Association of Metropolitan
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
AMPO IS A NONPROFIT, MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 1990 TO SERVE THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF "METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS (MPOS)" NATIONWIDE. FEDERAL HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT STATUTES REQUIRE, AS A CONDITION FOR SPENDING FEDERAL HIGHWAY OR TRANSIT FUNDS IN URBANIZED AREAS, THE DESIGNATION OF MPOS, WHICH HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PLANNING, PROGRAMMING AND COORDINATION OF FEDERAL HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT INVESTMENTS. AMPO OFFERS ITS MEMBER MPOS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING, CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS, FREQUENT ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS, RESEARCH, A FORUM FOR TRANSPORTATION POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND COALITION BUILDING, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER SERVICES.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 93
- Highest pay
- $199,308, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- $484,944 spent. CONFERENCE - THE AMPO ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS THE PREMIERE EVENT FOR MPOS TO LEARN AND NETWORK. SESSIONS ARE TAUGHT BY EXPERTS AND OFFER A COMBINATION OF PRESENTATIONS AND HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
- $370,161 spent. RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH PEER EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING, CONFERENCE, STATE OF THE PRACTICE IN TECHNOLOGY, UPDATES ON FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, AND TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
- $64,119 spent. TECH SYMPOSIUM - THE AMPO PLANNING TOOLS AND TRAINING SYMPOSIUM IS TAILORED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF MPOS AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH MEETING SUCH REQUIREMENTS AND STRUCTURED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SMALL, MEDIUM, AND LARGE MPOS. THE SYMPOSIUM BRINGS TOGETHER MPO STAFF AND PRACTITIONERS TO SHARE INFORMATION ON A VARIETY OF MPO TECHNICAL ISSUES AND PROVIDES PEER-TO-PEER TRAINING FOR THE MPO COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES WITH REGARD TO CURRENT PLANNING TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS. THE GOAL OF THE SYMPOSIUM IS TO IDENTIFY (OR SHARE) MPO BEST PRACTICES; PROVIDE PRACTICAL TRAINING; AND DEVELOP MATERIALS THAT CAN BE SHARED ACROSS THE MPO COMMUNITY.
- $4,990 spent. MPO INSTITUTE - FHWA GRANT WAS TO CREATE THE MPO INSTITUTE AND CREATE COURSE CONTENT. THE MPO INSTITUTE SUPPORTS THE EVOLVING ROLE OF MPOS, ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR MPO-CENTRIC TRAINING, AND PROVIDES CONTENT TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGES POSED BY RETIREMENTS AND STAFF RETENTION. THE INSTITUTE SERVES AS A UNIQUE NATIONAL TRAINING WHERE COURSES ARE DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH MPO PRACTITIONERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(4) social welfare organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1992.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Metropolitan Opera Association Inc (New York, NY), EIN 13-1624087. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.