American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society maintains strong assets despite recent operating deficits and reports no officer compensation.
EIN: 210735173 · Washington, DC · NTEE: U31 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $22.0M |
| Total Expenses | $21.9M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $12.1M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is American Astronomical Society Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
American Astronomical Society directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society (EIN: 210735173) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, classified under NTEE code U31. The organization reported total revenue of $22.0M and total assets of $25.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of American Astronomical Society's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
American Astronomical Society is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 38 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 3.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $19.2M |
| Total Expenses | $21.9M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-2,710,171 |
| Total Assets | $25.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $13.3M |
| Net Assets | $12.1M |
| Operating Margin | -14.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 52.5% |
| Months of Reserves | 13.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, American Astronomical Society reported a deficit of $2.7M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 13.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 52.5% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), American Astronomical Society's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -1.8% | +10.7% | -3.2% |
| 2022 | +11.8% | +17.8% | +20.1% |
| 2021 | +2.6% | -3.7% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | +16.9% | +10.8% | -4.5% |
| 2019 | -8.4% | +11.7% | +21.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1988 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates American Astronomical Society with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Astronomical Society allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $2.7M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 52.5%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The American Astronomical Society consistently reports 0% for officer compensation across all available IRS 990 filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and revenue, suggesting that key leadership may be compensated through other mechanisms or are volunteers.
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 American Astronomical Society's IRS 990 filings:
- Recurring operating deficits in recent years (e.g., 2023: $2.7M deficit, 2022: $0.2M deficit)
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, which is atypical for an organization of this scale and warrants further investigation into executive remuneration practices.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Astronomical Society:
- Strong and growing asset base, reaching $25,423,957 in 2023, providing financial stability.
- Consistent revenue growth over the past decade, from $11.7M in 2014 to $19.1M in 2023.
- Excellent transparency with 13 years of consistent IRS 990 filings.
Frequently Asked Questions about American Astronomical Society
Is American Astronomical Society a legitimate charity?
American Astronomical Society (EIN: 210735173) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Washington DC. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $22.0M. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does American Astronomical Society spend its money?
American Astronomical Society directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to American Astronomical Society tax-deductible?
American Astronomical Society is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 210735173). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of American Astronomical Society's spending goes to programs?
American Astronomical Society directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does American Astronomical Society compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), American Astronomical Society is above average for NTEE category U31 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is American Astronomical Society located?
American Astronomical Society is headquartered in Washington, Washington DC and files with the IRS under EIN 210735173. It is classified under NTEE code U31.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does American Astronomical Society have?
American Astronomical Society has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $22.0M in total revenue.
How does the American Astronomical Society fund its operations given recurring operating deficits?
The organization appears to draw on its substantial asset base, which was $25,423,957 in 2023, to cover operating deficits, as seen in 2023 where expenses ($21,907,187) exceeded revenue ($19,197,016).
What is the nature of the '0% Officer Comp' reported across all filings?
The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation is highly unusual for an organization with annual revenues exceeding $19 million. This could indicate that officers are volunteers, compensated through a related entity, or their compensation is categorized differently on the 990, requiring deeper scrutiny of the full filing.
Is the American Astronomical Society's financial health improving or declining?
While revenue has generally increased over the past decade, recent years (2022, 2023) show expenses exceeding revenue, indicating a slight decline in immediate operating financial health, though the overall asset base remains strong.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Astronomical Society showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), American Astronomical Society's revenue has grown by 57.6%, moving from $12.2M to $19.2M. Total assets increased by 47.4% over the same period, from $17.2M to $25.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 118.8%, from $10.0M to $21.9M. In its most recent filing year (2023), American Astronomical Society reported a deficit of $2.7M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $13.3M in liabilities against $25.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 52.5%), resulting in net assets of $12.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $19.2M | $21.9M | $25.4M | $13.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $19.5M | $19.8M | $26.3M | $12.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $17.5M | $16.8M | $21.9M | $5.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $17.0M | $17.4M | $21.5M | $6.7M | — | — |
| 2019 | $14.6M | $15.7M | $22.5M | $8.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $15.9M | $14.1M | $18.5M | $5.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $12.3M | $13.5M | $21.4M | $5.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $11.4M | $13.2M | $21.4M | $5.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $13.8M | $14.7M | $21.4M | $4.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $11.8M | $11.6M | $23.1M | $4.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $12.2M | $11.4M | $22.7M | $3.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $12.6M | $10.7M | $20.2M | $3.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $12.2M | $10.0M | $17.2M | $3.0M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $19.2M, expenses of $21.9M, and assets of $25.4M (revenue -1.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $19.5M, expenses of $19.8M, and assets of $26.3M (revenue +11.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $17.5M, expenses of $16.8M, and assets of $21.9M (revenue +2.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $17.0M, expenses of $17.4M, and assets of $21.5M (revenue +16.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $14.6M, expenses of $15.7M, and assets of $22.5M (revenue -8.4% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $15.9M, expenses of $14.1M, and assets of $18.5M (revenue +29.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $12.3M, expenses of $13.5M, and assets of $21.4M (revenue +7.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $11.4M, expenses of $13.2M, and assets of $21.4M (revenue -17.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $13.8M, expenses of $14.7M, and assets of $21.4M (revenue +17.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $11.8M, expenses of $11.6M, and assets of $23.1M (revenue -3.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $12.2M, expenses of $11.4M, and assets of $22.7M (revenue -2.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $12.6M, expenses of $10.7M, and assets of $20.2M (revenue +3.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $12.2M, expenses of $10.0M, and assets of $17.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for American Astronomical Society:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for American Astronomical Society 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.