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Anxiety and Depression Association of America

EIN 52-1248820 · Silver Spring, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE THE PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND CURE OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, OCD, PTSD, AND RELATED DISORDERS AND TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM THEM THROUGH EDUCATION, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
23.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
3
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$289,476, 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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. CONFERENCE AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION - ADAA OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION ("CE") AND NON-CE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SPECIALIZING IN ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, OCD, PTSD, AND RELATED DISORDERS. THESE OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE ADAA'S FLAGSHIP ANNUAL CONFERENCE, LIVE AND ON-DEMAND WEBINARS, AWARDS AND GRANT PROGRAMS, PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION, AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH ADAA'S PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL OF MOOD & ANXIETY DISORDERS.ADAA'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE STRENGTHENED BY THE GENEROUS PRO BONO CONTRIBUTIONS OF ITS MEMBERS, WHO DEVELOP AND SHARE EVIDENCE-BASED RESOURCES FOR BOTH THE PUBLIC AND FELLOW MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.--ANNUAL CONFERENCE - ADAA'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE CONVENES A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY NETWORK OF CLINICIANS, RESEARCHERS, AND EDUCATORS TO EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE AND ELEVATE CLINICAL CARE. THE 2025 IN-PERSON CONFERENCE IN LAS VEGAS WELCOMED OVER 1,000 PROFESSIONALS, OFFERING CE/CME CREDITS (INCLUDING ETHICS AND SUICIDE PREVENTION), SYMPOSIA, WORKSHOPS, POSTER SESSIONS, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. MOST SESSIONS UNDERGO PEER REVIEW TO ENSURE CLINICAL AND SCIENTIFIC RIGOR.--ADAA PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION WEBINARS - ADAA'S PROFESSIONAL WEBINAR SERIES DELIVERS CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH AND CLINICAL CONTENT ON TIMELY AND COMPLEX MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS. MOST WEBINARS OFFER CE/CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION ("CME") CREDITS-AVAILABLE FREE TO ADAA MEMBERS-AND ARE DESIGNED TO EQUIP PROFESSIONALS WITH ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS AND EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES.--ADAA OFFERS PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION RELATED AWARDS PROGRAMS - ADAA OFFERS TWO KEY PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AWARDS PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT EARLY-CAREER CLINICIANS AND RESEARCHERS IN THE FIELD OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND RELATED DISORDERS. THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ("CDLP") SUPPORTS EARLY-CAREER CLINICIANS AND RESEARCHERS WITH MENTORSHIP AND A DEDICATED DAY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMMING DURING THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. IN 2025, 33 CDLP AWARDS WERE GRANTED. THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS VIGOROUS, AND APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED BY A GROUP OF REVIEWERS. THE AWARD BENEFITS INCLUDE TWO YEARS OF COMPLIMENTARY ADAA MEMBERSHIP, $500 STIPEND, COMPLIMENTARY CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND MENTORSHIP AND SPECIALIZED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. THE KLEIN AWARD SUPPORTS EMERGING RESEARCHERS SEEKING TO EXPAND THE REACH, VISIBILITY, AND PUBLICATION IMPACT OF THEIR WORK. APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED BY MEMBERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL. AWARDEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT THEIR RESEARCH TO ADAA'S PROFESSIONAL JOURNAL, FURTHER SUPPORTING DISSEMINATION WITHIN THE FIELD. THE KLEIN AWARD ALSO PROVIDES FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP AND FREE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION. TO DATE, ADAA HAS GIVEN OUT OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT AND AWARD SUPPORT.
  2. $409,330 spent. PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION - ADAA ALSO DELIVERS FREE, EVIDENCE-BASED RESOURCES TO THE PUBLIC TO ENHANCE AWARENESS, REDUCE STIGMA, AND PROMOTE EARLY INTERVENTION. THE ADAA WEBSITE OFFERS:--EVIDENCE BASED FACT SHEETS, SYMPTOM GUIDES, AND TREATMENT RESOURCES.--ACCESS TO LICENSED TREATMENT PROVIDERS VIA THE FIND YOUR THERAPIST PLATFORM.--PERSONAL STORIES OF HOPE, BLOGS BY CLINICAL EXPERTS, AND RECORDED EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS.--A PEER-TO PEER ONLINE COMMUNITY.--ANIMATED VIDEO SERIES - ADAA ENHANCED THE LIBRARY OF PROFESSIONALLY VETTED ANIMATED VIDEO SERIES TO EXPLAIN KEY MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS IN AN ACCESSIBLE FORMAT FOR THE PUBLIC-FREELY AVAILABLE VIA THE WEBSITE.
  3. $188,174 spent. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP - ADAA HAS OVER 1,200 MEMBERS ACROSS THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONALLY. ADAA FOSTERS AN INCLUSIVE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY OF CLINICIANS, ACADEMICS, RESEARCHERS, TRAINEES, AND STUDENTS. MEMBERS BENEFIT FROM LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH:--SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS--EDITORIAL AND AWARDS COMMITTEES--THE ADAA BOARD AND SCIENTIFIC COUNCILMEMBERS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO CONTRIBUTE TO ADAA'S EDUCATION MISSION BY:--HOSTING WEBINARS--AUTHORING BLOG POSTS--PUBLISHING IN THE JOURNAL OF MOOD & ANXIETY DISORDERS, ADAA'S PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL.

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 May 1982.

    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.