Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Association of Critical Care Nurses

EIN 95-2706905 · Aliso Viejo, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Patients and their families rely on nurses at the most vulnerable times of their lives. Acute and critical care nurses rely on AACN for expert knowledge and the influence to fulfill their promise to patients and their families. AACN drives excellence in acute and critical care for nurses, patients and families.

Income
$37.4 million
Spending
$49.8 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
240
Volunteers
2,900
Highest pay
$791,295, exec director/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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 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 (5)
  1. $9.2 million spent. The National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition (NTI) is a 4-day in-person conference expected to attract over 7,000 critical-care and advance practice nurses. The in-person conference is followed by a virtual option. More than 200 educational sessions were offered on the most current techniques and equipment available to improve patient care and patient outcomes (7,000 nurses). The conference scheduled for May 2025 had 5,356 live paid attendees, and was augmented by 1,943 nurses attending the virtual conference.
  2. $10.4 million spent. At year end, the association had over 134,300 nurse members who are eligible for research grants as well as educational scholarships. In addition, the association provides members with journals, newsletters, practice alerts, protocols for best practices and unlimited continuing education credits covering a wide range of topics pertinent to caring for acute and critically ill patients (134,300 nurse members).
  3. $10.6 million spent. The association sponsors various volunteer work group meetings to determine the educational requirements of critical-care nurses. Continuing education (CE) opportunities are provided to meet this need via educational articles and online webinars. These CE products are provided free of charge to our membership. Other educational items are available for purchase in our online bookstore which include AACN published books. In addition, AACN has developed a number of self-paced e-learning training programs including orientation courses for nurses transitioning into an ICU setting (ECCO) and for new nurse managers (FSNM). Other self-paced courses include an ECG basics, preceptor, and pharmacology courses. (over 93,200 unique learners received CE credits on our website CE Activities pages).
  4. $7.9 million spent. Practice Excellence: Using feedback from members, volunteers, constituents and outside leaders, research is funded through grants in areas such as palliative and end-of-life care, pain management, advance directives, and healthy work environments. Also includes the CSI Academy, a regional 12 to 16-month nursing excellence and training program designed to leverage staff nurses' expertise to enhance patient care and decrease hospital expenses. Lastly, includes the Beacon Award for Excellence which recognizes individual hospital units that distinguish themselves by improving every facet of patient care. The Beacon Award's three levels of designation recognize significant milestones along a unit's journey. For patients and families, the Beacon Award signifies exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall satisfaction. For nurses, a Beacon Award signals a positive and supportive work environment with greater collaboration between colleagues and leaders, higher morale and lower turnover.
  5. $1.3 million spent. AACN has 174 organized Chapters that hold local community meetings and workshops and sponsor regional educational seminars to help critical-care nurses keep current with the latest trends and technologies. (Estimated 20,000 chapter members).

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1973.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.