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American College Health Association

EIN 36-2681352 · Silver Spring, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 3112 cents.

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

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH ASSOCIATION (ACHA) SERVES AS THE PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION FOR ADVANCING THE HEALTH OF COLLEGE STUDENTS AND CAMPUS COMMUNITIES THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
24
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$238,190, chief executive officer

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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3112 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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 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. $2.0 million spent. EDUCATION: ACHA HOSTED A WEEK-LONG ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, WITH 1,997 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. 160 EDUCATION PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED, SUPPLYING CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS IN EIGHT FIELDS. ACHA ALSO OFFERS A NUMBER OF ONLINE CONTINUING EDUCATION OFFERINGS. DURING 2024, ACHA ALSO APPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR FIVE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR OUR REGIONAL AFFILIATES.
  2. $381,477 spent. SERVICES AND COMMUNICATIONS: ACHA SURVEYED COLLEGE STUDENTS AT 202 SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA WITH THE ACHA NATIONAL COLLEGE HEALTH ASSESSMENT. THE DATA GATHERED IS USED BY THE SCHOOLS TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES, AND PLAN AND EVALUATE PROGRAMS.ACHA CURRENTLY OFFERS 20 PRINTED AND 24 E-BROCHURES FOR YOUNG ADULTS WHICH EMPHASIZE AWARENESS, RISK REDUCTION, AND PREVENTION OF A WIDE VARIETY OF COLLEGE HEALTH TOPICS. THESE BROCHURES PRESENT INFORMATION IN A NONJUDGMENTAL MANNER AND ARE WRITTEN BY ACHA MEMBERS. ACHA OFFERS MEMBERS ACCESS TO AN ONLINE DISCUSSION FORUM, ACHA CONNECT, IN WHICH MEMBERS CAN SHARE IDEAS, DISCUSS TOPICS, NETWORK, ETC. THE FORUM INCLUDES SEVERAL SUB-FORUMS BASED ON ACHA'S EXISTING NETWORKS (SECTIONS, COALITIONS, ETC.) THERE IS A WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER, THE SOURCE.
  3. $241,750 spent. ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION: ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN 2024 CONSISTED OF NON-LOBBYING EFFORTS TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH KEY CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES, EDUCATE ACHA MEMBERS ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION, AND BUILDING OUR ADVOCACY COMMITTEE. ACHA ALSO ENGAGED IN NON-LOBBYING ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO EDUCATE MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS, REGULATIONS AFFECTING STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS, AND VARIOUS STATE-LEVEL LEGISLATIVE ISSUES.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 June 1973.

    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.