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American Society of Plant Biologists

EIN 53-0258999 · Rockville, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF PLANT BIOLOGY, TO ENCOURAGE AND PUBLISH RESEARCH IN PLANT BIOLOGY, AND TO PROMOTE THE INTERESTS AND GROWTH OF PLANT SCIENTISTS IN GENERAL.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$6.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
26.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
20
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$288,745, chief executive officer

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: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (10)
  1. $2.0 million spent. PUBLICATIONS - OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS (OUP) PRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE TWO OF ASPB'S JOURNALS - PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND THE PLANT CELL. A THIRD JOURNAL, PLANT DIRECT, IS PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SOCIETY FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND WILEY. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY PRIMARILY PUBLISHES FULL-LENGTH PAPERS CONTAINING NEW RESULTS IN PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, BIOPHYSICS, SYNTHETIC AND SYSTEMS BIOLOGY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF PLANTS AND ASSOCIATED ORGANISMS. THE PLANT CELL PUBLISHES CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH PAPERS IN CELLULAR, MOLECULAR, AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY OF PLANTS. PLANT DIRECT COVERS ALL OF THESE AREAS; IT IS A SOUND SCIENCE, OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL. IN 2024 PLANT PHYSIOLOGY PUBLISHED FOUR FOCUS ISSUES, AND THE PLANT CELL PUBLISHED TWO. ASPB ALSO PUBLISHES A QUARTERLY PRINT AND ONLINE NEWSLETTER (ASPB NEWS) AND A WEEKLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER (THE SIGNAL) THAT INCLUDE GENERAL SOCIETY NEWS ITEMS, PROFILES OF PROMINENT PLANT SCIENTISTS, AND OTHER INFORMATION OF VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. IN PRIOR YEARS, ASPB HAS ALSO SELF- AND CO-PUBLISHED A NUMBER OF TEXT BOOKS RELATED TO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF PLANT BIOLOGY.
  2. $1.1 million spent. ANNUAL MEETING - THE ANNUAL PLANT BIOLOGY CONFERENCE PROVIDES A FORUM FOR THE PRESENTATION OF SCIENTIFIC DATA, EDUCATION, THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND NETWORKING AMONG PLANT SCIENTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. PLANT BIOLOGY 2024, WHICH WAS CONVENED IN HONOLULU, HI, INCORPORATED A PUBLIC OUTREACH EVENT - PLANT SCIENCE SATURDAY - THAT WAS HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL FARMERS' MARKET, AND IT DREW ATTENDEES FROM MORE THAN 40 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
  3. $851,135 spent. AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS: THE SOCIETY PROVIDES SEVERAL AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS EACH YEAR FOR VARIOUS ENDEAVORS RELATED TO THE SCIENCE AND STUDY OF PLANT BIOLOGY. HONORARY AWARDS RECOGNIZE SERVICE, RESEARCH EXCELLENCE, TEACHING, AND MENTORING. TRAVEL AWARDS HELP TO LOWER THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS FOR EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS TO ATTEND THE PLANT BIOLOGY CONFERENCE. THE SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP SUPPORTS UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN A 10-WEEK SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THEIR TRAVEL TO THE FOLLOWING YEAR'S CONFERENCE.
  4. $1.5 million spent. MEMBERSHIP AND MARKETING: INCLUDES SERVICES RELATED TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO MEMBERS, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL AND SUB-DISCIPLINARY SECTIONS, AN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, AND AWARDS. BENEFITS OF ASPB MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE ACCESS TO SPECIAL SECTIONS OF THE ASPB.ORG WEBSITE, INCLUDING AN ONLINE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY; A JOB BANK; AND NUMEROUS FREE AND DISCOUNTED PUBLICATIONS, PRODUCTS, AND EVENTS.
