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American College Personnel Association

EIN 52-1170366 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACPA TRANSFORMS HIGHER EDUCATION BY CREATING AND SHARING INFLUENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP, SHAPING CRITICALLY REFLECTIVE PRACTICE, AND ADVOCATING FOR EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
9
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$288,671, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 49 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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. $2.0 million spent. THE ANNUAL CONVENTION WAS CONDUCTED TO PROMOTE THE FIELDS REPRESENTED BY THE ASSOCIATION AND TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION TO THE ATTENDEES.
  2. MEMBERSHIP, MEMBER SERVICES, AND ADVANCEMENT OF THE PROFESSION SERVE TO PROMOTE THE FIELD OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENT AFFAIRS AND TO EDUCATE MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE FIELD.
  3. ACPA PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS MEMBERS THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS ON CURRENT ISSUES, TRENDS AND RESEARCH IN THE STUDENT AFFAIRS FIELD.
  4. DURING THE YEAR, SIX ISSUES OF THE JOURNAL OF COLLEGE STUDENT DEVELOPMENT, FIVE ISSUES OF ABOUT CAMPUS AND FOUR ISSUES OF ACPA DEVELOPMENTS WERE ISSUED TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS OF THE ASSOICATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 July 1993.

    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.