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American Type Culture Collection

EIN 53-0196548 · Manassas, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN TYPE CULTURE COLLECTION (ATCC) IS A GLOBAL NON-PROFIT BIOSCIENCE ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO ACQUIRE, AUTHENTICATE, PRESERVE, DEVELOP, AND DISTRIBUTE BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS, INFORMATION, TECHNOLOGY, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AND STANDARDS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT, VALIDATION, AND APPLICATION OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE. ATCC PROVIDES THESE SERVICES TO SCIENTISTS IN GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND RESEARCH LABORATORIES AROUND THE WORLD.

Income
$198.0 million
Spending
$181.9 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 56%
Employees
796
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$2.4 million, ceo, chairman

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs.

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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 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 (2)
  1. $102.0 million spent. COLLECTIONS, RESEARCH AND INFORMATICS SERVICES: A 100 YEAR OLD ONGOING PROGRAM FOR THE ISOLATION, COLLECTION, ACQUISITION AND PROVISION OF AUTHENTIC CULTURES OF LIVING MICROORGANISMS, HUMAN, ANIMAL AND PLANT CELLS, DERIVATIVES INCLUDING GENETIC MATERIALS AND RELATED BIOPRODUCTS IN SUPPORT OF SCIENCE. THE COLLECTION'S SIZE WAS WELL OVER 100,000 STRAINS AND DNA AND RDNA MATERIALS, AND OVER 300,000 BIOLOGICAL ITEMS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THOUSANDS OF SCIENTISTS WORLDWIDE. IN ADDITION TO THE MATERIALS, ATCC MAINTAINS EXTENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIMENS, AND RELATED PRESERVATION AND LAB TECHNIQUES THERETO, IN THE COLLECTIONS. THIS INFORMATION IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY THROUGH PUBLICATIONS AND THE EXTENSIVE ATCC INTERNET WEB SITE.
  2. $10.8 million spent. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: THIS PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES SEVERAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE SUPPORT OF THE ATCC COLLECTIONS, PROVIDING SPECIAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY (1) APPLIED SCIENCES: PROVIDES EXPERT TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY, HANDLE OR OTHERWISE UTILIZE BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE LABORATORY, PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION, OR TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES. (2) PATENT DEPOSIT SERVICES: ATCC PROVIDES STORAGE FACILITIES FOR SAFEGUARDING CULTURES DEPOSITED FOR PATENT PURPOSES. UNDER THE USPTO RULES THESE DEPOSITS MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE, ON ISSUANCE OF THE PATENT, TO FURTHER ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. ATCC PROVIDES SAFEKEEPING OF THE CULTURES AND DISTRIBUTION TO THE RESEARCH SCIENTISTS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1947.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.