American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PURPOSES OF THE SOCIETY SHALL BE TO FOSTER, PROMOTE, SUPPORT, AUGMENT, DEVELOP AND ENCOURAGE INVESTIGATIVE KNOWLEDGE IN DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY; TO PROMOTE THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARDS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, CONTINUING EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY; TO PROMOTE THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PATIENT CARE AND PROMOTE THE PUBLIC INTEREST RELATING TO DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY AND TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND METHODOLGY FOR DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY AND RELATED BASIS SCIENCES.
- Income
- $7.1 million
- Spending
- $6.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 25 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 49%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 505
- Highest pay
- $329,525, chief development officer
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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 25.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 45 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. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 (3)
- $223,113 spent. THE SOCIETY SUPPORTS RESEARCH BY PROVIDING GRANTS TO QUALIFIED MEMBERS THROUGH THE CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH IN AREAS OF SPECIFIC RELEVANCE TO COSMETIC/GENERAL DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY SUCH AS LASERS, LIPOSUCTION, FILLERS, RESURFACING, LIFTING PROCEDURES, AND CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY. IN ADDITION, ASDS IS NOW FUNDING BOARD DIRECTED RESEARCH THAT ADDRESSES VALUE-BASED HEALTHCARE, PATIENT SATISFACTION, AND COST CONTAINMENT.FREDRIC S. BRANDT, MD INNOVATIONS IN AESTHETICS FELLOWSHIP FUND:THE BRANDT FUND GRANTS FELLOWS-IN-TRAINING FUNDS TO UNDERTAKE INNOVATIVE RESEARCH PROPOSALS RELATED TO COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY IN HONOR OF THE LATE FREDRIC BRANDT, MD. YOUNG INVESTIGATOR'S WRITING COMPETITION:THE YOUNG INVESTIGATOR'S WRITING COMPETITION IS A PROGRAM THAT RECOGNIZES YOUNG INVESTIGATORS FOR THEIR ORIGINAL IDEAS, RESEARCH AND ARTICLES FOR PUBLICATION IN ACADEMIC, PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS, SUCH AS DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY. REVIEW ARTICLE INCENTIVE PROGRAM:THE REVIEW ARTICLE INCENTIVE PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REVIEW ARTICLES IN DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY ON TOPICS OF BROAD SCIENTIFIC INTEREST OR HIGHLY FOCUSED CLINICAL TOPICS RELATED TO THERAPY, DIAGNOSIS OR OTHER ASPECTS OF DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY PRACTICE.THESE ACTIVITIES SUPPORT OUR RESEARCH GOALS. DURING 2020 THE SOCIETY SUSPENDED MANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE RESUMED IN 2021.
- $2.8 million spent. LEADERSHIP:FUTURE LEADERS NETWORK:THE FUTURE LEADERS NETWORK WAS CREATED TO HELP ASDS AND THE SPECIALTY MEET ITS CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, ASDS PROVIDES AN AVENUE FOR YOUNG LEADERS TO WORK WITH EXPERIENCED MENTORS ON PROJECTS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ASDS AND ITS MEMBERS WHILE THEY FINE-TUNE THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS. OUR GOAL IS TO DEVELOP A POOL OF TRAINED LEADERS WHO CAN CARRY ON THE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN OUR SPECIALTY AND ALLOW US TO REACH NEW HEIGHTS. EACH YEAR THE ASDS PROVIDES FUNDING TO SUPPORT 5 - 10 MENTOR/MENTEE PAIRS.PARTNERS IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST YOUNG DERMATOLOGIC SURGEONS WITH THE ADVICE AND INSIGHTS THEY NEED TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND/OR PRACTICE. THE PARTNERS IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WILL SERVE AS A MENTORSHIP IN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT AND RELATED CAREER-BUILDING ACTIVITIES. