American Warrior Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO HONOR THE MILITARY, VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN MIND, BODY, AND SOUL. THE AWA USES A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALING BY STRENGTHENING THE MIND, BODY, AND SOUL SO THAT EACH WARRIOR CAN LIVE A HEALTHY AND FULL LIFE.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 120
- Highest pay
- $150,000, executive director
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 98% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 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
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
- $2.2 million spent. THE SOUL: COUNSELING AND RETREATSWE INVEST IN THE SOUL BY PROVIDING FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS IN THE MOUNTAINS THAT ALLOW OUR WARRIORS TO REST AND REPAIR THEIR SOULS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HEAL MORAL INJURIES SUSTAINED WHILE SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES AND COUNTRY AND PROVIDE TOOLS TO NAVIGATE LIFE'S CHALLENGES. THE URBAN EXPLORERS PROGRAM PROVIDES WARRIORS THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH AN AWA PROGRAM A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE BY MENTORING AT-RISK YOUTH IN AMERICA'S UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.THIS PROGRAM BRINGS URBAN YOUTH TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS EACH SUMMER TO TEACH THEM OUTDOORSMAN SKILLS AND MENTOR THE NEXT GENERATION IN THE VALUES OF FREEDOM AND LOVE FOR ONE'S NATION. URBAN EXPLORERS WILL ESTABLISH IMPACTFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND HAVE A LASTING POSITIVE AFFECT ON NOT ONLY OUR NATION'S WARRIOR CLASS, BUT ALSO THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS. THE CONTRACT LEADER PROGRAM ALLOWS PAST PARTICIPANTS TO COMPLETE A TRAINING COURSE TO BECOME A LEADER ON FUTURE AWA PROGRAMS. CONTRACTED LEADERS ARE PAID $1,500.00 AND ALL TRAVEL EXPENSES ARE COVERED FOR EACH PROGRAM THEY FACILITATE.
- $630,000 spent. RESPOND. RESTORE. RESOLVE. DEVELOPS AND IMPLEMENTS WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOR INTERESTED POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS MORAL INJURY WOUNDS OF FIRST RESPONDERS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENT OR ORGANIZATION.
- $45,100 spent. THE MIND: SCHOLARSHIPSAWA STRENGTHENS THE MIND BY GRANTING EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO OFFSET TUITION COSTS TO AN APPROVED UNIVERSITY OR TOP 20 M.B.A., LAW, OR MEDICAL PROGRAM, AND PROVIDES MENTORSHIP AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO TRANSITIONING MILITARY PERSONNEL. THE INTENT IS FOR THEM TO THRIVE IN THE CIVILIAN WORKPLACE.
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
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 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 December 2018.
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.