American Tinnitus Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION IS TO PROMOTE RELIEF, HELP PREVENT, AND RESEARCH TINNITUS CURES, EVIDENCED BY ITS CORE VALUES OF COMPASSION, CREDIBILITY, AND RESPONSIBILITY.COMPASSION: EVIDENCED IN A SPIRIT OF HOPE REFLECTED IN THE COMMITMENT TO PREVENTION, FINDING CURES, AND SUPPORTING THOSE AFFECTED BY THE CONDITION. CREDIBILITY: EVIDENCED IN ACCURATE INFORMATION FROM RELIABLE SOURCES, TRANSPARENCY IN DECISION-MAKING, AND AN EARNED REPUTATION FOR TRUSTWORTHINESS.RESPONSIBILITY: EVIDENCED IN PATIENT CENTERED ADVOCACY BY A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY OF FORWARD THINKING LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE TO MISSION AND MEMBERS.
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 61.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 153
- Highest pay
- $184,196, ceo
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 61.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 105% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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.
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 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 (4)
- $620,710 spent. TINNITUS RESEARCH FUNDING: THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE ATA'S 29-MEMBER SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE, COMPOSED OF PROMINENT TINNITUS RESEARCHERS AND CLINICIANS, RECOMMENDED THAT THE ATA BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVE SEVEN GRANT APPLICATIONS, TOTAL $524,917, AS A PART OF ATA'S INNOVATIVE TINNITUS RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM. TINNITUS RESEARCHERS AROUND THE WORLD CAN APPLY TO ATA FOR SEED GRANT MONEY TO TEST INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC IDEAS OR TOOLS FOR IMPROVED PATIENT CARE, WHICH ISN'T AVAILABLE THROUGH TRADITIONAL FUNDING AGENCIES THAT TYPICALLY REQUIRE PROOF-OF-CONCEPT DATA. IF A HYPOTHESIS IS SOUND OR THE TOOL IS CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT, RESEARCHERS CAN THEN SEEK MORE SUBSTANTIVE FUNDING FROM AGENCIES SUCH AS THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) AND THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF). IN THIS WAY, ATA FILLS A CRITICAL VOID THAT ADVANCES INNOVATIVE SCIENCE AND PROGRESS TOWARD BREAKTHROUGHS AND POSSIBLE CURES. SINCE 1981, ATA HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $7 MILLION IN GRANTS THAT HAVE YIELDED IMPORTANT OUTCOMES IN IMPROVED TINNITUS CARE AND UNDERSTANDING OF TINNITUS MECHANISMS THAT REVEAL THE COMPLEX NATURE OF THIS COMPLEX, HETEROGENEOUS CONDITION. THREE TRAVEL AND CONFERENCE AWARDS TOTALING $3,000 WERE DISTRIBUTED TO EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS AND STUDENTS TO SUPPORT THE RISING GENERATION OF RESEARCHERS INTERESTED IN TINNITUS. BY ENABLING YOUNG INVESTIGATORS TO ATTEND CONFERENCES TO PRESENT WORK, ATA IS FACILITATING PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT AND CRITICAL NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH ARE NEEDED TO RETAIN YOUNG INVESTIGATORS IN THE FIELD.
- $354,706 spent. TINNITUS HELP LINE, SUPPORT NETWORK, & PEER SUPPORT: TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH TINNITUS, NEWLY ONSET OR CHRONIC, RECEIVE CREDIBLE, EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDANCE, ATA MAINTAINS THE TINNITUS ADVISORS PROGRAM HELPLINE. STAFFED BY AUDIOLOGISTS SPECIALIZED IN TINNITUS PATIENT CARE AND OFFERED 7 DAYS A WEEK, THE FREE 15-MINUTE GUIDANCE ENABLES INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS EVIDENCE-BASED INFORMATION THAT PERTAINS TO THEIR NEEDS. ATA DOES NOT OFFER MEDICAL ADVICE OR ENDORSE SPECIFIC TREATMENTS AND PRODUCTS; HOWEVER, BY DIRECTING PEOPLE TO RELEVANT INFORMATION, APPROPRIATE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND SUPPORT, THE PROGRAM ENSURES THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE GIVEN MEANINGFUL DIRECTION, WHICH CAN BE LIFE ALTERING IN MANY INSTANCES. TO HELP INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH TINNITUS, ATA HOSTS 25 SUPPORT GROUPS (IN PERSON, ONLINE, AND HYBRID) ON ITS PLATFORM. WHILE EACH GROUP IS INDEPENDENT, SHARED GOALS INCLUDE PROVIDING A NURTURING, SAFE, EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT TO EXPLORE THE TINNITUS EXPERIENCE. FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING ONE-ON-ONE GUIDANCE, ATA HAS A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF 73 PEER-TO-PEER VOLUNTEERS WHO EMAIL AND/OR SPEAK WITH INDIVIDUALS TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE LIVING WITH TINNITUS.