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO FOSTER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUNG DERMATOLOGIC SURGEONS WHO ARE IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THEIR CAREER. MENTEES WILL BE PAIRED WITH A MENTOR FOR ONE YEAR IF DESIRED, AND MENTORS MAY CHOOSE TO WORK WITH A MENTEE WITHIN OR BEYOND THEIR GEOGRAPHIC AREA. MENTORS AND MENTEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISCUSS RELEVANT TOPICS AT LEAST QUARTERLY. AREAS FOR MENTORSHIP INCLUDE PRACTICE MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC SPEAKING.LEGACY CIRCLEASDS LAUNCHED THE NEW MEMBER DONATION PROGRAM--THE LEGACY CIRCLE WEBSITE PORTAL. THE PORTAL WILL ALLOW ASDS MEMBERS SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE IN THE PRESENT (STEGMAN CIRCLES) AND FUTURE (LEGACY CIRCLE). THE LEGACY CIRCLE GIVING PROGRAM IS THE FIRST PLANNED GIVING PROGRAM OF ASDS. PHYSICIAN EDUCATION: THE SOCIETY IS AN ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE OPTIMAL QUALITY CARE FOR PATIENTS AS WELL AS TO SUPPORT AND DEVELOP INVESTIGATIVE KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD OF DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY.ACCME RE-ACCREDITATION:IN 2014, ASDS RECEIVED REACCREDITATION WITH COMMENDATION FROM THE ACCREDITATION FOR CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (ACCME) GRANTING IT ACCREDITATION FOR SIX INSTEAD OF FOUR YEARS. THIS IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF RECOGNITION AWARDED BY THE ACCME, TO ONLY ABOUT 21 PERCENT OF ACCREDITED CME PROVIDERS. ASDS IS UP FOR REVIEW IN 2020.ANNUAL MEETING:OUR ANNUAL MEETING CONTINUES TO BE THE DEFINITIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR DERMATOLOGIC SURGEONS WITH OVER 1300 PHYSICIAN ATTENDEES LEARNING ABOUT THE FULL SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF COSMETIC AND SURGICAL DERMATOLOGY. THE ANNUAL MEETING ALSO INCLUDED A TRADESHOW OFFERING COMPANIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISSEMINATE THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO ATTENDEES. FUNDING FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING IS GENERATED BY ATTENDEE REGISTRATION FEES, CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP, ADVERTISING AND EXHIBIT SHOW APPLICATION FEES.DRS. ALATASIR AND JEAN CARRUTHERS AWARD IN HONOR OF DRS. ALASTAIR AND JEAN CARRUTHERS, THE CARRUTHERS AWARD WAS CREATED TO STIMULATE INTEREST AND ACKNOWLEDGE COSMETIC RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF ASDS-ACCREDITED FELLOWSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS. THE AWARD IS PRESENTED TO THE HIGHEST SCORING ABSTRACT FOR WHICH A FELLOW IS THE FIRST AUTHOR.PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM:THE PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES AN UNCONVENTIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO PERFECT SKILLS IN THOSE AREAS OF THE SPECIALTY OF DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY WHERE INNOVATION HAS OUTPACED TRADITIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PHYSICIANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM SEASONED EXPERTS BY SPENDING A MINIMUM OF ONE WEEK IN THEIR OFFICE OBSERVING PROCEDURES AND LEARNING ABOUT VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE PRACTICE. THE PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM RECEIVES CORPORATE FUNDING BY WAY OF AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT. THIS PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM FURTHERS OUR EDUCATION GOALS.LAWRENCE M. FIELD, MD INTERNATIONAL DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY MENTORSHIP EXCHANGE FUND:THE ASDS INTERNATIONAL TRAVELING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM (ITMP) ENHANCES THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND BODY OF KNOWLEDGE OF DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY AMONG THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF DERMATOLOGIC SURGEONS. IT PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON TEACHING PROGRAMS AND DERMATOLOGIC FACULTY AND ALLOWS DERMATOLOGIC SURGEONS TO VISIT A HOST INSTITUTION IN ANOTHER COUNTRY AS MENTORS - OR HOST A DERMATOLOGIC SURGEON TRAVELING MENTOR FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY - FOR A DEFINED PERIOD OF TEACHING, SURGICAL DEMONSTRATION AND TABLE-SIDE EXCHANGE. PARTICIPANTS ARE SELECTED ON A SEMI-ANNUAL BASIS AT A MINIMUM. LIMITED FUNDING IS AVAILABLE. ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE LAWRENCE FIELD, MD, INTERNATIONAL DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE FUND.INTERNATIONAL PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM:THIS PROGRAM ASSISTS INTERNATIONAL DERMATOLOGIC SURGEONS IN VISITING A PRECEPTOR IN THE U.S. TO EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF PROCEDURES AND ADVANCED TECHNIQUES NOT AVAILABLE IN THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. THIS KNOWLEDGE IS SHARED WITH COLLEAGUES, HELPING TO ADVANCE PATIENT CARE IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY. AVAILABLE TO ASDS MEMBERS (AND MEMBERS OF OTHER INTERNATIONAL SOCIETIES BASED ON WORK GROUP APPROVAL). THERE IS ONE INTERNATIONAL DERMATOLOGIST SELECTED ANNUALLY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. LIMITED FUNDING IS AVAILABLE. ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE LAWRENCE FIELD, MD, INTERNATIONAL DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE FUND. RISE UP MENTORSHIP PROGRAMTHE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WORK GROUP CONTINUES TO ADVANCE INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, LGBTQ, AND OTHER GROUPS UNDERREPRESENTED IN MEDICINE; AND TO PROMOTE EQUITY AND WITHIN ASDS AND ACROSS OUR FIELD. THIS RISE UP MENTORSHIP PROGRAM MATCHES MENTORS AND MENTEES UNDERREPRESENTED IN MEDICINE FOR A YEAR-LONG MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. THEY IDENTIFY A COMMON GOAL FOR THE MENTEE TO ACHIEVE BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.SURGICAL DIRECTORS FORUM:THE SURGICAL DIRECTORS MEET REGULARLY TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF COMMON CONCERN, INCLUDING COSMETIC TRAINING IN RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, BEST PRACTICES FOR COSMETIC STUDIES, COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH, AND PRACTICAL GUIDELINES AND ISSUES. THE GROUP FOCUSES ON COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND PROCEDURAL TRAINING IN RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS REGULATORY
- $875,324 spent. DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY JOURNAL:THE SOCIETY PRODUCES A MONTHLY SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL ON THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS. THE MONTHLY CIRCULATION OF DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY IS ROUGHLY 8,000 IN THE DERMATOLOGIC FIELD. THE JOURNAL ADVANCES OUR PURPOSE OF PROVIDING CLINICAL EDUCATION FOR PHYSICIANS ON DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY. FUNDING FOR THIS ACTIVITY IS THROUGH MEMBER DUES.THIS YEAR, DR. NAOMI LAWRENCE LAUNCHED "DERMSURGERY DIGEST," A NEW JOURNAL PODCAST FEATURING A SUMMARY OF ALL ARTICLES INCLUDED IN EACH ISSUE. THIS PROVIDES AN AUDITORY OPTION TO STAY UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST RESEARCH. THIS PODCAST IS AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY, APPLE AND GOOGLE PODCASTS. YOU CAN ALSO ACCESS ALL EPISODES ON ASDS LEARN. CURRENTS:THE SOCIETY OFFERS ITS MEMBERS A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER, CURRENTS, TO COMMUNICATE SOCIOECONOMIC, CLINICAL AND SOCIETY-SPECIFIC ISSUES TO ITS MEMBERSHIP. THE NEWSLETTER COVERS MEMBER AND SOCIETY NEWS, EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES ON SUBJECTS OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS, AND UPDATES ON ISSUES IMPACTING THE