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American Fisheries Society Inc

EIN 54-0683803 · Bethesda, 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

TO IMPROVE THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF FISHERY RESOURCES AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS BY ADVANCING FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCE AND PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF FISHERIES PROFESSIONALS.

Income
$6.1 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
17
Volunteers
824
Highest pay
$230,105, executive director until sept.

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. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 70% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    39 of 39 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 (7)
  1. $2.5 million spent. MEETINGS - INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC GATHERINGS OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, EXHIBITORS AND SUPPLIERS IN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA. THESE EVENTS OFFER SYMPOSIA, PAPERS, POSTERS AND OTHER EVENTS ON THE LATEST SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTS, AND ARE A PLATFORM FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. $735,237 spent. JOURNALS AND PUBLICATIONS - AFS PUBLISHES FIVE PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS: TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY, FEATURING PAPERS ON BASIC FISHERIES SCIENCE; NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT, COVERING MANAGEMENT RESEARCH, EXPERIENCES, AND RECOMMENDATIONS; NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUACULTURE, PROVIDING GUIDANCE FOR THOSE WHO BREED AND RAISE AQUATIC ANIMALS; JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH, FOCUSING ON HEALTH MAINTENANCE AND DISEASE TREATMENT; AND MARINE AND COASTAL FISHERIES, FOCUSING ON MARINE, COASTAL, AND ESTUARINE FISHERIES. AFS ALSO PUBLISHES BOOKS AND SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS AND FISHERIES MAGAZINE, THAT FEATURE PEER-REVIEWED TECHNICAL ARTICLES ON ALL ASPECTS OF AQUATIC RESOURCE-RELATED SUBJECTS, AS WELL AS ARTICLES ON PROFESSIONAL ISSUES, NEW IDEAS AND APPROACHES, POLICY, EDUCATION, ECONOMICS, ADMINISTRATION, AND EDITORIALS.
  3. $707,688 spent. PROJECT MANAGEMENT - AFS ADMINISTERS SEVERAL PROGRAMS RELATED TO THE FISHERIES FIELD INCLUDING THE HUTTON JUNIOR FISHERIES BIOLOGY PROGRAM, A SUMMER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AGENCY CO-OP AGREEMENTS, MULTI-STATE CONSERVATION GRANTS, AND OTHER COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITIES.
  4. $471,149 spent. MEMBERSHIP - AFS SERVICES MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND OFFERS NUMEROUS BENEFITS INCLUDING MEMBER DIRECTORY, NEWSLETTERS, AWARDS, COMMUNITIES ORGANIZED AROUND SPECIAL INTEREST SECTIONS, CHAPTER ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER BENEFITS PROGRAMS.
  5. $221,047 spent. POLICY, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION - AFS MONITORS LEGISLATION AND ENGAGES WITH DECISION MAKERS ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT AQUATIC RESOURCES. IT CAPITALIZES ON THE EXPERTISE OF ITS MEMBERS BY SHARING MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE AND THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE WITH DECISION MAKERS. AFS WORKS WITH FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES AND OTHER SCIENCE-BASED CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE THE SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENTS, FURTHER THE PROFESSION, AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND UPDATES WITH FISHERIES PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES THROUGH ISSUES BRIEFINGS, WEBSITE CONTENT, NEWSLETTERS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN FISHERIES SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT.
  6. $151,678 spent. EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - AFS COORDINATES CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION, AWARDS, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS, AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FISHERIES STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS, RECORDED CONTENT AND TOPICAL WEBINARS.
  7. JASM - AFS WAS THE LEAD SOCIETY FOR THE JOINT AQUATIC SCIENCES MEETING (JASM) ORGANIZED IN COOPERATION WITH EIGHT OTHER AQUATIC SCIENCE SOCIETIES. AFS DID NOT HOLD THE JASM DURING 2024.

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 November 1972.

    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.