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American Society for Microbiology

EIN 38-1616141 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong92 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE MICROBIAL SCIENCES

Income
$51.3 million
Spending
$50.8 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
26.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
167
Volunteers
700
Highest pay
$939,765, 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

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (10)
  1. $13.3 million spent. JOURNALS INCLUDES THE DISSEMINATION OF MICROBIAL SCIENCES CONTENT THROUGH NUMEROUS PERIODICAL JOURNALS.
  2. $6.3 million spent. MEETINGS INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF PROGRAM CONTENT AS WELL AS EVENT DESIGN AND LOGISTICS FOR THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY'S (ASM) MAJOR MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES.
  3. $4.1 million spent. GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM INCLUDES ACTIVITIES THAT ARE EXCLUSIVELY EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVORS IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA.
  4. $5.2 million spent. EDUCATION INCLUDES PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT BOTH STUDENT AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH FELLOWSHIPS, ONLINE PUBLICATIONS, CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, INSTITUTES AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
  5. $2.2 million spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES INCLUDES EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN MEMBER RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND ENGAGEMENT BY COMMUNICATING AND ENHANCING THE VALUE OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE ASM.
  6. $2.2 million spent. PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY INCLUDES ADVANCING THE MICROBIAL SCIENCES AND PROMOTING THE APPLICATION OF MICROBIAL SCIENCE-RELATED INFORMATION THROUGH INTERACTION WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, REPRESENTATIVES OF INDUSTRY, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED WITH ISSUES INVOLVING THE MICROBIAL SCIENCES.
  7. $1.2 million spent. ASM PRESS INCLUDES THE DISSEMINATION OF MICROBIAL SCIENCES CONTENT THROUGH THE PUBLICATION OF MANUALS, MONOGRAPHS, PROCEEDINGS, REFERENCE BOOKS AND TEXTBOOKS.
  8. $907,458 spent. CLINICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH MICROBIOLOGY INCLUDES EFFORTS TO REPRESENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGISTS AND IMMUNOLOGISTS; MICROBIOLOGISTS WORKING IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND FOOD INDUSTRIES; AND BIOLOGICAL SAFETY OFFICERS BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND DEVELOPING CONTENT TO INCREASE THEIR SKILLS, ENHANCE THEIR JOB PERFORMANCE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROFESSION.
  9. $980,474 spent. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF MICROBIOLOGY INCLUDES ACTIVITIES TO RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE IN THE MICROBIAL SCIENCES; FOSTER AWARENESS OF ADVANCES IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES AND THE POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE ADVANCES TO HUMAN WELFARE; PROVIDE ACCURATE, SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION ABOUT CRITICAL ISSUES IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES; AND IDENTIFY AND CONVENE EXPERTS TO CONSIDER AND ADVISE ON ISSUES RELATED TO MICROBIAL SCIENCES.
  10. $97,266 spent. SCIENTIC UNITS - TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL MECHANISM FOR GATHERING COLLEGIAL INPUT AND DEVELOPING SCIENTIFIC PRIORITIES, ASM ESTABLISHED THREE SCIENTIFIC UNITS ORGANIZED AROUND KEY SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLE THAT SCIENCE MUST SERVE HUMANITY: 1. ASM HEALTH - THE ASM HEALTH UNIT WILL EMPOWER MICROBIAL SCIENTISTS AND PARTNERS TO ADVANCE THE FIELD FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOCIETY, IDENTIFYING EMERGING SCIENCE ACROSS DISCIPLINES, IN INSTITUTIONS LARGE AND SMALL AND WITHOUT REGARD FOR REGIONAL AND GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES. 2. ASM APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY - THE ASM APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY UNIT WILL HELP CONNECT AND PROMOTE THE FIELDS OF MICROBIOLOGY IN AREAS RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY.3. ASM MECHANISM DISCOVERY - THE ASM MECHANISM DISCOVERY UNIT WILL DRIVE INNOVATION IN THE STUDY OF MICROBES AND THEIR INTERACTIONS, HARNESSING EXPERTISE IN THE FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES, DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIPS AND EVOLUTIONARY MECHANISMS THAT SHAPE MICROBIAL LIFE.

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 July 1975.

    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.