DERMATOLOGY COMMUNITY. CURRENTS IS A MEMBER SERVICE PROVIDED AS A BENEFIT OF DUES, BUT IS AVAILABLE TO NON-MEMBERS ON A SUBSCRIPTION BASIS. CORPORATE SUPPORT OFFSETS A PORTION OF RELATED EXPENSES TO PUBLISH THIS MAGAZINE.ACHIEVE:ACHIEVE IS THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SOCIETY AND ASSOCIATION WHICH PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH A SNAPSHOT OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR.BRANDINGTHE SOCIETY'S NATIONAL BRANDING CAMPAIGN PROMOTES ASDS MEMBERS AS THE TRUE SKIN HEALTH AND BEAUTY EXPERTS, DRIVING TRAFFIC TO THE ASDS WEBSITE'S REFERRAL SERVICE. BRANDING CAMPAIGNS INCLUDE ONGOING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS; EMAILS TO MEMBERSHIP ENCOURAGING PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT; CONSUMER-FACING WEBSITE CONTENT UPDATES; MEDIA RELATIONS OUTREACH; AND EDITORIAL PRINT COVERAGE IN VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS.SOCIAL MEDIATHE SOCIETY'S SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS CONTINUE TO BE AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION IN PROVIDING MEMBERS AND CONSUMERS WITH TIMELY, ENGAGING AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT THUS FAR IN 2022. THE SOCIETY'S HANDLES AND HASHTAGS ARE BASED ON THE CONTENT'S TARGET AUDIENCE:- @ASDSMEMBERS - #ASDSMEMBERS #ASDSRESIDENTS #ASDSMEETING #ASDSDIVERSITY #ASDSAMBASSADOR #ASDSSKINEXPERTS - @ASDSSKINMD - #ASDSSKINMD #ASDSDIVERSITY #ASDSSKINEXPERTS #ASDSAMBASSADOR- @ASDSADVOCACY - #ASDSADVOCACY #SUNUCATE"OWN YOUR EXPERTISE" CAMPAIGNTHE "OWN YOUR EXPERTISE" SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS ASDS/A MEMBERS' LONGSTANDING HISTORY OF INNOVATION FOR AESTHETIC AND COSMETIC PROCEDURES AND EDUCATES CONSUMERS ON WHY THEY SHOULD ONLY TRUST A BOARD CERTIFIED ASDS MEMBER WITH THEIR DERMATOLOGIC PROCEDURES. THESE CONSUMER-FACING ASDS SKIN MD POSTS ARE SHARED WITH MEMBERS MONTHLY TO ENCOURAGE RESHARING ACROSS THEIR PERSONAL OR PRACTICE SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS TO GROW SOCIAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS..THE TRUE SKIN EXPERTS LIVETO ENHANCE THE "OWN YOUR EXPERTISE" CAMPAIGN, THE SOCIETY LAUNCHED AN INSTAGRAM LIVE SERIES, THE TRUE SKIN EXPERTS LIVE, TO SHARE ASDS MEMBER EXPERTISE WHILE ALSO SHOWCASING THE PERSONALITY OF ASDS MEMBERSHIP, HUMANIZING THE PHYSICIAN IN THE WHITE COAT. ASDS MEMBERS GO LIVE ON @ASDSSKINMD INSTAGRAM FOR A BROADCAST WITH THE CONVERSATION TARGETED FOR CONSUMERS / PATIENTSCONSUMER SURVEY ON COSMETIC DERMATOLOGIC PROCEDURESTHE 2021 ASDS CONSUMER SURVEY ON COSMETIC DERMATOLOGIC PROCEDURES INDICATES DERMATOLOGISTS CONTINUE TO RANK AS THE NUMBER ONE INFLUENCER AMONG 16 FACTORS THAT IMPACT CONSUMERS' DECISIONS TO HAVE A COSMETIC PROCEDURE. AFTER A PAUSED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON ACCESS TO COSMETIC PROCEDURES, DATA WAS OBTAINED THROUGH A BLIND ONLINE SURVEY CONDUCTED FROM OCT. 20, 2021, TO NOV. 9, 2021, VIA A WEB BASED PURESPECTRUM MARKET RESEARCH SERVICE. THE SURVEY RECEIVED 3,527 RESPONSES.MEMBER COMMUNITY - ASDS CONNECTASDS CONNECT IS THE SOCIETY'S DIGITAL COMMUNITY IS A MEMBER'S GO-TO PLACE TO NETWORK, SHARE INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCE AND GAIN KNOWLEDGE FROM FELLOW ASDS COLLEAGUES. THE ASDS DIGITAL COMMUNITY WORK GROUP SET GOALS, METRICS AND STRATEGIC TACTICS TO CONTINUE THEIR CHARGE OF DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE MEMBER PARTICIPATION ON THE ASDS DIGITAL COMMUNITY PLATFORM. THE TARGETED GOALS FOR 2022 ALIGN WITH THE SOCIETY'S STRATEGIC GOALS AND ARE TO INCREASE MEMBERSHIP ENROLLMENT THAT AGREE TO THE CONNECT TERMS & CONDITIONS FROM 1,623 TO 2,000, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DISCUSSION POSTS FROM 801 TO 1,200 AND INCREASE MEMBER ENGAGEMENT BY MEASURING TOTAL NUMBER OF REPLIES TO DISCUSSION POSTS.
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 January 2008.
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.