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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2026 Expires: August 2028

ALS Association

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(202) 407-8580
1300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 600
Arlington, VA, 22209
https://www.als.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

ALS Association meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to make ALS livable and cure it."

Year, State Incorporated:
1985, DE

Also Known As:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association

The ALS Association advances its mission through a comprehensive approach that includes research, care services, advocacy, and education. Through donor support, the organization invests millions of dollars annually in ALS research, funding projects with the greatest potential to improve treatments, care, and ultimately find a cure. The ALS Association also provides access to multidisciplinary care through a nationwide network of Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence™ and dedicated care services professionals who support people living with ALS and their families. At the state and federal levels, the Association leads nonpartisan advocacy efforts to advance policies that improve the lives of those affected by ALS. Additionally, through public awareness campaigns, digital outreach, community events, and educational resources, the organization works to increase understanding of ALS, engage supporters, and drive the funding and momentum needed to accelerate progress toward a world without ALS.

For the year ended January 31, 2025, ALS Association's program expenses were:

Patient and community services $34,218,725
Public and professional education $14,717,404
Research $7,548,065
Total Program Expenses $56,484,194

Chief Executive
Calaneet Balas, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$546,268

Chair of the Board
Larry Failvena

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired Account Executive, Salesforce

Board Size
15

Paid Staff Size
298

*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Telephone appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Radio, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Workplace Giving, Crypotcurrency

ALS Association incurred joint costs of $2,587,000 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $2,155,000 was allocated to fundraising expenses and $432,000 was allocated to program expenses.  

Fundraising costs were 26% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $73.082,597, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on ALS Association's audited financial statements for the year ended January 31, 2025.

Source of Funds
Contributions $54,657,254
Bequests $9,364,259
In-kind contributions $9,061,084
Investment income $5,864,903
Other income $2,920,936
Total Income $81,868,436

Programs: 69% Fundraising: 23% Administrative: 8%

Total Income $81,868,436
Total expenses: $82,083,698
  Program expenses $56,484,194
  Fundraising expenses $18,972,451
  Administrative expenses $6,627,053
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-215,262
Beginning Net Assets $98,132,226
Other Changes In Net Assets $119,092
Ending Net Assets $88,974,972
Total Liabilities $18,270,156
Total Assets $107,245,128

Note 1: According to the organization's consolidated audited financial statements for the year ended January 31, 2025, ALSA reported in-kind contributions totaling $9,061,000 donated public service announcements.

Note 2: In the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" represents change in value on beneficial interest in perpetual trusts ($107,612) and change in value of split-interest agreements ($11,480).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance