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Passes our checks

Academy Health

EIN 52-1260918 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACADEMYHEALTH IMPROVES HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE FOR ALL BY ADVANCING EVIDENCE TO INFORM POLICY AND PRACTICE.

Income
$16.1 million
Spending
$17.5 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
71
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$1.3 million, president and ceo (until 3/31/24)

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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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, 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. $8.7 million spent. ADVANCING THE HEALTH RESEARCH ECOSYSTEM:ACADEMYHEALTH STRENGTHENS THE HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH ECOSYSTEM BY INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PARTNERSHIPS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE. WE CONNECT RESEARCHERS WITH PATIENTS, POLICYMAKERS, AND PRACTITIONERS TO ENSURE RESEARCH ADDRESSES REAL-WORLD PRIORITIES AND DRIVES MEANINGFUL CHANGE. OUR GRANTMAKING AND PROGRAMMING SUPPORT CAREER DEVELOPMENT AT ALL LEVELS THROUGH MENTORSHIP, TRAINING, AND PEER LEARNING. WE BUILD FIELD CAPACITY BY ADVANCING RESEARCH METHODS, DATA INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SYSTEMS FOR COLLABORATION. TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OF EVIDENCE, WE HELP RESEARCHERS TRANSLATE FINDINGS INTO ACCESSIBLE, ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS FOR DECISIONMAKERS AND COMMUNITIES, AND PROVIDE TAILORED IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, LEARNING COLLABORATIVES, AND RESOURCE HUBS.
  2. $3.4 million spent. HOST NATIONAL CONFERENCES TO DISSEMINATE KEY FINDINGS, RESEARCH RESULTS AND FACILITATE KNOWLEDGE SHARING THAT SUPPORTS BOTH THE PRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE AND THE USE OF EVIDENCE TO INFORM POLICY AND PRACTICE.
  3. $565,689 spent. PROVIDE A COLLABORATIVE FORUM TO SUPPORT MEMBERS WITH THEIR WORK AND TO HELP ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS.

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 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 1983.

    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.