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Who funds the American Heart Association
Executive summary
The American Heart Association (AHA) is funded through a mix of individual donations, local volunteer fundraising, corporate and foundation support, and board-directed research funds; the AHA publishes audited financial statements and disclosures of pharmaceutical and device industry support on its financial information pages [1]. The Association’s Board of Directors recently allocated an “all-time high” for research funding and AHA grants and programs are regularly supported by foundations and corporations as noted in its funded-research descriptions [2] [3].
1. Who gives money to the AHA — a patchwork of donors and institutional support
The AHA describes its funding as coming from multiple channels including donations and corporate partners; its “Financial Information” hub contains audited financial statements, IRS Form 990s, and a specific disclosure of support received from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers, signaling reliance on both public philanthropy and corporate support [1]. The Association’s research pages also state that support from the AHA Board of Directors, foundations and corporations enables topical initiatives and awards, explicitly naming foundations and corporations as funding sources for research programs [3].
2. Local volunteers and community fundraising move money to mission work
Local volunteer leaders and community fundraising are front‑and‑center in AHA communications: event-driven programs and volunteer-led campaigns raise “critical awareness and fund the mission,” and local leaders are publicly recognized for supporting AHA fundraising and programming (example: a Miami Leaders of Impact award announcement) [4]. That suggests a substantial grassroots and chapter-level revenue stream in addition to national fundraising [4].
3. Corporate and industry relationships are disclosed but play a visible role
The AHA’s financial disclosure page specifically lists national center support from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers and aggregates “total corporate support,” indicating material corporate contributions and formal disclosure of those ties [1]. The existence of a published disclosure file shows the AHA acknowledges industry funding and attempts transparency about those relationships [1].
4. Board of Directors and internal allocations shape research dollars
The AHA notes that its Board of Directors allocated an “all-time high” for research funding in a given year — a decision internal to the organization that determines how much of its revenue goes into grants and awards [2]. That internal governance signal is relevant for researchers seeking AHA grants and for those assessing organizational priorities [2].
5. Foundations and grantmaking partnerships underwrite specific programs
AHA program materials repeatedly reference support from foundations and corporations for targeted initiatives; for example, the AHA’s funded-research pages state that Board, foundation and corporate support enable focused research networks and awards, and external RFP listings (e.g., Studio Red/Go Red for Women Fund) invite applicants for foundation- or fund‑backed programs [3] [5]. This indicates some AHA projects are financed through designated funds rather than general donations.
6. Research funding is substantive, structured, and publicly reported
The AHA presents numerous structured grant programs (Merit Awards, Innovative Project Awards, AI-focused funding with $12 million available) and application rules; program pages describe award sizes, application deadlines and compliance rules, showing that the AHA both raises and deploys significant research capital [6] [7]. The AHA also publishes research funding instructions and policies that align award reporting and public‑access requirements [8] [7].
7. What available sources do not mention (limits to this summary)
Available sources do not mention exact percentages or a full breakdown (e.g., shares from individual donors vs. corporate sponsors vs. investment income) of the AHA’s revenue mix in the text snippets provided; they also do not provide the latest dollar totals for annual revenue or a line‑by‑line donor list in these excerpts — though the financial information page indicates audited statements and Form 990s are available for those details [1]. For a detailed revenue breakdown, the AHA’s posted audited financials and IRS Form 990s should be consulted directly [1].
8. How to assess potential conflicts and verify funding influence
The AHA’s public disclosure of pharmaceutical and device-manufacturer support (and the presence of corporate support summaries) allows external analysts to examine industry ties; the organization’s transparency documents (audited statements and Form 990) are the primary sources to evaluate potential influence or restricted funding [1]. Observers should compare program disclosures (e.g., co‑funded awards) and grant intellectual‑property policies for fuller context on how funding may shape research priorities [7] [3].
In short: AHA funding comes from individual and volunteer fundraising, Board‑directed allocations, foundations, corporations (including disclosed industry supporters), and structured grant and program revenue streams. For precise dollar figures, donor lists, and detailed breakdowns, the AHA’s audited financial statements and IRS filings linked on their Financial Information page provide the necessary primary data [1] [3].