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American Association of Colleges of Nursing

EIN 52-0971333 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS THE COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR ACADEMIC NURSING, AACN SERVES AS THE CATALYST FOR EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN NURSING EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND PRACTICE.

Income
$20.7 million
Spending
$20.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
23.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
78
Volunteers
1,598
Highest pay
$692,327, president & ceo

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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (14)
  1. $4.3 million spent. ACCREDITATION: THE COMMISSION ON COLLEGIATE NURSING EDUCATION (CCNE), AN AUTONOMOUS ARM OF AACN, ACCREDITS BACCALAUREATE AND GRADUATE NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS NURSE RESIDENCY/FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS.
  2. $2.2 million spent. CONFERENCES: NATIONAL CONFERENCES FOCUS ON EMERGING ISSUES OF INTEREST TO A VARIETY OF CONSTITUENT GROUPS WITHIN SCHOOLS OF NURSING.
  3. $1.8 million spent. ACADEMIC NURSING: THIS PROGRAM AREA CONSISTS OF MULTIPLE INITIATIVES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO NURSING EDUCATION, INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CURRICULAR STANDARDS, QUALITY INDICATORS FOR NURSING PROGRAMS, ACADEMIC-PRACTICE PARTNERSHIPS, AND INTERPROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT.
  4. $1.3 million spent. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS/POLICY: THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT POLICY DEVELOPMENT, ENGAGEMENT, AND ADVOCACY FOR NURSING EDUCATION AND RESEARCH THROUGHOUT THE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY PROCESS.
  5. $1.3 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS: AACN SERVES AS AN AUTHORITATIVE SOURCE FOR INFORMATION ON BACCALAUREATE AND GRADUATE NURSING EDUCATION, GENERATING INCREASED VISIBILITY WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NURSING. PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE THE JOURNAL OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING, SYLLABUS NEWSLETTER, AND THE WEEKLY AACN NEWS WATCH, AMONG OTHERS.
  6. $1.1 million spent. LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS/ONLINE LEARNING: AACN OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS ALONG THE LEADERSHIP CONTINUUM, FROM NOVICE FACULTY TO SEASONED ADMINISTRATORS.
  7. $1.1 million spent. ACCESS, CONNECTION, AND ENGAGEMENT: AACN OFFERS A PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS RELATED TO CREATING INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, STRENGTHENING PATHWAYS INTO NURSING, AND BUILDING LEADERSHIP CAPACITY.
  8. $1.1 million spent. GRANTS AND CONTRACTS: THESE PROGRAMS ADVANCE NURSING EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND PRACTICE, INCLUDING PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE JONAS PHILANTHROPIES AND THE AMERICAN NURSES FOUNDATION.
  9. $546,924 spent. DATA/RESEARCH: AACN'S INSTITUTIONAL DATA SYSTEMS AND RESEARCH CENTER PROVIDES DATA ON NURSING PROGRAMS, DEANS, FACULTY, AND STUDENTS AS WELL AS TRENDS IMPACTING ACADEMIC NURSING AND THE NURSING WORKFORCE.
  10. $533,392 spent. CERTIFICATION: THE COMMISSION ON NURSE CERTIFICATION (CNC) OFFERS CERTIFICATION TO GRADUATES OF CLINICAL NURSE LEADER PROGRAMS WHO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY CNC.
  11. $512,369 spent. NURSINGCAS: THIS NATIONAL CENTRALIZED APPLICATION SERVICE ALLOWS PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS TO RESEARCH AND APPLY TO MULTIPLE NURSING PROGRAMS USING ONE ELECTRONIC APPLICATION.
  12. $427,989 spent. LEADERSHIP NETWORKS: THESE SPECIAL INTEREST FORUMS PROVIDE INFORMATION, NETWORKING, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR NURSING SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF.
  13. $260,486 spent. STUDENT INITIATIVES: AACN PROVIDES TOOLS, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES THAT ADDRESS THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM MEMBER SCHOOLS.
  14. $259,611 spent. FOUNDATION: THE FOUNDATION FOR ACADEMIC NURSING IS A PHILANTHROPIC DIVISION OF AACNWHICH RAISES FUNDS TO ADVANCE ACADEMIC NURSING, PROMOTE AACN'S MISSION, AND SUPPORT MEMBERS' GOALS THAT ALIGN WITH AACN PRIORITIES. INITIATIVES INCLUDE THE FACULTY SCHOLARS GRANT PROGRAM AND SEVERAL SCHOLARSHIPS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1973.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.