- $81,762 spent. TINNITUS PUBLICATIONS & WEBINARS: TINNITUS TODAY MAGAZINE, PUBLISHED THREE TIMES A YEAR DIGITALLY AND PRINT, PROVIDES IN-DEPTH COVERAGE OF PROGRESS IN RESEARCH AND INTERVENTIONS, COMPELLING PATIENT STORIES, AND CRITICAL NEWS RELATED TO HEARING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THIS FISCAL YEAR, ATA'S MAGAZINE RECEIVED GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE, AND MERIT AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE FROM DIGITAL HEALTH, APEX, AND DANDA FOR OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR THE PUBLIC AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. ATA HOSTED EIGHT WEBINARS FEATURING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF ONGOING TINNITUS RESEARCH, EVIDENCE-BASED PATIENT CARE APPROACHES, AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS DESIGNED TO REDUCE PATIENT DISTRESS. THESE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES DIRECTLY SUPPORT OUR CORE MISSION OF DISSEMINATING CREDIBLE, SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION ABOUT TINNITUS WHILE INCREASING AWARENESS OF PATIENT NEEDS AND CARE STANDARDS AMONG HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, RESEARCHERS, PATIENTS, AND THE BROADER PUBLIC.
- $282,940 spent. NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT AND AWARENESS EVENTS: FOR THE FIFTH YEAR, ATA PARTNERED WITH A NATIONAL CORPORATION TO RAISE AWARENESS OF TINNITUS AND FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND SUPPORT SERVICES. BY COLLABORATING WITH A WELL-KNOWN COMPANY, THE EFFORT FACILITATED AWARENESS OF TINNITUS, ITS PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT, AND THE AVAILABILITY OF ATA'S FREE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT. AS A CONDITION THAT FEW PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF UNTIL IT IMPACTS THEM DIRECTLY OR SOMEONE THEY KNOW, SUCH COORDINATED PUBLIC OUTREACH HELPS FACILITATE ATA'S MISSION OF PREVENTION, GREATER AWARENESS, AND CULTIVATION OF AN ATTITUDE OF COMPASSION TOWARD THOSE SUFFERING FROM TINNITUS. ATA ALSO PARTNERED FOR A SECOND YEAR WITH A LEADING PROFESSIONAL BASS ANGLER AND CELEBRITIES TO RAISE AWARENESS OF TINNITUS AND FUNDS FOR ATA. THE TENNESSEE-BASED EVENT ATTRACTED PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS THE U.S. TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRITY PRO-AM FISHING TOURNAMENT AND CONCERT. BOTH PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTED PREVENTION OF TINNITUS AND AWARENESS OF ATA FREE PUBLIC RESOURCES.MUSICIAN AND STAGE CREW HEARING CONSERVATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM: ATA PROVIDED HEARING CONSERVATION SERVICES TO MUSICIANS AND STAGE CREWS THROUGH TARGETED OUTREACH AT THE KENTUCKY STATE FAIR AND THE KEY WEST SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL. SERVICES INCLUDED FREE CONSULTATIONS WITH A MUSIC AUDIOLOGIST, HEARING SCREENINGS, CUSTOM EAR MOLD FITTINGS, AND AT-COST MUSICIAN EARPLUGS. ATA ALSO PROVIDED HANDS-ON TRAINING FOR A DOCTORAL AUDIOLOGY STUDENT INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MUSICIAN AUDIOLOGIST, WHICH IS CRITICAL FOR LEARNING THE SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND PATIENT ENGAGEMENT TECHNIQUES REQUIRED IN THIS FIELD. THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSED THE CRITICAL NEED FOR HEARING PROTECTION EDUCATION AND SPECIALIZED AUDIOLOGICAL CARE WITHIN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, REACHING AT-RISK PROFESSIONALS AND RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS AND TINNITUS PREVENTION."
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 May 1981.
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.
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