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American Fisheries Society

EIN 52-1069108 · San Marcos, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY IS COMMITTED TO THE CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND WISE UTILIZATION OF RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL FISHERIES, PROMOTION OF ALL BRANCHES OF FISHERIES SCIENCE AND PRACTICE, AND EXCHANGE AND DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FISH, FISHERIES, AND RELATED SUBJECTS.

Income
$122,697
Spending
$65,569
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
107.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
0
Volunteers
252

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.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 107.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% 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: 62 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $7,500 spent. TCAFS PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PURSUING DEGREES IN FISHERIES BIOLOGY THROUGH OUR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND STUDENT TRAVEL AWARDS. A TOTAL OF 5 STUDENTS WERE AWARDED STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,500 EACH.
  2. $46,227 spent. TCAFS HOSTS AN ANNUAL MEETING WHERE FISHERIES PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS CAN MEET TO EXCHANGE AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION THROUGH PRESENTATIONS, ATTEND CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, AND CELEBRATE AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MEMBERS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IN 2024, TCAFS HOSTED OUR ANNUAL MEETING IN NACOGDOCHES WITH APPROXIMATELY 260 ATTENDEES. EIGHTY SEVEN ORAL AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS WERE GIVEN, 13 STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $19,500 WERE DISTRIBUTED (EIGHT ARE EXTERNALLY FUNDED), AND 30 STUDENT TRAVEL AWARDS TOTALING $4,500 WERE DISTRIBUTED.
  3. $1,000 spent. TCAFS PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR FISHERIES EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SUCH AS THE TEXAS BRIGADES AND THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY'S HUTTON JUNIOR FISHERIES BIOLOGY PROGRAM. IN 2024, TCAFS PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT ($1,000) FOR STUDENT TUITION FOR TWO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ATTEND THE BASS BRIGADES AND COASTAL BRIGADES WHERE EACH STUDENT LEARNS ABOUT FRESHWATER AND SALTWATER ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT.

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 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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    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 November 1972.

    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.