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Ao North America Charitable Fund

EIN 83-0890149 · Wayne, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT CARE AND OUTCOMES IN TRAUMA AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS BY:- IMPROVING PERFORMANCE THROUGH EDUCATION- OPTIMIZING CLINICAL TREATMENT PATHWAYS AND GUIDELINES- PROMOTING INNOVATION THOUGH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTOUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE AS A CREDIBLE AND VALIDATED RESOURCE FOR CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH AMERICA, SPECIFICALLY FOR ORTHOPEDIC TRAUMA, SPINE, CRANIOMAXILLOFACIAL, AND VETERINARY SURGEONS. WE PROVIDE SOLUTIONS THAT FACILITATE AND ENABLE LEARNING FROM AND WITH EACH OTHER. BY DOING SO, WE BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT FOSTERS THE AO SPIRIT OF CAMARADERIE AND ENCOURAGES THE EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
62 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
0
Volunteers
407
Highest pay
$337,633, executive director

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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 62.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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)
  1. $2.5 million spent. AO NORTH AMERICA CHARITABLE FUND IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING OUR MEMBER SPECIALTIES THROUGH EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, AND RESEARCH FOCUSED ON THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS. AO NORTH AMERICA SUPPORTS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN VARIOUS FORMATS, COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF SURGERY AND REACHING OUT TO SURGEONS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR CAREERS, AND ALSO PROVIDES GRANTS TO AO NORTH AMERICA CHARITABLE FUND FOR RESEARCH AND FELLOWSHIP ACTIVITIES.EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: AO NORTH AMERICA (AO NA) IS A LEADING PROVIDER OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, IN VARIOUS FORMATS, COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF THE ORTHOPAEDIC, SPINE, CRANIOMAXILLOFACIAL, AND VETERINARY SURGERY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO REACHES OUT TO SURGEONS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR CAREERS. AONA CF AND AONA, INC OFFERED 119 EDUCATIONAL EVENTS LAST YEAR. A TOTAL OF 6,036 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED.
  2. $310,678 spent. FELLOWSHIP: AONA CF AND AONA, INC. ADMINISTER COMPREHENSIVE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS. AONA OFFERS INTENSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULLY TRAINED ORTHOPEDISTS AND NEUROLOGISTS INTERESTED IN SURGERY. AONA, INC AND AONA CF PROVIDED FUNDING FOR 194 FELLOWS LAST YEAR.
  3. $22,427 spent. RESEARCH: AO NORTH AMERICA CHARITABLE FUND PROVIDES GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH STUDIES IN THE FIELD OF ORTHOPEODICS AND PATIENT CARE.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.