Phycological Society of America Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE RESEARCH AND TEACHING IN ALL FIELDS OF PHYCOLOGY.
- Income
- $490,827
- Spending
- $365,541
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 67%
- Employees
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 64 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (1)
- $365,541 spent. THE PHYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (PSA) WAS FOUNDED IN 1946 TO PROMOTE RESEARCH AND TEACHING IN ALL FIELDS OF PHYCOLOGY. THE SOCIETY PUBLISHES THE JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY AND THE PHYCOLOGICAL NEWSLETTER. ANNUAL MEETINGS ARE HELD, OFTEN JOINTLY WITH OTHER NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL SOCIETIES OF MUTUAL MEMBER INTEREST. PHYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA STUDENT AWARDS INCLUDE THE BOLD AWARD FOR BEST STUDENT PAPER AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, THE NEW STUDENT POSTER AWARD FOR THE BEST STUDENT POSTER AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. OTHER PSA HONORARY AWARDS INCLUDE: THE PROVASOLI AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PAPERS PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY;THE PRESCOTT AWARD FOR THE BEST PHYCOLOGY BOOK PUBLISHED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS; THE NORMA J. LANG FELLOWSHIP FOR EARLY CAREER SCIENTIST; AND THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, A CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR A LIVING SCIENTIST WITH A RECORD OF SUSTAINED SCHOLASTIC ACTIVITY. THE PHYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (PSA) WAS FOUNDED IN 1946 TO PROMOTE RESEARCH AND TEACHING IN ALL FIELDS OF PHYCOLOGY. THE SOCIETY PUBLISHES THE JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY AND THE PHYCOLOGICAL NEWSLETTER. ANNUAL MEETINGS ARE HELD, OFTEN JOINTLY WITH OTHER NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL SOCIETIES OF MUTUAL MEMBER INTEREST. PHYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA STUDENT AWARDS INCLUDE THE BOLD AWARD FOR BEST STUDENT PAPER AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, THE NEW STUDENT POSTER AWARD FOR THE BEST STUDENT POSTER AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. OTHER PSA HONORARY AWARDS INCLUDE: THE PROVASOLI AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PAPERS PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY;THE PRESCOTT AWARD FOR THE BEST PHYCOLOGY BOOK PUBLISHED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS; THE NORMA J. LANG FELLOWSHIP FOR EARLY CAREER SCIENTIST; AND THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, A CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR A LIVING SCIENTIST WITH A RECORD OF SUSTAINED SCHOLASTIC ACTIVITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1963.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Optical Society of America Inc (Washington, DC), EIN 53-0259696. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.