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American Association of Community Colleges

EIN 53-0196569 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUILDING A NATION OF LEARNERS BY ADVANCING AMERICA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

Income
$29.1 million
Spending
$26.7 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
34
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$1.6 million, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% 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 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 32 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, 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 (4)
  1. $12.8 million spent. GRANTS AND CONTRACTS - ACTING AS A FOCAL POINT FOR FUNDS USED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBER COLLEGES, AACC PARTICIPATES IN A VARIETY OF PROJECTS THAT STRENGTHEN VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE NATION'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.
  2. $2.4 million spent. ANNUAL CONVENTION - THE AACC ANNUAL CONVENTION IS THE LARGEST ANNUAL CONVENING OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERS AND SUPPORTS AACC'S MISSION OF "BUILDING A NATION OF LEARNERS BY ADVANCING AMERICA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES." THE EVENT IS THE MOST VISIBLE ACTIVITY FOR BEST PRACTICES, NETWORKING, TRENDS AND POLICY DISCUSSION AMONG PRESIDENTS AND SENIOR ADMINISTRATORS, BUSINESS SUPPORTERS, AND POLICY PROFESSIONALS.
  3. $2.1 million spent. COMMUNITY COLLEGES POLICY DEVELOPMENT - THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE IS THESTRATEGIC AND PROGRAMMATIC HUB OF AACC. THE PRESIDENT IS DEEPLYINVOLVED IN LEADING AACC'S SERVICE AND ADVOCACY AGENDA. TRAVELING UP TO50% OF THE TIME, THE PRESIDENT IS AACC'S PRIMARY REPRESENTATIVE TO ALLOF ITS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONSTITUENCIES AND THE "FACE" OF AACCWITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION AND TO POLICYMAKERS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANDFIVE COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD ARE ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO DISCUSSISSUES RELATED TO KEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ISSUES AND TRENDS AND HIGHEREDUCATION IN GENERAL. THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE DIRECTION TOTHE PRESIDENT IN THE AREAS OF LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND MEMBER SERVICES.IN ADDITION, THEY PROVIDE GENERAL OVERSIGHT TO THE BUSINESS OPERATIONSOF AACC.
  4. $5.5 million spent. ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS, COMMUNICATIONS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS EFFORTS, MEMBERSHIP SERVICES, RESEARCH, AND WORKSHOPS, TO HELP CURRENT AND FUTURE LEADERS EFFECTIVELY GENERATE AND LEVERAGE RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY COLLEGES LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 1951.

    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.