Latin American Studies Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO FOSTER INTELLECTUAL DISCUSSION, RESEARCH, AND TEACHING ON LATIN AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN, AND ITS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS, PROMOTE THE INTERESTS OF ITS DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP, AND ENCOURAGE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH NETWORK BUILDING AND PUBLIC DEBATE.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 12.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 58%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $182,157, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 September 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)
- $1.7 million spent. LATIN AMERICAN RESEARCH REVIEW - LARR IS THE ASSOCIATION JOURNAL PUBLISHED 3 TIMES A YEAR AND SENT TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. OTHER PUBLICATIONS ARE NEWSLETTERS, DIRECTORY, AND BULLETIN OF LATIN AMERICAN RESEARCH FORUM.
- $599,855 spent. CONGRESS - CONGRESS IS HELD EVERY TWELVE MONTHS FOR EXPERTS TO GATHER TO DISCUSS LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.
- $44,197 spent. SECTIONS - LASA SECTIONS PROMOTE THE COMMON INTEREST IN SPECIFIC AREAS OF LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES.
- $37,490 spent. SPECIAL PROJECTS: 1) FORD-LASA SPECIAL PROJECTS SUPPORT MINICONFERENCES AND SMALL WORKING GROUPS, AS WELL AS TRANSREGIONAL RESEARCH INITIATIVES.2) MELLON SEMINARS - THIS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO FOSTER INNOVATION IN LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES AND ENRICH LASA CONGRESSES BY SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT REFLECT ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:A) INCORPORATE INTO LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES RESEARCHERS WHOSE PRIMARY GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS IS ON OTHER REGIONS OF THE WORLD, THUS ADDING COMPARATIVE OR CONNECTIVE DIMENSIONS TO LATIN AMERICA-RELATED WORK AND/OR INTRODUCING TO THE FIELD METHODOLOGICAL OR ANALYTICAL PERSPECTIVES THAT HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN APPLIED ELSEWHERE.B) CHALLENGE CONVENTIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES, FOR EXAMPLE BY EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTICULATING RESEARCH IN TERMS OF THE AMERICAS, THE ATLANTIC, THE PACIFIC RIM, OR OTHER GEOGRAPHIC CONFIGURATIONS.C) INTEGRATE INTO LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES THEORETICAL AND/OR METHODOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES DRAWN FROM STATE OF THE ART RESEARCH IN CORE DISCIPLINES OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 October 1969.
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.