American Cancer Society Inc
American Cancer Society Inc maintains financial stability with zero reported officer compensation, despite a significant asset reduction since 2015.
EIN: 20651055 · Atlanta, GA · NTEE: H11 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $5.8M |
| Total Expenses | $3.3M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $11.3M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is American Cancer Society Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
American Cancer Society Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About American Cancer Society Inc
American Cancer Society Inc (EIN: 20651055) is a nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, GA, classified under NTEE code H11. The organization reported total revenue of $5.8M and total assets of $11.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of American Cancer Society Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
American Cancer Society Inc is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 84 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2019). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -5.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $4.1M |
| Total Expenses | $3.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$843K |
| Total Assets | $11.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $144K |
| Net Assets | $11.3M |
| Operating Margin | 20.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 1.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 42.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2019, American Cancer Society Inc reported a surplus of $843K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 42.0 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 1.3% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2019), American Cancer Society Inc's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -5.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +1.6% | +0.3% | -3.9% |
| 2018 | -14.7% | +5.0% | +7.8% |
| 2017 | -9.1% | -86.3% | +16.0% |
| 2016 | -11.3% | +611.1% | -65.1% |
| 2015 | +1.6% | -3.9% | +12.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1800 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1942 |
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 Cancer Society 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: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Cancer Society Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $843K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 1.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no portion of its expenses is allocated to executive salaries, which is highly commendable for a nonprofit of its size with revenues in the millions.
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 Cancer Society Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant decline in assets from $27,285,052 in 2015 to $11,436,827 in 2019 without clear explanation in provided data.
- Unusually high expenses of $22,657,409 in 2016, far exceeding revenue of $5,220,467 for that period.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Cancer Society Inc:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating strong financial stewardship and focus on mission.
- Maintained positive net assets, with assets ($11,436,827 in 2019) significantly exceeding liabilities ($143,538 in 2019), demonstrating solvency.
- Generally stable revenue streams over the past decade, with latest revenue at $5,840,187.
Frequently Asked Questions about American Cancer Society Inc
Is American Cancer Society Inc a legitimate charity?
American Cancer Society Inc (EIN: 20651055) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Georgia. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $5.8M. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does American Cancer Society Inc spend its money?
American Cancer Society Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to American Cancer Society Inc tax-deductible?
American Cancer Society Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 20651055). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of American Cancer Society Inc's spending goes to programs?
American Cancer Society Inc directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does American Cancer Society Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), American Cancer Society Inc is above average for NTEE category H11 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is American Cancer Society Inc located?
American Cancer Society Inc is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and files with the IRS under EIN 20651055. It is classified under NTEE code H11.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does American Cancer Society Inc have?
American Cancer Society Inc has 10 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 $5.8M in total revenue.
Why did the organization's assets decrease from $27,285,052 in 2015 to $11,436,827 in 2019?
The provided data shows a significant reduction in assets over this period, which could be due to strategic investments, asset sales, or changes in accounting practices. Further details from the full 990 filings would be needed to understand the specific reasons.
How does the American Cancer Society Inc manage to operate with 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that executive leadership may be compensated through other means not categorized as 'officer compensation' on the 990, or that the organization relies heavily on volunteer leadership or a different compensation structure. This is an unusual but positive indicator of resource allocation.
What was the cause of the unusually high expenses of $22,657,409 in 2016, significantly exceeding revenue?
The 2016 filing shows expenses far outstripping revenue, which could indicate a major one-time program expenditure, a significant investment, or an accounting adjustment. This anomaly would require a deeper dive into the specific 990 filing for that year.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Cancer Society Inc showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2019), American Cancer Society Inc's revenue has declined by 35.5%, moving from $6.4M to $4.1M. Total assets decreased by 26.3% over the same period, from $15.5M to $11.4M. Total functional expenses fell by 7.1%, from $3.5M to $3.3M. In its most recent filing year (2019), American Cancer Society Inc reported a surplus of $843K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $144K in liabilities against $11.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.3%), resulting in net assets of $11.3M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $4.1M | $3.3M | $11.4M | $144K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $4.0M | $3.3M | $11.9M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $4.7M | $3.1M | $11.0M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $5.2M | $22.7M | $9.5M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $5.9M | $3.2M | $27.3M | $1.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $5.8M | $3.3M | $24.3M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $5.9M | $3.1M | $21.7M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.8M | $778K | $19.1M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $5.7M | $3.3M | $18.1M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $6.4M | $3.5M | $15.5M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2019: Revenue of $4.1M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $11.4M (revenue +1.6% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $11.9M (revenue -14.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $4.7M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $11.0M (revenue -9.1% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $5.2M, expenses of $22.7M, and assets of $9.5M (revenue -11.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $5.9M, expenses of $3.2M, and assets of $27.3M (revenue +1.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $5.8M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $24.3M (revenue -1.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $5.9M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $21.7M (revenue +232.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $778K, and assets of $19.1M (revenue -69.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $5.7M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $18.1M (revenue -10.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $6.4M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $15.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for American Cancer Society Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for American Cancer Society 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.