Academy Of American Poets Incorporated
Academy Of American Poets faces recurring operational deficits despite strong asset growth and zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 131879953 · New York, NY · NTEE: A700 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Academy Of American Poets Incorporated Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Academy Of American Poets Incorporated directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Academy Of American Poets Incorporated
Academy Of American Poets Incorporated (EIN: 131879953) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code A700. The organization reported total revenue of $12.6M and total assets of $18.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Academy Of American Poets Incorporated's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Academy Of American Poets Incorporated with a Mission Score of 75 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Academy Of American Poets Incorporated allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% for officers across all available filings, suggesting either a volunteer leadership structure or that compensation for key executives is categorized differently, which is unusual for an organization of this size with significant revenue and assets.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Academy Of American Poets Incorporated's IRS 990 filings:
- Recurring operational deficits, with expenses significantly exceeding revenue in multiple recent periods (e.g., $5,341,067 expenses vs. $2,416,014 revenue in 202306).
- Unclear executive compensation reporting, with 0% officer compensation across all filings for an organization of this size.
- Significant increase in liabilities from $160,658 in 201806 to $2,308,800 in 202306, which could indicate increased debt or deferred revenue.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Academy Of American Poets Incorporated:
- Strong and consistent growth in assets, from $9,635,691 in 201406 to $18,729,412 currently, indicating robust financial reserves or investment management.
- Consistent filing of IRS 990s over 13 periods, demonstrating transparency and compliance.
- Clear alignment with its NTEE code (A700 - Literary Societies, Publishers), indicating a focused mission.
Frequently Asked Questions about Academy Of American Poets Incorporated
Is Academy Of American Poets Incorporated a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Academy Of American Poets Incorporated (EIN: 131879953) some concerns. Mission Score: 75/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Academy Of American Poets Incorporated spend its money?
Academy Of American Poets Incorporated directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Academy Of American Poets Incorporated tax-deductible?
Academy Of American Poets Incorporated is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131879953). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Academy Of American Poets a good charity?
The Academy Of American Poets demonstrates strong asset growth and a clear mission. However, recurring operational deficits in recent years, such as expenses of $5,341,067 against revenue of $2,416,014 in 202306, suggest potential financial sustainability challenges that warrant closer examination of their funding model and expense management.
How does the organization fund its operations given the deficits?
Given that expenses have exceeded revenue in several recent periods (e.g., 202306, 202206, 202106), the organization likely relies on drawing from its substantial assets, which have grown from $9,635,691 in 201406 to $18,729,412 currently, or on prior years' surpluses to cover operational shortfalls.
What is the actual compensation for the organization's leadership?
The filings consistently report 0% for officer compensation. This is unusual for an organization of this scale and suggests that either the leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or their compensation is reported under different categories, which would require a deeper dive into the full 990 forms to ascertain.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Academy Of American Poets Incorporated showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Academy Of American Poets Incorporated's revenue has grown by 56.2%, moving from $1.5M to $2.4M. Total assets increased by 69.5% over the same period, from $8.0M to $13.5M. Total functional expenses rose by 201.6%, from $1.8M to $5.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Academy Of American Poets Incorporated reported a deficit of $2.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $2.3M in liabilities against $13.5M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 17.0%), resulting in net assets of $11.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.4M | $5.3M | $13.5M | $2.3M | — | — |
| 2022 | $5.2M | $5.6M | $14.6M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $4.0M | $5.1M | $17.0M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $6.6M | $3.5M | $15.3M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $4.3M | $3.3M | $11.6M | $645K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.6M | $1.9M | $10.2M | $161K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $2.1M | $1.8M | $10.0M | $176K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.8M | $1.9M | $8.9M | $189K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $2.5M | $1.8M | $9.6M | $208K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $2.0M | $1.8M | $9.6M | $220K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $2.2M | $1.8M | $9.0M | $276K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $2.1M | $1.8M | $8.2M | $210K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.5M | $1.8M | $8.0M | $152K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.4M, expenses of $5.3M, and assets of $13.5M (revenue -53.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $5.2M, expenses of $5.6M, and assets of $14.6M (revenue +27.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $17.0M (revenue -38.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $6.6M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $15.3M (revenue +54.7% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $4.3M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $11.6M (revenue +163.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $10.2M (revenue -22.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $10.0M (revenue +15.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $8.9M (revenue -28.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $9.6M (revenue +22.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $9.6M (revenue -6.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $2.2M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $9.0M (revenue +5.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $8.2M (revenue +33.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $8.0M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Academy Of American Poets Incorporated is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.