American Heart Association

Legal name: American Heart Association Inc

Overview

Mission

Over our 100-year history, the American Heart Association has been fighting heart disease and stroke and helping families and communities thrive. Explore the map below to see how your support has made a difference in our nation and in the places you and your loved ones call home. 13.6% Reduction in Deaths From Stroke since February 2018. > **Our Mission > To be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Two Hearts Beating as One. Volunteer Officers Board of Directors The six cardiologists who founded the American Heart Association in 1924 would be amazed.

What it reported doing in 2024

Science and technology the american heart association funds scientific studies seeking new discoveries related to causes, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Since our founding in 1924, we've invested more than $6.1 billion in research, as we continue funding scientific innovation, shaping health policies, innovating systems of care and transforming communities. Research spending for fiscal-year 2024-25 was $215 million, or 18%, and research awards for the year totaled $185 million. Continued on schedule o

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 79% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 73% for direct work, and 27% for grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
135613797
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Official website data refreshed
Sep 2026
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024, Form 990-N 2021
Headquarters
Dallas, TX, USA
Phone
2143736300
Rating
84
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Standard
Sector
Heart and Circulatory System Diseases, Disorders

Official website

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 81
  • Transparency & Controls: 79
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 60
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 92.9%; rating input score 93
  • Program expense ratio: 78.8%; rating input score 79
  • Fundraising efficiency: $6.1 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Pass
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
    • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
    • Requires narrative reports: Fail
    • Conducts field audits: Fail
    • May suspend future funding: Fail
    • Requires financial reports: Fail
    • Conducts site visits: Fail
    • Requires grant agreements: Pass
    • May require repayment: Fail
  • Grant itemization coverage: 97.3%; rating input score 97; 31st percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 5.5%; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.99; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.29; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 1.4%; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 2.3% per year; rating input score 100; 18th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 2.9% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 4.6% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • What they do: 1 programs and campaigns described on the official site · 1 operating location identified
  • Where the money goes: 92.9% of revenue deployed · 78.8% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 25 of 25 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $796.2M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $4.6M · 37 people listed · 4 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 5 contractors listed · $41.6M reported
  • Consistency: 47 of 49 current checks pass · 2 findings to review
  • Schedules: 11 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, grants, executive pay, and related organizations
  • Filing history: 15 annual filings from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 849 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 840 filed related-organization links
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Leadership & pay

37 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • NANCY BROWN (CEO): $4,563,563 total reported compensation
  • LESLIE UPTON (CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER): $1,307,550 total reported compensation
  • LARRY D CANNON (CAO/CORP SECRETARY): $1,270,798 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.