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Ecological Society of America Inc

EIN 37-0913411 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (ESA) IS A NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF SCIENTISTS FOUNDED IN 1915 TO: PROMOTE ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE BY IMPROVING COMMUNICATION AMONG ECOLOGISTS; RAISE THE PUBLIC'S LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE; INCREASE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE CONDUCT OF ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE; ENSURE THE APPROPRIATE USE OF ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION MAKING BY ENHANCING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY AND POLICY-MAKERS TO PROMOTE ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE BY IMPROVING COMMUNICATION AMONG ECOLOGISTS; AND TO RAISE THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE.

Income
$7.7 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
18.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 35%
Employees
32
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$278,028, 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (5)
  1. $1.3 million spent. THE SOCIETY HOLDS AN ANNUAL MEETING EACH YEAR ATTENDED BY 2,500 TO 3,500 SCIENTISTS WHO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THEIR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.
  2. $1.2 million spent. ESA PUBLISHES A SUITE OF PUBLICATIONS FROM PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS TO NEWSLETTERS, FACT SHEETS AND TEACHING RESOURCES.
  3. $855,047 spent. SA'S OFFICE OF SCIENCE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY PROGRAMS WORKS TO EXPAND PARTICIPATION IN ECOLOGY , AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS. ESA OFFERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES INCLUDING SEEDS, THE ECOED DIGITAL LIBRARY OF TEACHING RESOURCES, THE FOUR-DIMENSIONAL ECOLOGY EDUCATION INITIATIVE, AND THE ESA EXCELLENCE FOR ECOLOGY SCHOLARSHIPS.
  4. $343,203 spent. PUBLIC AFFAIRS
  5. $74,178 spent. CHAPTERS AND SECTIONS

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 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 June 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 September 1978.

    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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