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Passes our checks

American Psychological Association Inc

EIN 54-1572590 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DIVISIONS OF THE APA: DIVISIONS SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE THE EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC STUDY, PROMOTION OF HUMAN WELFARE AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION RELATED TO VARIED DISCIPLINES OF PSYCHOLOGY, AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF THOSE PSYCHOLOGY DISCIPLINES IN SERVING THE PUBLIC.

Income
$10.8 million
Spending
$9.1 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
54.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
0
Volunteers
2,297
Highest pay
$24,250, d02-assistant executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 96% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 54.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    435 of 437 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $3.3 million spent. ANNUAL CONVENTION, DIVISIONAL MEETINGS, AND OTHER EVENTS - ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ATTENDANCE AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES AT THE ANNUAL CONVENTION, AS WELL AS, VARIOUS DIVISION MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS, CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND OTHER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR COVERING VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC TOPICS IN PSYCHOLOGY. (Expenses $ 544,943 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 3,066) OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE VARIOUS TASK FORCES AND COMMITTEES WORKING ON PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES.
  2. $1.4 million spent. AWARDS AND GRANTS - VARIOUS AWARD PRESENTATIONS AND GRANTS TO FUND VARIOUS RESEARCH PROJECTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
  3. $1.2 million spent. PUBLICATIONS (JOURNALS, NEWSLETTERS, ETC.) - THE PREPARATION AND DISSEMINATION OF JOURNALS AND NEWSLETTERS IN VARIOUS PSYCHOLOGY DISCIPLINES TO INFORM MEMBERS AND OTHER PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSIONALS ON PSYCHOLOGY ISSUES. (Expenses $ 544,943 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 3,066) OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE VARIOUS TASK FORCES AND COMMITTEES WORKING ON PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES.
  4. $544,943 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE VARIOUS TASK FORCES AND COMMITTEES WORKING ON PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 January 1940.

    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.