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Addiction Policy Forum

EIN 47-3010585 · N Bethesda, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST THE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES OF ADDICTION AND HELP PATIENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 76%
Employees
12
Volunteers
341
Highest pay
$246,351, ceo/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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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 (4)
  1. $656,510 spent. EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE: TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, THE APF WORKS TO IMPROVE THE GAP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND ITS APPLICATION IN THE FIELD. APF TRANSLATES AND DISSEMINATES RESEARCH FINDINGS INTO EASY-TO-CONSUME AND PERSUASIVE FORMATS TAILORED FOR DISTINCT AUDIENCES, INCLUDING POLICYMAKERS, PRACTITIONERS, CAREGIVERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
  2. $236,168 spent. CRISIS SERVICES: APF HAS PROVIDED SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO FAMILIES AND PATIENTS SINCE OUR LAUNCH IN 2015. CALLS AND TEXTS TO APF'S HELPLINE COME IN FROM PROFESSIONALS, LOVED ONES OF SOMEONE WITH A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, PEOPLE IN RECOVERY, AND PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR SUBSTANCE USE AND ARE ANSWERED BY SOCIAL WORKERS AND PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS. IN EFFORTS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX WORLD OF ADDICTION AND HELP LOVED ONES ACHIEVE RECOVERY, APF HAS PROVIDED ENCOMPASS: A COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING ON NAVIGATING ADDICTION.
  3. $374,267 spent. RESEARCH INITIATIVES: APF CONDUCTS ORIGINAL RESEARCH ON EMERGING ISSUES, OFTEN BRINGING TOGETHER EXPERTS FROM MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES TO COLLABORATE ON COMPLEX CHALLENGES THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY, FROM MEASURING LEVELS OF ADDICTION STIGMA, IDENTIFYING STIGMATIZING IMAGERY, AND MAPPING THE PATIENT JOURNEY THROUGH TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. STIGMA-FOCUSED RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS TO DATE INCLUDE: STIGMA SURVEY REPORT: FINDINGS ON ATTITUDES, PATIENT JOURNEY MAP, LEVELS OF STIGMA AND SUPPORT OF KEY POLICIES AROUND ADDICTION. THE PATIENT JOURNEY MAP WAS DEVELOPED BY APF THROUGH THE INPUT OF PATIENTS IN TREATMENT AND RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. THE QUALITATIVE STUDY INCLUDED 60 LIFE COURSE HISTORY INTERVIEWS OF INDIVIDUALS IN RECOVERY FROM A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) FROM 22 STATES AND CANADA. THE APF WAS NAMED ONE OF THE WINNERS OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE "MAPPING PATIENT JOURNEYS IN DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CHALLENGE."
  4. $137,373 spent. STIGMA INITIATIVE: PROJECTS IN APF'S ANTI-STIGMA INITIATIVE INCLUDE SCIENCE TRANSLATION, AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, A STIGMA RESEARCH PORTFOLIO, DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND TOOLKITS, COMMUNITY TRAINING AND DEPLOYMENT OF A FREE, ONLINE ADDICTION SCHOOL. TO DATE, WE HAVE TAKEN ANTI-STIGMA PROJECTS TO 4,738,610 INDIVIDUALS WORLDWIDE.PREVENTION INITIATIVE: APF'S PREVENTION PROJECTS INCLUDE: 1) HELPING CHILDREN IMPACTED BY PARENTAL SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, A TOOLKIT DESIGNED FOR ADULTS WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH CHILDREN IMPACTED BY A PARENT'S ADDICTION AND PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO HELP; 2) THE OPIOID PREVENTION CAMPAIGN THAT HELPS PREVENT ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE USE; AND 3) THE MULTILINGUAL RESOURCES INITIATIVE TO ENSURE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY HAVE MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT THE OPIOID CRISIS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, FREE OF LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

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 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 2015.

    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.