Southern Medical Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF PATIENT CARE THROUGH MULTIDISCIPLINARY, INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 33.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 65%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $85,491, 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: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 33.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% 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: 75 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
- $683,516 spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS ACCREDITED BY THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION TO PROVIDE CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS LIVE MEETINGS, ON-LINE COURSES, AND CUSTOMIZED CME TO MEET INDIVIDUAL'S EDUCATION NEEDS. SMA ALSO OFFERS MOC OPTIONS FOR ACQUIRING NEEDED MOC POINTS.
- $130,852 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES THE SOUTHERN MEDICAL JOURNAL, AN OFFICIAL, PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL. THE JOURNAL HAS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND INTER-PROFESSIONAL FOCUS THAT COVERS A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS RELEVANT TO PHYSICIANS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE SPECIALISTS, INCLUDING MEDICINE; SURGERY; WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH; MENTAL HEALTH; EMERGENCY AND DISASTER MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE; BIOETHICS AND MEDICAL EDUCATION; AND QUALITY HEALTH CARE, PATIENT SAFETY, AND BEST PRACTICES. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 46,000 SCIENTIFIC PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL.
- $10,000 spent. GIVEN MORE THAN $3.5 MILLION IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH GRANTS, LOANS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS SINCE THE ORGANIZATION'S INCEPTION.
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
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.
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? 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.
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 1940.
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.