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American Society for Public Administration

EIN 36-2340300 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION'S (ASPA) PRIMARY PURPOSES ARE TO ENCOURAGE THE IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE; TO FACILITATE EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE AND RESULTS OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION; TO ENCOURAGE COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON MATTERS RELATED TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION; AND TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE, PROCESSES, AND ART OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
6
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$271,052, exec. dir, secretary, treasurer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 89% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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, 2024, 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. $654,487 spent. NATIONAL CONFERENCE - ASPA CONDUCTED AN IN-PERSON CONFERENCE THAT ADDRESSED THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUES FACING THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION FIELD, PROVIDING A FORUM FOR IDEA AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE, RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE WORK, AND DISCUSSIONS AIMED AT BRINGING TOGETHER THE PRACTITIONER AND ACADEMIC COMMUNITIES.
  2. $289,888 spent. PROGRAM AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT - ASPA DEVELOPED AND PRODUCED ROBUST PRINT AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING A PRINT MAGAZINE AND AN ONGOING ONLINE SERIES OF ARTICLES, AIMED AT SHARING BEST PRACTICES WITH ITS MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, AS WELL AS PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE NEW PUBLIC SERVICE PROFESSIONALS AND ACADEMICIANS INSIGHTS INTO THE FIELD.
  3. $156,392 spent. EDUCATION AND TRAINING - ASPA DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILLS OF ITS MEMBERS AND THE BROADER PUBLIC SERVICE COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY A ROBUST DISTANCE/ONLINE LEARNING SERIES, IN-PERSON SESSIONS AT PUBLIC SERVICE-ORIENTED CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS NATIONWIDE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 March 1981.

    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.

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