Non-profit

Arms Control Association (ACA)

Website:

www.armscontrol.org/

Location:

WASHINGTON, DC

Tax ID:

23-7124588

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $1,672,403
Expenses: $1,456,985
Assets: $1,683,576

Type:

Foreign Affairs Group

Formation:

1973

Executive Director:

Daryl G. Kimball

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Arms Control Association (ACA) is a left-of-center membership organization that advocates arms control policies and treaties. Originally founded as a project of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 1971, ACA publishes the Arms Control Today journal, 1 organizes arms control-related briefings for American and foreign policy officials and lawmakers, publishes newspaper articles, and briefs journalists on arms control-related topics. 2

ACA supports a de facto ban on nuclear tests and believes the U.S. Senate should consider ratifying the United Nations-backed Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. 3 The organization supports the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran Deal, and claimed that the Trump administration’s decision to leave the JCPOA made advances in Iran’s nuclear program possible. 4

ACA has received 21 grants worth $7,052,000 from the left-of-center John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation between 1984 and 2022 to support its general operations and other projects. 5 The organization has also received $4,625,000 in grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 2009 to 2023. 6

History and Leadership

The Arms Control Association (ACA) was originally founded as a project of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 1971. ACA was founded between the first and second phases of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) discussions between then-President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev that began in 1969 and concluded on May 26, 1972, with the signing of the first Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Agreement (SALT I) in Moscow. 7

In 1972, ACA became an independent nonprofit organization and released its first newsletter. 8 9 In 1974, ACA launched its flagship publication, the monthly journal Arms Control Today. 10

Daryl G. Kimball is the executive director of ACA. 11 He has also been the publisher of and a contributor for Arms Control Today since September 2001. 12 13 From 1997 to 2011, Kimball was the executive director of the Coalition to Reduce Nuclear Dangers, a group of 17 nonprofits that worked to reduce threats posed by nuclear weapons. Kimball also worked to win Congressional approval for nuclear test moratorium legislation in 1992, a nuclear test moratorium in 1993, and a treaty banning zero-yield nuclear testing. 14

Activities and Funding

Arms Control Association (ACA) is a left-of-center foreign policy membership organization that advocates for arms control legislation and treaty ratification. Individuals who donate $75 or more to the organization are given membership status. 15 The organization frequently hosts members-only events and briefings 16 and periodically publishes policy white papers on arms control issues. 17

ACA organizes arms control-related briefings for American and international foreign policy officials and lawmakers, publishes newspaper articles, and briefs journalists on the topic. ACA has released Congressional briefings on arms control-related matters and publishes the journal Arms Control Today to support its policy positions. 18 It also publishes information sheets regarding nuclear arms treaties, country-specific nuclear weapons capabilities, and other weapons such as cluster munitions. 19 20

ACA operates a 21-member U.S.-German-Russian expert group on nuclear weapons issues  21 and runs the Chemical Weapons Convention Coalition with Global Affairs Canada Threat Reduction Program and Germany’s Federal Foreign Office. 22

Arms Control Association hosts the left-of-center network Forum on the Arms Trade, which convenes civil society professionals who support arms control to work on human rights, development, arms control, humanitarian disarmament, cybersecurity, environmental, anti-corruption, and other issues. 23

From 2013 until 2021, with the support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, ACA organized the Bipartisan Nuclear Policy Dialogue Project with the Lugar Center. 24 25 In 2011, the left-of-center John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recognized ACA as an organization that “effectively addresses pressing national and international challenges” with an impact that is disproportionate to its small size. 26 27

Foreign Policy Positions

Since its founding, Arms Control Association has taken positions on treaty negotiations, nuclear policy, and arms control-related policy. ACA has run campaigns to strengthen the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). 28 ACA supports a de facto ban on nuclear tests and argues that the U.S. Senate should consider ratifying the United Nations-backed Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. 29 The organization also supports the Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction 30 and the Deep Cuts Project, which campaigns for nuclear-weapons states to reduce their arsenals. 31 32

Biden administration National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke at ACA’s annual forum in 2023. 33 In 2022, Biden administration Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Mallory Stewart spoke at ACA’s 50th anniversary dinner. 34 ACA’s 2022 annual meeting featured other representatives from the Biden administration Biden administration Department of State; Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Nuclear Threat Initiative; Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation; Ploughshares Fund; Secure World Foundation; the Nuclear Threat Initiative; U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA); and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR). 35

