American Lung Association HQ
When you can't breathe, nothing else matters
Learn how to support this organization
American Lung Association
EIN: 13-1632524
as of November 2023
as of November 13, 2023
Mission
The American Lung Association's mission is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.
Ruling year
1944
President & CEO
Mr. Harold P. Wimmer
Main address
55 W Wacker Dr Suite 1150
Chicago, IL 60601 USA
EIN
13-1632524
Smoking
Public health
Respiratory system diseases
Lung cancer
Population served
Children and youth
Adults
Health
NTEE code
Lung (G45)
Cancer (G30)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download annual reports Download other documentsWhat we aim to solve
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. Our work is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. Whether it's searching for cures to lung diseases, keeping kids off tobacco or fighting for laws that protect the air we all breathe, the work of the American Lung Association helps to save lives every day. Breathing is essential to life. From our first breath to our last, every breath counts. For nearly 120 years the American Lung Association has been America's leading force for lung health—successfully tapping into America's spirit of community that inspires us to work together for better health and longer life for all.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Lung HelpLine
You Ask. We Answer. Talk to our lung health experts at the American Lung Association Lung HelpLine and Tobacco QuitLine. Our service is free and available as often as you need. 1-800-LUNGUSA
Freedom From Smoking
The American Lung Association has been helping people quit smoking for over 35 years through Freedom From Smoking®. Ranked as one of the most effective programs in the country, Freedom From Smoking has helped hundreds of thousands individuals quit smoking for good and is now available in a variety of formats. Freedom From Smoking Plus, whose user-friendly interface allows you to create a personal quit smoking plan on your desktop, tablet or smartphone, is the newest way to quit smoking . Through interactive features that include videos, quizzes and activities, Freedom From Smoking Plus walks you through the quitting process and has a surround sound of support from our Lung HelpLine counselors and other quitters through our online community. See a free demo of this program online at FreedomFromSmoking.org.
Better Breathers Clubs
Living with a chronic lung disease can be easier. Better Breathers Clubs are welcoming support groups for individuals with COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer, and their caregivers. Learn better ways to better cope with lung disease while getting the support of others in similar situations. Led by a trained facilitator, these in-person adult support groups give you the tools you need to live the best quality of life possible.
Better Breathers Clubs meet regularly and feature educational presentations on a wide range of relevant topics, including:
How COPD affects the lungs
Breathing techniques
Exercise
Talking with your physician
Medications and other treatment options
Medical tests
Supplemental oxygen
Home healthcare
Lung transplants
Air pollution
You don't have to feel alone or isolated. It feels good to talk with others who understand—and that can have a positive impact on your health.
Find a Better Breathers Club near you, by following the links below or calling 1-800-LUNGUSA for more information.
If you are interested in joining an online support community in addition to an in-person Better Breathers Club, Living with COPD, Living with Lung Disease and Lung Cancer Survivors online communities on Inspire.
Lung Cancer
The American Lung Association is committed to defeating lung cancer and supporting those affected by this disease. We offer a variety of resources and information about lung cancer. Check out some of our key lung cancer support and education resources featured at lung.org/lung-cancer, including patient resources, videos, toolkits, worksheets, infographics and other resources for lung cancer patients and caregivers.
Lung Cancer Survivors Community
This online lung cancer community is a place to discuss how lung cancer is affecting you and share your experience and hope with peers.
LUNG FORCE
Our movement to defeat lung cancer. Through events all over the country and our LUNG FORCE Heroes program, you can meet others with lung cancer and join the fight.
Asthma Basics
The American Lung Association's Asthma Basics course is a free one-hour interactive online learning module designed to help people learn more about asthma. This course is ideal for frontline healthcare professionals, such as school nurses or community health workers, as well as individuals with asthma, parents of children with asthma, and co-workers, friends and family who want to learn more about asthma. Asthma Basics is available in English and Spanish.
Open Airways for Schools
Open Airways For Schools® is a program that educates and empowers elementary-aged children through a fun and interactive approach to asthma self-management.
Research
Since 1915, our researchers have made significant contributions/milestones in the fight against lung disease by revolutionizing treatment and unlocking secrets of the body's immune system. As such, premature babies are less likely to die from respiratory distress syndrome; tuberculosis (TB) rates are at an all-time low; and young and old with chronic lung diseases are benefiting from improved treatment options such as lung transplantation, oxygen therapy and genetically-based medicines.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of individuals enrolled in a smoking addiction program
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Freedom From Smoking
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The # of individuals enrolled in our Freedom From Smoking Cessation program is back to pre-pandemic participation for FY 22 at 4704.
