American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association's (AFSA's) two missions are: (1) fund superior quality studies on fibromyalgia and (2) educate patients about this disease so that they can seek improved healthcare and achieve a better quality of life.
- Income
- $51,876
- Spending
- $170,625
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 55.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 58%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 4
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (medical research, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 55.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 229% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 63% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (medical research, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (2)
- $152,707 spent. With research grants from AFSA (typically $85,000 each), scientists advance the understanding of fibromyalgia. Our focus is on causes, treatments, and developing biomarkers for the disease. In the current year, AFSA funded 2 projects and approved the funding for a third project that is pending IRB approval. Project 1: Nicholas Fallon, Ph.D., and Andreas Goebel, M.D., Ph.D., at the University of Liverpool (U.K.) are investigating the processes involved in causing fibromyalgia symptoms to flare, with emphasis on the brain and immunological functions. Award amount is $78,058 (U.S. funds).Project 2: Shafaqq Sikandar, Ph.D., at Queen Mary University of London (U.K.) is examining how neutrophils are different in fibromyalgia and will determine if these cells can be used as a biomarker for the disease. Award amount is $74,649 (U.S. funds).Project 3: Katherine Martucci, Ph.D., at Duke University (U.S.) is conducting a treatment trial using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to treat the pain, fatigue and cognitive symptoms of fibromyalgia with an accelerated protocol targeting the medial prefrontal cortex. Project was approved in June of 2025 for $90,000 and funding is expected in October 2025.
- $9,029 spent. As part of our patient-education mission, we maintain a website to serve as a go-to resource for patients and their healthcare providers. The site includes sections on both drug and nondrug treatments, lifestyle changes, coping strategies, advances in treatments and research, and descriptions of projects funded by AFSA. We added 20 new pages to the site (it grew from 83 to 103 pages) and the number of new people visiting the site for information was 65,000 during the fiscal year.
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 January 1994.
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.