  5. ROOT&SHOOT RESEARCH COORDINATION NETWORK - THIS AWARD TO ASPB FROM THE US NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NETWORK OF PLANT SCIENCE AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AIMED AT SEEDING AND CULTIVATING CULTURAL CHANGE AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE GRANT IS TO WORK WITH PLANT SCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP THEM CHANGE THE DISCIPLINE TO BE MORE WELCOMING TO ALL. DURING 2024, THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INCLUSIVE CONFERNCE WORKING GROUP CONTINUED TO BE IMPLEMENTED, INCLUDING A SERIES OF BYSTANDER INTERVENTION TRAININGS AND THE DRAFTING OF A MANUSCRIPT DESCRIBING THE EFFORTS; THE TRAVEL AWARD PROGRAM CONTINUED, PROVIDING FUNDS FOR STUDENT PAIRS TO ATTEND ONE OF THE PLANT SCIENCE CONFERENCES ORGANIZED BY THE RESEARCH COORDINATION NETWORK PARTICIPATING SOCIETIES; AND A WORKING GROUP WORKED TO DEVELOP A TRAINING PROGRAM FOCUSED ON IMPACTS OF CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES.
  6. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS/SCIENCE POLICY - PROVIDES A MEANS FOR THE SOCIETY AND ITS MEMBERS TO ENGAGE WITH THE US CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE US GOVERNMENT ON PRIORITIES FOR PLANT SCIENCE RESEARCH AND FUNDING. THE SOCIETY'S LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF ITS SCIENCE POLICY COMMITTEE HAVE ALSO TESTIFIED AT CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON ISSUES RANGING FROM PLANT SCIENCE FUNDING TO BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS, AND THE SOCIETY ROUTINELY SUBMITS WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SPECIFIC ANNUAL FUNDING LEVELS FOR SEVERAL FEDERAL AGENCIES. IN 2024, ASPB CO-SPONSORED A CONGRESSIONAL "LUNCH-AND-LEARN" SEMINAR THAT FOCUSED ON GENE EDITING TECHNOLOGY AND ITS USES IN BOTH FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED RESEARCH, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL AGRICULTRUAL PRODUCTS.
  7. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - ASPB'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES ARE FUNDED BY AN ANNUAL BOARD-AUTHORIZED EARNINGS ALLOCATION FROM THE SOCIETY'S LONG-TERM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO. AMONG THESE ACTIVITIES, PLANT BLOOME PROVIDES GRANTS IN SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS THAT ARE AIMED AT ENHANCING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ESSENTIAL ROLES OF PLANTS IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE.
  8. GOOD WORKS AND EXPLORATRY PROGRAMS - THE GOOD WORKS ACTIVITY IS FUNDED BY AN ANNUAL BOARD-AUTHORIZED EARNINGS ALLOCATION FROM THE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO FOR PROJECTS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY BROUGHT FORWARD BY COMMITTEES AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IN 2024 AN ADDITIONAL DRAWDOWN FROM THE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO FUNDED A NUMBER OF ADDITONAL PROJECTS, SUPPLEMENTED EXISTING PROGRAMS, AND SUPPORTED WORK FOR NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
  9. DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM: THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS FUNDED ON AN ONGOING BASIS BY A BOARD DESIGNATED ALLOCATION FROM THE EARNINGS ON THE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO AND FROM JOB BANK EARNINGS, INCLUDES THE SOCIETY'S DIGITAL CONTENT AND ENGAGEMENT PLATFORM, PLANTAE. PLANTAE SUPPORTS BROAD ENGAGEMENT OF THE GLOBAL PLANT SCIENCE COMMUNITY, BEYOND THE SOCIETY'S MEMBERSHIP. THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS, A CONTENT PLATFORM VIA WHICH INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ARE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND A COMMUNITY NETWORKING PLATFORM FOR ONGOING ENGAGEMENT OF PLANT SCIENTISTS, PRIMARILY IN SELF-ORGANIZED GROUPS.
  10. MEETINGS AND EVENTS - ASPB CEASED OFFERING ADMINISTATION AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES SUPPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY DURING 2021, ALTHOUGH WE REMAIN OPEN TO ONE-OFF OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN THE PLANT SCIENCE SPACE. WE HAVE ONE REMAINING LONG-TERM CLIENT IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING PHASED OUT. IN 2024, ASPB HOSTED A MEETING OF PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATORS OF A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-SUPPORTED PLANT BIOLOGISTS ON THE SHOULDER OF THE PLANT BIOLOGY CONFERENCE IN HONOLULU.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 December 1976.

    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 November 4, 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.