Academy Health
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 64% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% 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 2514 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $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.
- $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.
- $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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.