Research Society on Alcoholism
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
RSA IS THE PREEMINENT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ORGANIZATION DEVOTED TO UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES AND COMPLICATIONS OF ALCOHOL USE AND ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS AND TO PROMOTING EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND SUSTAINED BEHAVIOR CHANGE TO REDUCE ALCOHOL-RELATED HARM. RSA PROVIDES A COMMUNITY FOR SHARING SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES, ATTRACTING AND SUPPORTING CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF ALCOHOL RESEARCHERS, DISSEMINATING SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE REGARDING ALCOHOL USE TO OUR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC, AND RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF ALCOHOL USE AND ALCOHOL-RELATED HARM.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 97%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $43,077, director (thru 01/24)
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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY CONSISTS OF REGULAR SCIENTIFIC MEMBERS, POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS, ASSOCIATE MEMBERS AND STUDENT MEMBERS. NEW MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED, AT MINIMUM, ON A MONTHLY BASIS; EXCLUDING THE MONTH OF JUNE. THE CURRENT MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 2,000 IS DRAWN FROM COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, WITH THE MAJORITY FROM THE UNITED STATES.
- $920,528 spent. THE ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE PROVIDES A MEETING PLACE FOR SCIENTISTS AND CLINICIANS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE WORLD, TO INTERACT. IT ALLOWS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET PEOPLE, DOING WORK IN ALCOHOL RESEARCH, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. THE MEETING ALSO GIVES MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS THE CHANCE TO PRESENT THEIR LATEST FINDINGS IN ALCOHOL RESEARCH THROUGH ABSTRACT AND SYMPOSIA SUBMISSIONS.
- $233,436 spent. RSA PUBLISHES (ONLINE - 12 TIMES A YEAR) THE SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL ALCOHOL: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH. THE JOURNAL PROVIDE THE MOST RECENT FINDINGS IN THE FIELD OF ALCOHOL RESEARCH. MANUSCRIPTS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY ANY SCIENTIST PURSUING RESEARCH DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL OR CONSEQUENCES OF ALCOHOL INGESTION, INCLUDING STUDIES ON TREATMENT, PREVENTION OR EPIDEMIOLOGY. ALL MANUSCRIPTS ARE THOROUGHLY REVIEWED TO ASSURE THAT THE PUBLICATIONS REPRESENT THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF SCIENCE AND SCHOLARSHIP.
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2023 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.
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 2025.
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.