Number of staff members certified in subject area training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Open Airways for Schools
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These individuals are staff who have been certified through a credentialling body to be a Certified Asthma Education or a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists.
Number of comment letters to government agencies
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Lung Cancer
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Includes written comments and oral testimony at regulatory hearings.
Number of people trained
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Open Airways for Schools
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These are individuals trained in our Behavior Change Asthma Programs.
Number of research studies funded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Research
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of media citations of advocate research or products
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Lung Cancer
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These numbers reflect our State of the Air, State of Tobacco Control and State of Lung Cancer Reports.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The American Lung Association aims to:
1) Defeat lung cancer
2) Champion clean air for all
3) Improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families
4) Create a tobacco free future
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Advocacy, education, research, awareness and engagement are equally critical to achieving our mission. The American Lung Association uses evidence-based and data-driven decision making to make a measurable impact. Integral to the success of our mission is building a diverse, active and engaged pool of volunteers. We work to reduce the effects of lung disease in our community and engage individuals, families and organizations in our work. We use evidence-based, data-driven decision making to achieve measurable impact through a diverse, active and engaged pool of volunteers. We work to overcome health disparities to work toward universal lung health.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
To protect public health, the American Lung Association led the battle against tuberculosis, has been a national leader in tobacco prevention and control, fought to protect the air we breathe by reducing air pollution, and has funded lifesaving research for lung diseases like asthma, COPD, emphysema and cystic fibrosis.
The organization is now focusing even more of its resources on lung cancer, the #1 cancer killer in the US, by doubling its funding of lung cancer research and exponentially increasing awareness of its devastating effects. The Lung Association is also promoting the importance of lung cancer screening to at-risk groups and their families.
We work to protect public health from air pollution to ensure that all Americans have air that is safe and healthy to breathe. This includes defending the Clean Air Act and advancing clean air policy, promotion of electric vehicles, and addressing climate change.
More than 34 million Americans live with a chronic lung disease like asthma and COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Through our programs, services and research, we help those with lung diseases find the help they need.
Every year, close to half a million people in the U.S. die from tobacco-caused disease and thousands of youth start vaping. We provide education and cessation resources and support, and we and have helped more than a million people quit smoking.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
For nearly 120 years, the American Lung Association has been America's leading force for lung health. Our work has directly contributed to major public health and medical landmarks, including:
• Control of tuberculosis in America
• A reduction in smoking rates to 11.6%
• 28 states and D.C. passed smokefree air laws
• Air pollution levels dropping 73 percent since 1980
• Funded research that discovered the gene behind cystic fibrosis, the cause of respiratory distress syndrome in infants and studies that have directly improved the lives of people living with asthma, COPD and lung cancer.
But there is more to do. Lung cancer remains the nation's #1 cancer killer, COPD remains a leading cause of death in the US, and more than 10% of the US population is affected by chronic lung disease. We will continue to work to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, because when you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2022 info
3.34
Months of cash in 2022 info
3.2
Fringe rate in 2022 info
25%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
American Lung Association
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
This snapshot of American Lung Association’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
Created in partnership with
Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $91,265,703 | $3,142,643 | -$8,175,540 | $18,525,661 | $3,317,069 |
| As % of expenses | 88.2% | 3.1% | -7.7% | 18.8% | 3.3% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | $90,752,092 | $2,721,109 | -$8,553,827 | $18,147,374 | $2,965,912 |
| As % of expenses | 87.3% | 2.6% | -8.1% | 18.4% | 2.9% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $107,685,318 | $113,224,643 | $104,443,385 | $99,575,226 | $129,392,936 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | 149.2% | 5.1% | -7.8% | -4.7% | 29.9% |
