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Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks reported $28.8 million in revenue and $34.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $68.91 went to program services, $9.06 to management and general costs and $22.03 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 96.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $472,064 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 47 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 46% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $34MFor context, the median across 314 covered diseases, disorders & medical disciplines charities: $88.73 programs, $10.89 management, $0.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $29MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 68.9% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.1% | 10.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 22.0% | 0.4% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.27 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 96.6% | 24.7% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 59.5% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $472,064 | $391,657 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.38% | 1.45% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 47 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 9.5 | 7.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 26 of 26 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAided more than 1.6 million people. Autism response team and educational community outreach team provided support and guidance to over 66,431 people seeking autism information and resources including 9,662 contacts from the spanish-speaking community; launched a national autism information and referral service provider network with 12 organizations and led bimonthly capacity building trainings to address gaps in autism care coordination and service access. We expanded resources for autistic adults, including a toolkit for adults seeking an autism diagnosis - written by autistic adults - that…
We increase knowledge through research to deepen our understanding of autism and lead to advancements in autism diagnosis, early intervention, and personalized healthcare. Connected families in 50 states and 37 countries with resources and access to autism experts. We unveiled a new resource for the treatment of adhd, anxiety and irritability in autism, providing clinicians with a structured, evidence-informed approach that will ultimately improve care for people on the spectrum. We funded three new research projects to reveal how auditory processing differences affect autistic people…
We are steadfast in our commitment to improve lifelong outcomes and increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism. Expanded e-caregivers skills training enabling underserved families to build their autistic child's communication and behavior skills. 47 businesses earned their autism friendly designation, our program co-developed by people with autism to help organizations welcome and build community with autistic people. Successfully advocated for state licencing laws to provide people with autism greater access to medically necessary interventions. Engaged 3.2 million people on…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $415,337 | $0 | $56,727 | $472,064 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $346,700 | $0 | $29,646 | $376,346 |
| CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $309,227 | $0 | $61,427 | $370,654 |
| CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $320,048 | $0 | $46,414 | $366,462 |
| CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $265,201 | $0 | $52,674 | $317,875 |
| SVP, IT & DATA SUPPORT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $226,611 | $0 | $52,801 | $279,412 |
| SR. DIR. GENETIC DISC. & TRANS. SCI. Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $198,264 | $0 | $37,880 | $236,144 |
| VP, PEOPLE AND CULTURE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,290 | $0 | $10,727 | $230,017 |
47 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Autism Speaks (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.8M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b26 · 26 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5168
- Volunteers Part I, line 635,000
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CLICK ON MEDIA LLC Advertising | $1,417,641 |
| META PLATFORMSINC Advertising | $638,904 |
| THE BURSON GROUP LLC Consulting | $603,469 |
| GOOGLE LLC (GOOGLE CLOUD) Web expense | $351,093 |
| NNE MARKETING LLC Consulting | $336,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 21 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
200 private foundations reported grants to Autism Speaks totaling $2.1M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Autism Speaks's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Autism Speaks, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Autism Speaks spent in FY2025, $68.91 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Hawaii Residency ProgramsHonolulu, HI · revenue $28M · programs 92.8% · FY2025
- Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center of NevadaLas Vegas, NV · revenue $29M · programs 94.1% · FY2025
- Central Association for the BlindUtica, NY · revenue $28M · programs 71.9% · 2025
- University of Western StatesPortland, OR · revenue $29M · programs 74.9% · FY2025
- Affinity Health CenterRock Hill, SC · revenue $28M · programs 94.4% · 2024
All diseases, disorders & medical disciplines charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Autism Speaks's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Autism Speaks reported that 68.9% of its $34.2 million in expenses went to program services, 9.1% to management and general and 22.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Autism Speaks pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Autism Speaks reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $472,064, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Autism Speaks get its money?
Of $28.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 96.6% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Autism Speaks a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 20-2329938 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, object 202630369349301253 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202540369349300209 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202420249349300527 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202330109349300218 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202133509349301403 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 (amended), object 202120859349300017 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 20-2329938: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.