Association for Psychological Science
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE A COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL INTEREST IN SCIENTIFICALLY ORIENTED PSYCHOLOGY AS IT PERTAINS TO RESEARCH, APPLICATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF HUMAN WELFARE.
- Income
- $6.3 million
- Spending
- $5.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 18 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 64%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $407,453, 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: 91 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% 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
Strong: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (7)
- $1.7 million spent. CONVENTION: ANNUAL CONVENTION AND BI-ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION BRING TOGETHER MEMBERS AND OTHERS TO DISCUSS CURRENT ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING SCIENTIFICALLY ORIENTED PSYCHOLOGY AS IT PERTAINS TO RESEARCH APPLICATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF HUMAN WELFARE.
- $1.6 million spent. JOURNALS: CONSISTS OF ALL ASPECTS RELATED TO THE EDITORIAL CONTENT, REVIEW, AND PUBLICATION OF SIX PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS: PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE, CURRENT DIRECTIONS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE, PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE IN PUBLIC INTEREST, PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE, AND ADVANCES IN METHODS AND PRACTICES IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE.
- $721,931 spent. MEMBERSHIP: PROVIDE VARIOUS SERVICES TO MEMBERS IN FURTHERANCE OF THE SOCIETY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE OF PROMOTING A NATIONAL INTEREST IN SCIENTIFICALLY ORIENTED PSYCHOLOGY.
- $611,052 spent. PUBLICATIONS: THE OBSERVER IS A BI-MONTHLY ONLINE MAGAZINE THAT DISCUSSES CURRENT ISSUES AND TOPICS OF INTEREST IN THE AREA OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE AND PROVIDES A VENUE FOR ADVERTISING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FIELD OF PSYCHOLOGY.
- $200,331 spent. STUDENT CAUCUS AND TRAVEL: PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE ASSOCIATION'S STUDENT LEADERS, STUDENT ACTIVITIES AT THE CONVENTIONS, STUDENT RESEARCH AWARDS, AND PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR APS STUDENT MEMBERS TO ATTEND ITS SCIENTIFIC CONVENTIONS.
- $75,427 spent. TEACHING FUND: TWICE A YEAR, THE APS TEACHING FUND INVITES PROPOSALS FROM INDIVIDUALS FOR ONE-TIME GRANTS OF UP TO $15,000 TO LAUNCH NEW PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE THE TEACHING OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE. PROPOSALS ARE REVIEWED BY THE TEACHING FUND COMMITTEE AND AWARDED TO PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE OR ADVANCE HIGH-QUALITY TEACHING, HAVE BROAD IMPACT, MEET AN UNMET NEED, ARE SUSTAINABLE, AND PROVIDE OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES. GRANTEES ARE EXPECTED TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO APS UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.
- $74,575 spent. FUND FOR APS: THE FUND FOR APS IS A GENERAL FUND OF DONATIONS FROM MEMBERS.
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
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 December 2024.
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 April 1989.
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.