International Association for Vegetation Science Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IAVS is a scientific society devoted to study of vegetation at all levels of complexity spanning populations, plant communities and biomes. It attempts to explain vegetation patterns and the processes governing vegetation assembly and dynamics at all temporal and spatial scales.
- Income
- $334,212
- Spending
- $261,038
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 31 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 91%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 60
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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 31.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
10 of 10Gave 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, 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)
- $165,751 spent. THE ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF VEGETATION SCIENCE PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH VEGETATION SCIENTISTS AND ATTEND THE VARIOUS SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS AT AN ANNUAL MEETING.
- $7,399 spent. THE IAVS PUBLISHES THREE ONLINE JOURNALS: (1) THE JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, WHICH FOCUSES ON ALL ASPECTS OF PLANT COMMUNITY ECOLOGY RELEVANT TO HUMAN INTERACTION WITH VEGETATION, INCLUDING GLOBAL CHANGE, NATURE, CONSERVATION, NATURE MANAGEMENT, RESTORATION OF PLANT COMMUNITITES AND OF NATURAL HABITATS, AND THE PLANNING OF SEMI-NATURAL AND URBAN LANDSCAPE; (2) APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE, WHICH FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY-LEVEL TOPICS RELEVANT TO HUMAN INTERACTION WITH VEGETATION AND (3) VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION AND SURVEY, WHICH IS AN INTERNATIONAL, PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ON PLANT COMMUNITY ECOLOGY.
- THE IAVS BULLETIN IS THE NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR VEGETATION SCIENCE. THE BULLETIN CONTAINS ITEMS OF POTENTIAL INTEREST TO THE MEMBERSHIP AND SERVES AS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF IAVS MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES. THE IAVS BULLETIN IS PUBLISHED IN DIGITAL FORMAT WITH FOUR ISSUES PER YEAR.
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
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 May 2016.
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.
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.