In October 2020, Arms Control Association attacked the Trump administration for what ACA claimed was dithering and delaying on nuclear arms control matters. The group opposed Trump administration policies to update the New START nuclear weapons treaty 36 and claimed that the Trump administration decision to leave the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran Deal, has made advances in Iran’s nuclear program possible. 37

The Arms Control Association opposed the George W. Bush administration’s decision to exempt India from U.S. and global trade restrictions as a part of the 2008 India-United States Civil Nuclear Agreement. 38

In 2007, ACA developed a legislative memorandum on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament that eventually became the blueprint for a 2009 speech by President Barack Obama that outlined his approach to nuclear risk reduction. ACA also briefed the Obama Presidential Transition Team regarding test ban policies. 39

Funding

Arms Control Association receives funding from individual contributions and grants. 40 In 2020, ACA reported revenue of $1,672,403 and expenses of $1,456,985. In 2019, the organization reported revenue of $1,904,105 and expenses of $1,671,693. 41

ACA has received 21 grants totaling $7,052,000 from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation between 1984 and 2022. These grants have supported ACA’s general operations, ACA’s policy positioning, and other projects. 42 ACA has received grants of $4,625,000 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 2009 to 2023. 43 In 2023 alone, ACA received $825,000 of grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. 44

In 2021, ACA received $400,000 from the left-of-center John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation 45 and $75,000 from the left-of-center Prospect Hill Foundation. 46

ACA received $215,000 from the Ploughshares Fund in 2019, 47 $45,000 from the left-of-center Tides Foundation in 2012, 48 $200,000 from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in 2012, 49 $300,000 from the Ford Foundation in 2009, and $250,000 from the Ford Foundation in 2007. 50

References

  1. “50 Years of History and Accomplishments.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/50years.
  2. “By the Numbers.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/content/aca-delivers-lot-modest-budget.
  3. Kimball, Daryl G. “Defending the De Facto Nuclear Test Ban.” Arms Control Association. September 2023. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2023-09/focus/defending-de-facto-nuclear-test-ban.
  4. Hickey, Samuel. “Restored Iran Deal May Be in Reach.” Arms Control Association. April 2022. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2022-04/news/restored-iran-deal-may-reach.
  5. “Arms Control Association.” John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/arms-control-association-25/.
  6. “Arms Control Association.” Carnegie Corporation of New York. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.carnegie.org/grants/grants-database/grantee/arms-control-association/#!/grants/grants-database/grant/945694247.0/.
  7. “Arms Control Association.” Candid. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/features/nonprofit-spotlight/arms-control-association.
  8. “50 Years of History and Accomplishments.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/50years.
  9. Daryl Kimball, Kathy Crandall Robinson, and Tony Fleming. “Five Decades On, Our Work is Not Done.” Arms Control Association. April 27, 2022. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/blog/2022-04/inside-aca.
  10. “50 Years of History and Accomplishments.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/50years.
  11. “About.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/about
  12. “Daryl G. Kimball, Executive Director.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/about/daryl_kimball
  13. “Arms Control Today.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/.
  14. “Daryl G. Kimball, Executive Director.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/about/daryl_kimball.
  15. “Give Today to Support Arms Control.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/donate.
  16.  “Join or Renew Your Membership.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. “23-7124588” grant. https://www.armscontrol.org/renew?SelectedFrequency=4.
  17. “Policy White Papers.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/policypapers.
  18. “By the Numbers.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/content/aca-delivers-lot-modest-budget.
  19. “Fact Sheets.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets.
  20. “Treaties & Agreements.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/treaties.
  21. [1] “50 Years of History and Accomplishments.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/50years.
  22. “Welcome.” The Chemical Weapons Convention Coalition.” Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.cwccoalition.org/.
  23. “Home.” Forum on the Arms Trade. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.forumarmstrade.org/.
  24. “ACA-TLC Bipartisan Nuclear Policy Dialogue Project.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/about/bipartisandialogue.
  25. “Arms Control Association.” The Lugar Center. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.thelugarcenter.org/partners-13.html.
  26. “Arms Control Association Receives Prestigious MacArthur Foundation Award.” Arms Control Association. January 19, 2011. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/pressroom/2011-01/arms-control-association-receives-prestigious-macarthur-foundation-award.
  27. “By the Numbers.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/content/aca-delivers-lot-modest-budget.
  28. “50 Years of History and Accomplishments.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/50years.
  29. Kimball, Daryl G. “Defending the De Facto Nuclear Test Ban.” Arms Control Association. September 2023. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2023-09/focus/defending-de-facto-nuclear-test-ban.
  30. “Home.” Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://physicistscoalition.org/.
  31. “Special Projects and Programs.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/about/specialprojects.
  32. “Purpose.” Deep Cuts Commission. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://deepcuts.org/purpose.
  33. “Remarks by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan for the Arms Control Association (ACA) Annual Forum.” The White House. June 2, 2023. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/06/02/remarks-by-national-security-advisor-jake-sullivan-for-the-arms-control-association-aca-annual-forum/.
  34. “Keynote Address for the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Arms Control Association.” U.S. Department of State. June 2, 2022. https://www.state.gov/keynote-address-for-the-commemoration-of-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-arms-control-association/.
  35. “2022 Annual Meeting: Marking 50 Years of Accomplishments and Setting the Course for Challenges Ahead.” Arms Control Association. 2022. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/armscontrol2022.
  36. Kimball, Daryl G. “Trump’s Disingenuous Disarmament Diplomacy.” Arms Control Association October 2020. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2020-10/focus/trumps-disingenuous-disarmament-diplomacy.
  37. Hickey, Samuel. “Restored Iran Deal May Be in Reach.” Arms Control Association. April 2022. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2022-04/news/restored-iran-deal-may-reach.
  38.  “50 Years of History and Accomplishments.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/50years.
  39. “50 Years of History and Accomplishments.” Arms Control Association. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/50years.
  40. “Give Today to Support Arms Control.” Arms Control Association. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://www.armscontrol.org/.
  41. “Arms Control Association.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2002. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237124588/202201309349302185/full.
  42. “Arms Control Association.” John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/arms-control-association-25/.
  43. “Arms Control Association.” Carnegie Corporation of New York. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.carnegie.org/grants/grants-database/grantee/arms-control-association/#!/grants/grants-database/grant/945694247.0/.
  44. “Arms Control Association.” Carnegie Corporation of New York. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.carnegie.org/grants/grants-database/grantee/arms-control-association/#!/grants/grants-database/grant/945694247.0/.
  45. “Arms Control Association (ACA).” Cause IQ. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/arms-control-association,237124588/.
  46. “Arms Control Association.” Prospect Hill Foundation. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.prospect-hill.org/grants/2021/arms-control.
  47. “Grants.” Ploughshares Fund. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://ploughshares.org/reports/2019-annual-report/grants.
  48. “Tides Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2012. Schedule I. https://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/510/510198509/510198509_201112_990.pdf.
  49. The Arms Control Association.” William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. November 12, 2012. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://hewlett.org/grants/the-arms-control-association-for-general-operating-support-3/.
  50. “Grants Database.” Ford Foundation. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/?search=%22arms+control+association%22+.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 1973

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Jun Form 990 $1,672,403 $1,456,985 $1,683,576 $152,223 N $1,441,705 $0 $-348 $5,180
    2020 Jun Form 990 $1,904,105 $1,671,693 $1,467,974 $152,039 N $1,825,898 $56,678 $0 $121,000 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $1,172,511 $1,424,316 $1,114,374 $86,396 Y $1,115,410 $0 $19,032 $0 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $1,469,722 $1,171,695 $1,395,902 $96,071 Y $1,426,255 $0 $19,180 $0 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $1,160,081 $1,232,117 $1,075,267 $88,797 Y $1,145,210 $0 $14,567 $0 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $935,710 $1,286,942 $1,033,128 $55,762 N $935,144 $0 $15,788 $0 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $805,426 $1,226,954 $1,393,959 $66,215 Y $795,850 $0 $8,516 $0 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $1,356,877 $1,010,972 $1,814,020 $76,500 N $1,355,269 $0 $663 $0 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $1,119,926 $1,101,405 $1,643,988 $90,879 Y $1,114,780 $0 $1,936 $0 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $1,959,593 $1,109,445 $1,617,582 $58,810 Y $1,898,967 $55,788 $1,222 $110,000 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $1,501,978 $1,211,706 $792,684 $62,462 Y $1,249,291 $250,000 $1,237 $106,416 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Arms Control Association (ACA)

    1200 18th Street NW, Suite 1175
    WASHINGTON, DC 20005-0000