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American Ornithological Society

EIN 72-6019246 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OTHE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY (AOS) IS AN INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT CONNECTS ORNITHOLOGISTS, SCIENCE, AND BIRD CONSERVATION BY SUPPORTING SCIENCE THAT ADVANCES THE UNDERSTANDING AND CONSERVATION OF BIRDS, PROMOTING BROAD ACCESS TO ORNITHOLOGICAL SCIENCE, SUPPORTING ORNITHOLOGISTS THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREER PATHS, AND FOSTERING A WELCOMING, DIVERSE, SUPPORTIVE, AND DYNAMIC ORNITHOLOGICAL COMMUNITY.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
106.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 57%
Employees
8
Volunteers
425
Highest pay
$170,918, executive director and ceo

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 86% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 106.3 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 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 68% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 (4)
  1. $186,430 spent. AOS PUBLISHES THE JOURNALS ORNITHOLOGY, AND ORNITHOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS,' BOTH INTERNATIONAL, PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS. IN THESE JOURNALS, AUTHORS PRESENT THEIR ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP THAT ADVANCES THE FUNDAMENTAL SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF BIRD SPECIES AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF BROAD BIOLOGICAL CONCEPTS THROUGH STUDIES OF BIRD SPECIES. THE SOCIETY ENDEAVORS TO PUBLISH ORIGINAL WORKS THAT INTRODUCE OR EMPLOY INNOVATIVE EMPIRICAL AND THEORETICAL APPROACHES AND ANALYSES, APPLIED RESEARCH AND METHODOLOGY, AND DISCIPLINARY REVIEWS.
  2. $524,519 spent. THE AOS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMUNICATE AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO ORNITHOLOGICAL SCIENCE, TO STRENGTHEN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND TO BUILD COMMUNITY AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING. THESE MEETINGS ALLOW STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS FROM ACADEMIA, GOVERNMENT, AND THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR TO EXCHANGE SCIENTIFIC IDEAS, DEVELOP COLLABORATIONS, AND LEARN PROFESSIONAL SKILLS. ADDITIONAL VIRTUAL SCIENTIFIC WEBINARS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ALLOW AOS MEMBERS TO EASILY ACCESS THE LATEST SCIENTIFIC STUDENT RESEARCH.
  3. $382,312 spent. THE AOS BESTOWS RESEARCH GRANTS THAT SUPPORT STUDENT, POST-DOCTORAL, AND EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH ACROSS A RANGE OF ORNITHOLOGICAL DISCIPLINES. THE AOS ALSO BESTOWS CONSERVATION RESEARCH GRANTS FOR LATIN AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
  4. $257,269 spent. AOS IS A MEMBERSHIP-BASED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES A DIVERSE INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. AOS OFFERS VARIED BENEFITS, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO MEMBERS THROUGH A CLOUD-BASED MEMBERSHIP DATABASE, MEMBER PORTAL, AND WEBSITE.

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 October 13, 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 January 1943.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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