Acoustical Society of America

What it reported doing in 2024

The asa's outreach encompasses activities aimed at k-12 students and teachers, the general public, the press, acousticians in different stages of their careers, other acoustical societies, and organizations in scientific disciplines other than acoustics. Outreach events are held at asa meetings, cosponsors' symposiums, workshops, and conferences organized by other organizations both in the us and abroad. Other outreach information is provided via asa websites including acoustics.org, exploresound.org, acousticstoday.org, and acousticalsociety.org.outreach to science reporters is provided via press conferences broadcast live over the internet during asa meetings. Reporters can participate in these press conferences and interact with the presenters. Prior to meetings, press releases and lay versions of presentations are made available on the asa website, acoustics.org.asa sponsors biennial science communication awards for professionals in acoustics and for journalists which are intended to recognize excellence in the presentation of acoustics related topics to a popular audience. Cash prizes and travel support to an asa meeting are provided to winning entries.asa authorizes the formation of regional and student chapters which provide outreach to acousticians across the united states and abroad. These groups hold periodic meetings for acoustics students and professionals and demonstration sessions for k-12 students. Asa provides annual financial support for chapter activities.asa provides a program of fellowships, scholarships, awards and grants for students and post-doctoral researchers working in the field of acoustics. These include the frederick v. Hunt postdoctoral research fellowship in acoustics, the leo and gabriella beranek scholarship in architectural acoustics and noise control, the james e. West minority fellowship, raymond h. Stetson scholarship in phonetics and speech science, the frank and Virginia winker memorial scholarship for graduate study in acoustics, the robert w. Young award for undergraduate student research in acoustics, the daoma and murray strasberg memorial scholarship in ocean acoustics, the acoustical oceanography travel award, the robert b. Newman medal, the wenger prize, and the royster award. These awards include stipends of various amounts, and some include travel support to attend asa meetings.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 76.8%; rating input score 77
• Program expense ratio: 78.1%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Limited
  • Conducts field audits: Limited
  • May suspend future funding: Limited
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Pass
  • Requires grant agreements: Limited
  • May require repayment: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 94%; rating input score 94; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd 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: 29.3%; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.22; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 22.4%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.3% per year; rating input score 100; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.1% per year; rating input score 100; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.1% per year; rating input score 100; 25th percentile among comparable filings