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Autism Society of America (National Office) & Foundation

CharityWatch report issued
May 2021

Top-Rated Charity
A-
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
82%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$16
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Autism Society of America (National Office) & Foundation
6110 Executive Blvd
Suite 305
Rockville, MD 20852

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

To improve the lives of all affected by autism.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2019

Program Percentage: 82%

The percentage of Autism Society of America (National Office) & Foundation's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$2,800,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $16

How many dollars Autism Society of America (National Office) & Foundation spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$2,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Joint Costs

Autism Society of America (National Office) & Foundation's rating was adjusted for Joint Costs. If you are a donor who considers direct mail, telemarketing, and other Joint Cost solicitations to be true charitable programs, the below efficiency ratios, which were not adjusted for joint costs, may better reflect your goals.

Program % Cost to Raise $100
84% $14
Accounting rules allow charities to report some telemarketing, direct mail, and other solicitation costs as Program expenses. CharityWatch believes that most donors do not consider a charity's solicitation activities to be the Programs they are intending to support with their donations. We therefore adjust such expenses out of a charity's reported Program expense and add it to Fundraising expense prior to calculating its rating.

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Autism Society of America Foundation IRS Form 990 52-2007155
Autism Society of America IRS Form 990 52-1020149
Autism Society of America & Foundation Audited Combined Financial Statements Multiple
Entity: Autism Society of America Foundation
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 52-2007155
Entity: Autism Society of America
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 52-1020149
Entity: Autism Society of America & Foundation
Document Type: Audited Combined Financial Statements
Tax ID: Multiple

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Autism Society of America (National Office) & Foundation
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Autism Society of America (National Office) & Foundation
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-In Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 S. Badesch President/CEO $266,347
2 J. Dabrowski CFO $196,167
3 M. Miller VP, Strategic Advancement $145,984
1
Name: S. Badesch
Title: President/CEO
Compensation: $266,347
2
Name: J. Dabrowski
Title: CFO
Compensation: $196,167
3
Name: M. Miller
Title: VP, Strategic Advancement
Compensation: $145,984

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of Autism Society of America & Foundation includes the financial activities of Autism Society of America (the National Office) (tax ID #52-1020149) and Autism Society of America Foundation (tax ID #52-2007155), each of which is organized as a 501(c)(3) public charity. All significant intercompany transactions between the organizations have been eliminated in the Autism Society of America & Foundation audited combined financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019.


The rating does not include the Autism Society's local and state affiliates. According to the Autism Society website, the Society "relies upon the tremendous work and support of our local and state affiliates," which it has "in almost every state." The website also states that each Autism Society affiliate "is its own organization with its own governing board making decisions that best support the needs of families and individuals impacted by autism in their local community and/or state."

According to the Autism Society of America & Foundation combined audit of December 31, 2019 (Note 8, In-Kind Contributions), the Organization "received in-kind contributions, in the form of legal and other professional services," in 2019 on which it placed a total value of $35,260.

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the Autism Society of America & Foundation combined audit of December 31, 2019 (Note 16, Subsequent Events):

"In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak to constitute a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern.' The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the Organizations' operational and financial performance will depend on certain developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak, impact on the Organizations' employees, grantors, contributors and others all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. At this point, the extent to which COVID-19 may impact the Organizations' financial condition or changes in net assets is uncertain.

"In May 2020, the Organizations obtained a loan under U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program for $241,902. The term of the loan is 24 months and interest rate is fixed at 1% per year. Principal and interest payments are deferred for six months with $13,547 due monthly beginning seven months from the commencement date of the loan. The Organizations also obtained two loans under the U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster (EID) Program for a total amount of $297,600. The term for both EID loans is 30 years and interest is fixed at 2.75% per year. Principal and interest payments are deferred for twelve months with a combined payment of $1,272 due monthly beginning twelve months from the commencement date of the loan."