The Esop Association of America
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE ESOP ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF ALL CORPORATIONS THAT SPONSOR EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLANS, OR ESOPS. THE ESOP ASSOCIATION PROVIDES ADVOCACY AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ON BEHALF OF ITS MEMBERS. CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP IN THE ESOP ASSOCIATION IS OPEN TO ALL ESOP COMPANIES; MEMBERS ARE CLOSELY HELD BUSINESSES, AND INCLUDE BOTH C AND S CORPORATIONS, ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES.
- Income
- $10.7 million
- Spending
- $10.9 million
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $618,020, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND ROUNDTABLES: OVER 11,600 ATTENDEES, MOSTLY EMPLOYEES OF ASSOCIATION MEMBERS, ATTENDED FOUR NATIONAL CONFERENCES, OVER 80 LOCAL, STATE, AND REGIONAL ROUNDTABLES, SEMINARS, AND CONFERENCES IN 2024. THESE GATHERINGS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP LEARNING TO IMPROVE CORPORATE MEMBERS' OWNERSHIP CULTURE THAT RESEARCH AND DATA INDICATES LEADS TO MORE PRODUCTIVE AND PROFITABLE EMPLOYEE-OWNED COMPANIES. SECONDARILY, THE EDUCATION FOCUSED ON THE MANY LAWS AND REGULATIONS, JUDICIAL RULINGS THAT MUST BE COMPLIED WITH BY CORPORATIONS SPONSORING AN EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN.
- MEMBERSHIP: APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MEMBERS ARE PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS WITH REGARD TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY, AND JUDICIAL ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY IMPACTING THE OPERATION AND CREATION OF ESOPS BY U.S. CORPORATIONS, VIA WRITTEN MATERIALS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WEBSITE POSTINGS. THE ASSOCIATION STAFF PROVIDES PRESENTATIONS TO THE MANY CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS NOTED IN 4A ABOVE. THE ASSOCIATION SELLS WRITTEN MATERIALS, AND ELECTRONIC MATERIALS ON THE OPERATION OF ESOPS IN A MANNER THAT IMPROVES CORPORATE PERFORMANCE, AND COMPLIES WITH LAW AND REGULATIONS.
- GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: IN ACCORD WITH ITS (C)(6) STATUS, THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES REPRESENTATION SERVICES TO ITS MEMBERS, OR LOBBYING SERVICES, BY INTERACTING WITH ITS MEMBERS TO EXPRESS THEIR POSITIONS ON LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS THAT IMPACT, OR MAY IMPACT ESOP OPERATIONS AND CREATION, AND BY INTERACTING WITH OFFICES OF CONGRESS, CERTAIN REGULATORY AGENCIES, PRIMARILY THE IRS AND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, AND ON OCCASION BY FILING AMICUS BRIEFS IN SIGNIFICANT LAWSUITS THAT MAY IMPACT ESOP OPERATION AND CREATION.
- PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC: PUBLICATIONS, SEMINARS, AND EDUCATION ON ESOP COMPANY MANAGEMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
Not 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1978.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.