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American Academy of Achievement

EIN 75-6042129 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HONOR EXTRAORDINARY INNOVATORS AND VISIONARIES AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG LEADERS.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$1.0 million, president/chairman

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

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 (2)
  1. $3.3 million spent. AMONG THE ACADEMY'S MANY EDUCATION INITIATIVES, A PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN THE COORDINATION AND STAGING OF AN ACHIEVEMENT SUMMIT (THE "SUMMIT") WHICH HONORS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVERS IN BUSINESS, PUBLIC SERVICE, LITERATURE, SCIENCE, EXPLORATION, SPORTS, AND THE ARTS, AND PROVIDES A FORUM FOR THESE INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVERS TO INTERACT WITH OUTSTANDING COLLEGE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS AND PROMISING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS BROUGHT TOGETHER FROM AROUND THE WORLD AS GUESTS OF THE ACADEMY. DURING THE MULTI-DAY SUMMIT, THESE EXTRAORDINARY YOUNG SCHOLARS HAVE JOINED EMINENT CONTEMPORARY LEADERS FOR MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AND A SERIES OF SYMPOSIA AND ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS ON ISSUES OF THE DAY. THE SUMMIT HAS BEEN PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THE DELEGATES. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE ACADEMY INCLUDE BRINGING LEADERS FROM VARIOUS FIELDS TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, HOLDING SPECIAL EVENTS TO HONOR ACADEMY INDUCTEES, AS WELL AS PROMOTING THE PRINCIPLES OF EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP.
  2. $238,146 spent. DURING FISCAL YEARS ENDING JULY 31, 2025 AND 2024, THE ACADEMY CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS ONLINE INTERNET PRESENCE VIA THEIR WEBSITE, WWW.ACHIEVEMENT.ORG. THE ACADEMY'S REDESIGNED WEBSITE, WHICH IS COMPATIBLE WITH MOBILE DEVICES, IS A VIRTUAL MUSEUM THAT FEATURES A GALLERY OF ACHIEVEMENT WITH EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEWS OF MANY ACADEMY MEMBERS, A CURRICULUM CENTER FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, AND A LIBRARY THAT HIGHLIGHTS BOOKS THAT CHANGED THE LIVES OF ACADEMY MEMBERS. THE WEBSITE ALLOWS THE ACADEMY TO REACH MILLIONS OF STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS EACH YEAR WITH THEIR EXPANSIVE LIBRARY OF LIVING HISTORY PRESENTED THROUGH MULTIMEDIA CONTENT.ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY OF THE ACADEMY IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT ON APPLE PODCASTS. THIS APPLICATION GIVES STUDENTS ACCESS TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST DIGITAL CATALOG OF FREE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT. THE ACADEMY BEGAN PROVIDING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT FROM ITS DIGITAL LIBRARY IN NOVEMBER 2010. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2016, THE ACADEMY LAUNCHED A PODCAST SERIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH APPLE PODCASTS ENTITLED "WHAT IT TAKES". THE PODCAST FEATURES EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH ACADEMY MEMBERS AND THEIR PERSONAL PATHS TO SUCCESS HIGHLIGHTING THE ATTRIBUTES THEY REQUIRED TO REACH THEIR GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS, SUCH AS PASSION, COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE. THE ACADEMY MEMBERS FEATURED ON THE PODCAST INCLUDE GEORGE LUCAS, OPRAH WINFREY, ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG, JOHNNY CASH, CORETTA SCOTT KING, AND JAMES MICHENER. SINCE INCEPTION, THE "WHAT IT TAKES" PODCAST, HAS RECEIVED MILLIONS OF DOWNLOADS ON APPLE PODCASTS.THE ACADEMY HAS ALSO PUBLISHED THREE EBOOKS (OR ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOKS) ON APPLE BOOKS, COVERING THE TOPICS OF CIVIL RIGHTS, CREATIVE WRITING, AND SOCIAL ADVOCACY ON THE ITUNES U SITE. THESE EBOOKS FEATURE VIDEO INTERVIEWS OF DISTINGUISHED ACADEMY MEMBERS AND HAVE BEEN DOWNLOADED BY MORE THAN 100,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DURING FISCAL YEARS 2025 AND 2024.THE ACADEMY ALSO MAINTAINS A MULTIMEDIA MUSEUM EXHIBIT, AT ITS WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE, FEATURING THE LIFE STORIES OF ACADEMY MEMBERS AND THEIR PERSONAL PATHS TO EXCELLENCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 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 May 1965.

    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.