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American Academy of Optometry

EIN 41-1227642 · Winter Park, FL

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

TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE EXCELLENCE IN OPTOMETRIC PRACTICE.

Income
$9.5 million
Spending
$8.0 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
24
Volunteers
430
Highest pay
$281,512, chief executive officer

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 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 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 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 (4)
  1. $4.4 million spent. ANNUAL MEETING: THE ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD TO EXCHANGE MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE RELATING TO THE FIELD OF OPTOMETRY. THE ANNUAL MEETING INCLUDES THE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 367 COURSES AND PROMOTES KNOWLEDGE ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE OPTOMETRY PRACTICE. THE ANNUAL MEETING HAD 6,255 ATTENDEES, 4,954 OF THOSE ATTENDEES WERE NON-EXHIBITORS.
  2. $1.2 million spent. THE ACADEMY PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS PURSUING EDUCATION, PROFESSIONALS PURSUING RESEARCH, AND/OR OVERALL ADVANCEMENT IN THE OPTOMETRY PROFESSION.
  3. $613,290 spent. SECTIONS AND MEMBERSHIP: THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPTOMETRY'S (ACADEMY OR AAO) SECTIONS ALLOW FOR THE EXCHANGE OF MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE RELATING TO SPECIALTIES WITHIN THE FIELD OF OPTOMETRY. MEMBERSHIP DUES AND APPLICATIONS FEES ARE RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE FOR MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS SUCH AS ACCESS TO LOCAL CHAPTERS TO MAKE IT EASY TO KEEP IN TOUCH THROUGH SOCIAL FUNCTIONS AND STUDY BETWEEN REGULAR ANNUAL MEETINGS AND ABILITY TO JOIN ONE OR MORE OF THE SECTIONS AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS DEVOTED TO VARIOUS AREAS OF FOCUS. THERE WERE 7,596 ACTIVE MEMBERS AS OF THE LAST DAYS OF FISCAL YEAR 2025.
  4. $589,927 spent. PUBLICATIONS: THE ACADEMY'S JOURNAL, OPTOMETRY & VISION SCIENCE. ARCHIVES THE ADVANCEMENT OF PRIMARY EYE CARE BY PUBLISHING CURRENT RESEARCH IN THE FIELD. THE ACADEMY'S NEWSLETTERS INFORM MEMBERS OF ACTIVITIES AND PROMOTE FELLOWSHIP.

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 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 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 August 2001.

    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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