American Ornithological Society

Analysis

American Ornithological Society is a registered charity in United States, based in Chicago, IL. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in January 1943, 83 years ago. Its declared purposes cover science and technology, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, American Ornithological Society reported income of $1.3m and spending of $1.6m, spending 119% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $1.3m to $1.3m (+5.1%), an average of +1.2% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2020, when income dropped by 29%. Over the whole period it spent 115% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, American Ornithological Society sits at the 88th percentile: it is larger than about 88% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 82nd percentile, and in the 82nd percentile within IL. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Freebsd Foundation ($1.3m), Joy of Music Program Inc ($1.3m) and Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit ($1.3m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 13% and program service revenue 39% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $175k (11% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $377k. At year end it held assets of $29.1m against liabilities of $388k, net assets of $28.7m. It reported 7 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.