Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Americans United for Separation of Church and State Inc

EIN 53-0184647 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IS A NONPARTISAN EDUCATIONAL AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE SEPARATION OF RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT AS THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE FREEDOM OF RELIGION, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO BELIEVE OR NOT BELIEVE, FOR ALL.

Income
$18.6 million
Spending
$15.5 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
22.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
53
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$307,467, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    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

    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 September 30, 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 (5)
  1. $5.1 million spent. EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICATION DIVISION: PROVIDE BOTH PRINT AND ELECTRONIC EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC REGARDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
  2. $2.7 million spent. FIELD SERVICES DIVISION: MAINTAIN CLOSE CONTACT WITH VARIOUS GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND FAITH LEADERS NATIONWIDE. ALERT MEMBERS TO PROPOSED LEGISLATION ON CHURCH-STATE SEPARATION ISSUES.
  3. $1.8 million spent. LEGAL DIVISION: LEGAL EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE DEFENSE OF THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
  4. $645,398 spent. LEGAL PROGRAMS AND NETWORKS: BRING TOGETHER LAW STUDENTS WORKING AS SUMMER LEGAL INTERNS AT THE ORGANIZATION AND OTHER LEADING NONPROFIT LITIGATION GROUPS. THE LEGAL ACADEMY WILL FOCUS ON USING HIGH-IMPACT LITIGATION TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF MARGINALIZED PEOPLE. THE PROGRAM REPRESENTS THE ORGANIZATION'S COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO CULTIVATE A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS WHO CAN SHAPE THE LAW INTO THE FUTURE. THE LEGAL ACADEMY WILL TEACH HARD LITIGATING SKILLS, PHILOSOPHY AND STRATEGY, AND THROUGH ITS CONTINUING EDUCATION AND ALUMNI NETWORKS, IT WILL ALSO FORGE A MULTI-GENERATIONAL COMMUNITY TO BOLSTER UPCOMING LEADERS.
  5. $50,102 spent. TRUSTEE AND NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCILE MEETINGS - TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 2000.

    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.