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Ao North America Inc

EIN 37-1901892 · Wayne, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT CARE AND OUTCOMES IN TRAUMA AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS BY:- IMPROVING PERFORMANCE THROUGH EDUCATION- OPTIMIZING CLINICAL TREATMENT PATHWAYS AND GUIDELINES- PROMOTING INNOVATION THROUGH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTOUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE AS A CREDIBLE AND VALIDATED RESOURCE FOR CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH AMERICA, SPECIFICALLY FOR ORTHOPEDIC TRAUMA, SPINE, CRANIOMAXILLOFACIAL, AND VETERINARY SURGEONS. WE PROVIDE SOLUTIONS THAT FACILITATE AND ENABLE LEARNING FROM AND WITH EACH OTHER. BY DOING SO, WE BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT FOSTERS THE AO SPIRIT OF CAMARADERIE AND ENCOURAGES THE EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE.

Income
$17.8 million
Spending
$17.6 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
45
Volunteers
508
Highest pay
$337,633, executive director

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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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. $13.0 million spent. AO NORTH AMERICA, INC IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING OUR MEMBER SPECIALTIES THROUGH EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, AND RESEARCH FOCUSED ON THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS. AO NORTH AMERICA SUPPORTS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN VARIOUS FORMATS, COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF SURGERY AND REACHING OUT TO SURGEONS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR CAREERS, AND ALSO PROVIDES GRANTS TO AO NORTH AMERICA CHARITABLE FUND FOR RESEARCH AND FELLOWSHIP ACTIVITIES. EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: AO NORTH AMERICA (AO NA) IS A LEADING PROVIDER OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, IN VARIOUS FORMATS, COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF THE ORTHOPAEDIC, SPINE, CRANIOMAXILLOFACIAL, AND VETERINARY SURGERY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO REACHES OUT TO SURGEONS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR CAREERS. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERED 119 EDUCATIONAL EVENTS LAST YEAR. A TOTAL OF 6,036 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED.
  2. $3.3 million spent. FELLOWSHIP: AONA ADMINISTERS A COMPREHENSIVE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. AONA OFFERS INTENSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULLY TRAINED ORTHOPEDISTS AND NEUROLOGISTS INTERESTED IN SURGERY. IN ADDITION, AONA PROVIDES FUNDING TO AONA CF FOR AN ADDITIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. AONA, INC AND AONA CF PROVIDED FUNDING FOR 194 FELLOWS LAST YEAR.
  3. $197,675 spent. RESEARCH: AO NORTH AMERICA PROVIDES GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH STUDIES IN THE ORTHOPEODIC FIELD.

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 2024.

    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 June 2019.

    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.

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.