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Association of State Dam Safety Officials Inc

EIN 61-1209406 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 25% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

ASDSO IS A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION FOCUSING ON IMPROVING DAM SAFETY PRACTICES IN THE U.S THROUGH EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION, POLICY ADVOCACY AND DATA ANALYSIS.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
25%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
6
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$237,725, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% 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 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    25% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $910,782 spent. THE ASSOC WORKS TOWARD INCREASING DAM SAFETY IN THE US BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL TOOLS & FORUMS FOR DAM ENGINEERS & DAM OWNERS, BY COORDINATING A COMMUNICATION NETWORK WITHIN THE DAM COMMUNITY,OFFERING AN INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE ON DAM SAFETY ADVOCATING FOR STRONG STATE AND FEDERAL POLICIES ON DAM SAFETY AND ADMINISTERING PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMS. AS PART OF THE ASSOCIATION'S GOAL TO PROMOTE AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES IN DAM SAFETY, IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR DAM(S), THE ASSOCIATION OFFERED A NUMBER OF PEER REVIEWS TO DAM OWNERS/OPERATORS. SERVICES INCLUDED PROVIDING A TEAM OF DAM SAFETY PROGRAM EXPERTS TO THE OWNER TO REVIEW, WRITE A REPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE OWNERS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THEIR PROGRAMS BASED ON ASSOCIATION GUIDELINES AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS. NEW SERVICES UNDER THIS PROGRAM INCLUDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROCEDURES FOR PERFORMING FERC-MANDATED OWNERS' DAM SAFETY PROGRAM AUDITS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 August 1992.

    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.