American Legion
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
- ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TODAY THERE IS NO ACCURATE RECORD OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS, BUT AMONG THEM ALL, NONE HAS GROWN SO LARGE OR HAS EXERCISED SUCH WIDE INFLUENCE AS THE AMERICAN LEGION. NONE IS SO INTIMATELY IDENTIFIED WITH THE WORD "VETERAN". CONGRESS CHARTERED THE AMERICAN LEGION IN 1919 AS A PATRIOTIC, MUTUAL-HELP, WAR-TIME VETERANS ORGANIZATION. A COMMUNITY-SERVICE ORGANIZATION WHICH NOW NUMBERS NEARLY 3 MILLION MEMBERS -- MEN AND WOMEN -- IN NEARLY 15,000 AMERICAN LEGION POSTS WORLDWIDE. THESE POSTS ARE ORGANIZED INTO 55 DEPARTMENTS -- ONE EACH FOR THE 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO, FRANCE, MEXICO, AND THE PHILIPPINES. THE AMERICAN LEGION'S NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS IS IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, WITH ADDITIONAL OFFICES IN WASHINGTON, DC. IN ADDITION TO THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS SERVING IN LEADERSHIP AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION CAPACITIES IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO THE LEGION'S STANDING NATIONAL COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES, THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION
- Income
- $449,342
- Spending
- $396,317
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 60
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- SPECIAL EVENTS FOR MEMBERS
- N/A
- N/A
- SERVIXCES TO MEMBERS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(19) veterans' organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.