American Booksellers Assoc Inc
American Booksellers Assoc Inc maintains strong assets despite recent operational deficits and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 135676641 · Harrison, NY · NTEE: A33Z · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is American Booksellers Assoc Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
American Booksellers Assoc Inc directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About American Booksellers Assoc Inc
American Booksellers Assoc Inc (EIN: 135676641) is a nonprofit organization based in Harrison, NY, classified under NTEE code A33Z. The organization reported total revenue of $9.4M and total assets of $39.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of American Booksellers Assoc Inc'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 American Booksellers Assoc Inc 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: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Booksellers Assoc Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The American Booksellers Assoc Inc consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all 13 IRS 990 filings provided, indicating that no salaries or other compensation are paid to officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with assets nearing $40 million.
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 Booksellers Assoc Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operational deficits in multiple recent years (e.g., 202309, 202109, 202009, 201909, 201809, 201709, 201509) where expenses exceeded revenue, indicating reliance on reserves or other funding sources.
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data makes it difficult to fully assess spending efficiency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Booksellers Assoc Inc:
- Strong asset base, with assets of $37,266,195 in 202309, providing significant financial stability and a buffer against operational deficits.
- Excellent asset-to-liability ratio, with assets significantly exceeding liabilities ($4,716,313 in 202309), indicating strong long-term solvency.
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, demonstrating high transparency regarding executive pay and potentially efficient use of funds.
- Ability to sustain operations despite periods of revenue decline, suggesting effective financial management and strategic use of reserves.
Frequently Asked Questions about American Booksellers Assoc Inc
Is American Booksellers Assoc Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, American Booksellers Assoc Inc (EIN: 135676641) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does American Booksellers Assoc Inc spend its money?
American Booksellers Assoc Inc directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to American Booksellers Assoc Inc tax-deductible?
American Booksellers Assoc Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 135676641). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does American Booksellers Assoc Inc cover its operational deficits in years where expenses exceed revenue?
The organization likely draws from its substantial asset reserves, which were $37,266,195 in 202309, to cover operational deficits, as seen in periods like 202309 where expenses ($5,750,458) exceeded revenue ($5,145,509).
What is the reason for 0% officer compensation reported across all filings?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that officers may be volunteers, compensated through other means not classified as officer compensation on the 990, or that the organization's structure does not involve paid officers in the traditional sense. This is a significant point of transparency.
What caused the significant revenue fluctuation, such as the drop to $1,963,902 in 202109 and the subsequent rise?
The revenue fluctuations could be due to various factors such as changes in membership dues, event income, grant funding cycles, or economic impacts affecting the bookselling industry, particularly during the pandemic years (e.g., 2020-2021).
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Booksellers Assoc Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), American Booksellers Assoc Inc's revenue has grown by 37.7%, moving from $3.7M to $5.1M. Total assets increased by 10.8% over the same period, from $33.6M to $37.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 44.8%, from $4.0M to $5.8M. In its most recent filing year (2023), American Booksellers Assoc Inc reported a deficit of $605K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $4.7M in liabilities against $37.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 12.7%), resulting in net assets of $32.5M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5.1M | $5.8M | $37.3M | $4.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $5.3M | $4.5M | $37.1M | $5.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $2.0M | $4.1M | $43.2M | $6.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $3.1M | $4.3M | $41.0M | $3.9M | — | — |
| 2019 | $4.2M | $5.1M | $38.0M | $3.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $3.9M | $4.7M | $37.6M | $3.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $3.8M | $4.6M | $36.8M | $3.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $4.5M | $4.6M | $35.7M | $2.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $4.5M | $4.8M | $36.2M | $2.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $4.7M | $4.2M | $38.2M | $2.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $4.3M | $3.7M | $37.5M | $1.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.1M | $3.8M | $36.0M | $1.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $3.7M | $4.0M | $33.6M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $5.1M, expenses of $5.8M, and assets of $37.3M (revenue -2.9% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $5.3M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $37.1M (revenue +169.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $4.1M, and assets of $43.2M (revenue -37.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $3.1M, expenses of $4.3M, and assets of $41.0M (revenue -25.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $38.0M (revenue +6.4% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $4.7M, and assets of $37.6M (revenue +3.5% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $3.8M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $36.8M (revenue -16.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $4.5M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $35.7M (revenue +0.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $4.5M, expenses of $4.8M, and assets of $36.2M (revenue -3.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $4.7M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $38.2M (revenue +10.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $4.3M, expenses of $3.7M, and assets of $37.5M (revenue +36.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.1M, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $36.0M (revenue -16.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $3.7M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $33.6M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for American Booksellers Assoc Inc 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.