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Austin Area Research Organization Inc

EIN 74-2148447 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AARO, A NON-PARTISAN THOUGHT LEADER FOR CENTRAL TEXAS, HAS WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES ON CRITICAL REGIONAL ISSUES SINCE 1980. THE MEMBERSHIP IS AN INTENTIONALLY DIVERSE GROUP OF CENTRAL TEXAS LEADERS DRAWN FROM BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, REAL ESTATE, NONPROFITS AND FOUNDATIONS. IN 2025, AARO HOSTED OVER 50 PROGRAMS ALLOWING MEMBERS TO (cont on sch O)

Income
$923,814
Spending
$881,154
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
4
Volunteers
140
Highest pay
$222,851, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 83 out of 100.

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
  1. $255,179 spent. PROGRAM 1 - COMMITTEE / MEMBERSHIP PROVIDED INFORMATION ON CRITICAL ISSUES IN 6 PRIORITY AREAS: EDUCATION, HEALTH, SOCIAL EQUITY, TRANSPORTATION, VISION (REGIONALISM) AND WATER BY HOSTING PROGRAMS FEATURING CONTENT EXPERTS AND PROVIDING WRITTEN MATERIALS TO MEMBERS. THIS INCLUDED FOUR MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS AND MORE THAN 50 ISSUE-RELATED MEETINGS IN WHICH MEMBERS WERE FORTIFIED WITH FACTS TO ALLOW THEM TO UNDERSTAND COMPLEX ISSUES AND EDUCATE OTHERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT CRITICAL POLICY ISSUES FACING THE REGION.
  2. $153,108 spent. PROGRAM 2 - CATALYST SUMMIT HOSTED THE THIRD ANNUAL CENTRAL TEXAS CATALYST SUMMIT. A PREMIER, BY-INVITATION-ONLY EVENT THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER 150 LEADERS FROM THE SIX-COUNTY REGION WHO ARE ENGAGED IN ADDRESSING POLICY CHALLENGES IMPACTING BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION. A FULL DAY EVENT FACILITATING DISCUSSIONS TOPICS THAT THREAD THROUGH THE MOST PRESSING OF THESE CHALLENGES, FROM HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND WATER SECURITY TO EVOLVING THE K- 12 TO WORKFORCE READINESS PIPELINE IN AN EVER EVOLVING ENVIRONMENT. ATTENDEES PARTICIPATED IN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS, HEARD FROM THOUGHT PROVOKING SPEAKERS AND NETWORKED TO EXPLORE THE INTERDEPENDENCIES OF SUBJECT MATTER AND COMMUNITIES AND HOW TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD FOR OUR REGION.
  3. $102,071 spent. PROGRAM 3 - MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE COMPLETED A REVIEW OF BOTH THE MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE AND MEMBER ENGAGEMENT MODEL. LEVERAGING A 2024 MEMBER SURVEY, 2025 STEERING COMMITTEE AND MEMBER INTERVIEWS, BCG CONDUCTED AN 8-WEEK SPRINT TO EVALUATE AAROS FINANCIAL STABILITY, BENCHMARK AGAINST OTHER ORGANIZATIONS NATIONALLY AND ARTICULATE MEMBER ROI, INCLUDING AN ANALYSIS OF 2024 SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS DATA TO PRIORITIES OF RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL TEXAS AS A COMPARATIVE TO AAROS 2024 SURVEY OF CIVIC, BUSINESS AND PUBLIC LEADERS ACROSS THE SUPER-REGION. RESULTING RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED REDUCING THE COMPLEXITY OF MEMBERSHIP TIERS TO THREE, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF REGULAR MEETINGS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION WHILE REDUCING THE TIME BURDEN OF MEMBERSHIP, AND TARGETING NEW MEMBERS ACROSS REGIONALLY KEY, BUT UNDER-REPRESENTED IN MEMBERSHIP, INDUSTRIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 March 1981.

    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.

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.