American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons reported $177.5 million in revenue and $142.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $78.69 went to program services, $20.82 to management and general costs and $0.49 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 57.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,450,892 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO). 188 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 32% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $143MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $177MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 78.7% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 20.8% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 14.1% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 57.1% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,450,892 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.02% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 188 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 49.8 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 of 23 | 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 expenseThe mission of the acs quality programs, formerly referred to as the division of research and optimal care (dropc), is to enable surgeons to apply the best scientific evidence in their daily practice with respect, compassion, and dignity for all patients. Acs quality programs focus on conducting research and developing programs to enhance the quality of surgical patient care by analyzing data and identifying areas for improvement through initiatives such as the acs national surgical quality improvement program (acs nsqip). (continued in sch o)
Educational programs - the college's education division supports the efforts of practicing surgeons, surgery residents, medical students, and members of surgical teams to provide the best care to patients. Under the new strategic plan, the division focuses on providing timely, evidence-based training through accessible and modernized platforms to prepare surgeons for current and future roles. To help surgeons optimize their practices, attain new skills, and manage their careers, the acs offers dozens of educational opportunities that continually evolve to meet changing needs. These…
The division of member services serves as the primary architect of the American College of Surgeons professional community, supporting more than 93,000 surgeons, medical students, and surgical care team members globally. The division is dedicated to fostering professional connections, delivering practical practice resources, and cultivating leadership pathways for surgeons at every career stage from residency through retirement. (continued in sch o)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO Officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $1,151,185 | $0 | $299,707 | $1,450,892 |
| SVP, EDUCATION Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $907,257 | $0 | $312,801 | $1,220,058 |
| SVP, QUALITY PROGRAMS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $979,836 | $0 | $177,676 | $1,157,512 |
| CHIEF HR OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $571,329 | $0 | $201,828 | $773,157 |
| CFO Officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $660,957 | $0 | $96,697 | $757,654 |
| SVP, MEMBER SERVICES Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $619,563 | $0 | $133,591 | $753,154 |
| MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CANCER PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $710,845 | $0 | $38,776 | $749,621 |
| SVP. ADVOCACY AND HEALTH Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $484,787 | $0 | $173,330 | $658,117 |
188 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from American College of Surgeons (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $5.4M (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–1b23 · 22 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5532
- Volunteers Part I, line 62,000
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| IQVIA RDS INC Consulting | $8,258,744 |
| BRUNSWICK GROUP LLC Public relations | $2,570,948 |
| FREEMAN Event planning | $1,928,161 |
| CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATES LLC Financial services | $1,293,810 |
| AMWINS GROUP BENEFIT LLC Marketing | $903,277 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 55 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to American College of Surgeons totaling $626K 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 American College of Surgeons's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for American College of Surgeons, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 American College of Surgeons spent in FY2025, $78.69 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Brooklyn Public LibraryBrooklyn, NY · revenue $177M · programs 88.5% · FY2025
- Dallas Baptist UniversityDallas, TX · revenue $178M · programs 78.8% · FY2025
- Anderson UniversityAnderson, SC · revenue $177M · programs 89.2% · FY2025
- Elmhurst UniversityElmhurst, IL · revenue $178M · programs 85.9% · FY2025
- Art Center College of DesignPasadena, CA · revenue $177M · programs 93.6% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of American College of Surgeons's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, American College of Surgeons reported that 78.7% of its $142.5 million in expenses went to program services, 20.8% to management and general and 0.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does American College of Surgeons pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation American College of Surgeons reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,450,892, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does American College of Surgeons get its money?
Of $177.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 14.1% came from contributions and grants and 57.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is American College of Surgeons a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-2192800 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 June 30, 2025, object 202621069349300117 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541259349302564 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401349349300100 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311329349307626 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201349349301045 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101379349309250 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-2192800: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.