| Program services revenue | 4.8% | 4.5% | 7.0% | 7.9% | 1.9% |
| Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Investment income | 2.6% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.9% |
| Government grants | 23.0% | 21.3% | 25.9% | 24.5% | 31.5% |
| All other grants and contributions | 58.7% | 59.0% | 59.0% | 58.8% | 55.1% |
| Other revenue | 10.9% | 12.2% | 4.4% | 5.1% | 7.5% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $103,431,997 | $102,393,355 | $105,650,331 | $98,354,274 | $101,575,548 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | 163.3% | -1.0% | 3.2% | -6.9% | 3.3% |
| Personnel | 44.2% | 43.8% | 42.4% | 42.4% | 41.3% |
| Professional fees | 22.7% | 24.0% | 27.8% | 26.4% | 25.6% |
| Occupancy | 3.7% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 4.2% | 3.2% |
| Interest | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Pass-through | 7.4% | 8.5% | 10.9% | 12.8% | 13.0% |
| All other expenses | 21.9% | 19.9% | 15.1% | 14.2% | 16.8% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $103,945,608 | $102,814,889 | $106,028,618 | $98,732,561 | $101,926,705 |
| One month of savings | $8,619,333 | $8,532,780 | $8,804,194 | $8,196,190 | $8,464,629 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed asset additions | $10,952,714 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,568,862 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $123,517,655 | $111,347,669 | $114,832,812 | $106,928,751 | $111,960,196 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.2 |
| Months of cash and investments | 16.4 | 16.9 | 15.4 | 20.4 | 17.4 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 11.1 | 11.5 | 10.2 | 13.2 | 13.2 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $37,231,856 | $35,424,879 | $26,666,244 | $30,341,221 | $27,358,501 |
| Investments | $103,882,168 | $108,409,356 | $108,494,849 | $136,781,279 | $120,122,477 |
| Receivables | $14,985,284 | $12,635,748 | $13,306,021 | $10,952,635 | $17,319,964 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $20,291,245 | $20,253,000 | $20,249,193 | $20,081,524 | $21,343,030 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 47.9% | 48.9% | 49.7% | 51.1% | 48.3% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 27.1% | 25.7% | 27.4% | 27.7% | 23.0% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $106,001,896 | $108,723,005 | $100,169,178 | $118,316,552 | $121,282,464 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $5,011,492 | $4,760,037 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $37,816,968 | $39,749,161 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $42,828,460 | $44,509,198 | $42,635,945 | $50,122,189 | $44,381,061 |
| Total net assets | $148,830,356 | $153,232,203 | $142,805,123 | $168,438,741 | $165,663,525 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
President & CEO
Mr. Harold P. Wimmer
Harold P. Wimmer is National President and CEO of the American Lung Association, the nation's oldest voluntary health association, working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.
Wimmer has served as National President and CEO since February 2013. He began his career with the American Lung Association in 1978 and served in key executive positions in the American Lung Association in Illinois and the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest. Wimmer is responsible for carrying out the strategic framework and policies established by the National Board of Directors, and directs the executive operations of the Association including: organizational growth and development, advocacy, public policy, marketing, research and program services.
In his tenure as National President and CEO, Wimmer has helped shape a nationwide culture based on "Mission First" results with a focus on high performance and cost-effective operations.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
American Lung Association
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
American Lung Association
Highest paid employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
American Lung Association
Board of directorsas of 10/05/2023
Board of directors data
Ms. Cheryl Calhoun
CBIZ MHM, LLC
Term: 2022 - 2024
Cheryl Calhoun, CPA, MBA
CBIZ MHM, LLC
Michael V. Carstens
Physicians Mutual Insurance Co.
Stephen R. O'Kane
Health Care Consultant
Johnny A. Smith, Jr.
Roche Diagnostics
Rabih I. Bechara, MD
Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine at Augusta University
Anne E. Dixon, MD
University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine
David G. Hill, MD
Waterbury Pulmonary Associates
Mark C. Johnson, MBA
Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Jonathon K. Rosen
Impact Communications
Sterling QL Yee, MBA
Oceanit
Colleen McIntosh, JD
CVS Health
Sean R. Muldoon, MD
Kindred Healthcare
Joe Ochipinti
United Healthcare
Jonathon K. Rosen
Impact Communications
Afif El-Hasan, MD
Kaiser Permanente
Wendy Lawson, MPH, RRT
Exhale
Laurie Shelby
Tesla
Susan B. Padernacht, EDD, PCC
Ncline Leadership Strategies
Michelle Sylvia Spriggs, CPA, MBA
CBIZ & MHM
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 09/29/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Contractors
Fiscal year endingProfessional fundraisers
Fiscal year endingSOURCE: IRS Form 990 Schedule G
Solicitation activities
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- Letter of Determination
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