONS, 277 NEW SUBSPECIALTY CERTIFICATIONS AND 19 NEW CERTIFICATIONS OF ADDED QUALIFICATIONS (CAQ'S).ACCREDITATION- AOA ACCREDITS 42 COLLEGES OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE IN THE UNITED STATES.
  2. $2.8 million spent. DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS:EXPENSES INCURRED WITH GATHERING AND DOCUMENTING INFORMATION FOR AOA ON A NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL AND ACTING AS THE ORGANIZATION'S LIAISON IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ALL EXPENSES OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C. SATELLITE OFFICE ARE INCLUDED, AS WELL AS ALL EXPENSES REQUIRED TO PROMOTE THE INTERESTS OF AND ACCESS TO OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE AS WELL AS THE APPROXIMATELY 200,000 OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS (DO) AND OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
  3. $1.9 million spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES:THE DEPARTMENT OF MEMBERSHIP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING AND EXECUTING INITIATIVES THAT PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL AND VOLUNTEER RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE AOA'S MISSION BY CONTINUOUSLY RETAINING AND RECRUITING MEMBERS. MEMBERSHIP PROJECTS BUILD AWARENESS OF OVERALL AOA PROGRAMS THAT ULTIMATELY LEAD TO IMPROVED QUALITY OF PATIENT CARE, WITH SERVICES SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE TRACKING OF PHYSICIAN CME AND BOARD CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, PRACTICE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PHYSICIANS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, CLINICAL PRACTICE PROGRAMS AND GUIDES, SUPPORT FOR OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS, INTERNS AND RESIDENTS.
  4. $380,722 spent. PUBLICATIONS:THE AOA PUBLISHES 1 PEER-REVIEWED ACADEMIC MEDICAL JOURNAL: JOURNAL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE. THIS ONLINE-ONLY PUBLICATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1901 AND IS THE PREMIER SCHOLARLY, PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION OF THE OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL PROFESSION. IT PROVIDES CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) TO OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS (DO) AND OTHER ALLIED HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS, AND IT COMPLEMENTS THE EDUCATION OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL STUDENTS. JOM NOW OFFERS ITS CONTENT IN AN OPEN ACCESS MODEL, SO ALL ARTICLES ARE FREELY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND MORE THAN 145,000 READERS RECEIVE THE ELECTRONIC TABLES OF CONTENTS FOR JOM. IN ADDITION, THE AOA PRODUCES AN ONLINE NEWS PUBLICATION, THE DO, THAT IS RECEIVED BY OVER 125,000 OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 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 October 1959.

    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.

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.