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research dossier

The Society for Scientific Study of Sexuality Inc
Rego Park, NY · EIN 132642753 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · sexscience.org
revenue
$396K
expenses
$418K
net assets
$592K
employees
2
volunteers
90
program ratio
53%
mission · from form 990

To serve its membership and the sexuality field through creating a forum for sharing research and advancing knowledge.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Society for Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the scientific study of sexuality through research, education, and professional collaboration. It supports scholars and practitioners by hosting an annual conference, publishing The Journal of Sex Research, and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue. The organization serves a global academic and professional community with a focus on equity, inclusion, and evidence-based knowledge in sexual science.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $266K
    Annual Meeting, Conference Programs & Educational Exhibits, Nationwide & Local Symposia with Conference Workshops and Programs Available to Members and Non-Members
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Annual Conference
Hosts a national conference featuring research presentations, workshops, and symposia for members and non-members to exchange knowledge in the field of sexuality
Annual Review of Sex Research
Published supplement to JSR featuring comprehensive reviews of current topics in sex science, edited by designated associate editors
Membership and Mentorship Programs
Offers structured membership engagement, including student involvement initiatives, mentorship programs, and committee participation to support professional development
The Journal of Sex Research (JSR)
Peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal publishing empirical studies, reviews, and theoretical articles on sexuality; serves as a primary forum for scientific discourse in the field
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Academic Journal and Scholarly Publication 1 activity
    • Administers and publishes peer-reviewed sexuality research journals
      Advances scientific study through The Journal of Sex Research, its official interdisciplinary journal, and the Annual Review of Sex Research, publishing empirical studies, theoretical articles, literature reviews, and scholarly content since 1965. Also supports dissemination of high-quality research via member initiatives and webinars.
  • Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Support Services 1 activity
    • Advocates for equity, inclusion, and transgender rights
      Has adopted formal statements on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) and issued public support for transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender expansive youth, along with a Transgender Action Plan to guide organizational efforts in advocacy and inclusion.
  • Psychoanalytic and Therapeutic Training Support 1 activity
    • Awards grants and financial support for sexuality research and professional development
      Funds emerging scholars and practitioners through research grants, travel support, and student awards. In 2023, awarded $2,500 in grants as part of program activities, guided by formally approved funding policies aimed at advancing scientific study and strengthening the professional community.
  • Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Builds organizational capacity through governance and member support
      Fosters a global community of scholars and practitioners committed to scientific integrity by maintaining updated bylaws (revised November 2025), fiduciary and financial policies, personnel committee policies (updated December 2023), nominations and elections procedures, and governance structures that ensure institutional continuity and equitable representation of its international membership.
  • Professional Ethics & Dispute Resolution 1 activity
    • Enforces ethical standards and conduct at organizational events
      Maintains a confidential reporting process for Code of Conduct violations at SSSS events via dedicated email, conducts formal investigations—sometimes using external firms—including interviews and written statements, and implements sanctions such as warnings, leadership removal, exclusion from events, or revocation of membership or fellow status.
  • Scientific Conference & Symposium Management 1 activity
    • Hosts annual conferences and educational events
      Organizes an annual conference, recognized as the largest event in the field of sex science, which convenes scholars, educators, clinicians, and advocates to share research. The event includes workshops, educational exhibits, symposia, and virtual programming, with past conference materials maintained as a resource for members and researchers.
  • Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
    • Provides platforms for member engagement and recognition
      Offers members opportunities to advertise their published books and administers formal award review processes, such as a subcommittee and Board of Directors approval for the Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award, to recognize professional contributions and strengthen community ties.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Develops and maintains specialized academic research databases
      Hosts a free, searchable Zotero-based catalog of academic literature on Kink/BDSM from the 18th century to present, including articles, books, theses, and datasets. A vetted subset was published in November 2025 for the SSSS conference, developed by a multidisciplinary volunteer team from the SSSS BDSM/Kink Research SIG meeting monthly online.
    • Publishes original sexuality research across diverse topics
      Supports and disseminates original research on a wide range of topics including bisexual identity trends, sexual aggression interventions, adolescent sexual behavior, sexual orientation trajectories, body image and sexual satisfaction, pornography use and relational happiness, analgesia from genital self-stimulation, LGBTQ+ youth mental health, sexual assault, healthcare resilience among sexual and gender diverse people of color, cardiometabolic health in sexual minority populations with HIV, and digital consent education tools like PACT.
    • Recognizes excellence in sexuality scholarship and service through formal awards
      Offers multiple awards including the Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award (with $500, up to $1,000 travel reimbursement, accommodation, and conference registration), the Distinguished Service to SSSS Award (established in 1985, includes plaque, $500 travel, and registration), and the biennial Bonnie and Vern L. Bullough Book Award (includes plaque, $250, $500 travel stipend, accommodation, and registration) for outstanding contributions to sexual science.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$396K
Contributions & grants$88K22%
Program service revenue$301K76%
Investment income$8K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$418K
Program expenses53%
Admin / overhead47%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$141K
Grants paid out$3K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$601K
Cash$211K
Investments$374K
Liabilities$9K
Net assets$592K
Liquid reserves16.8 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -0.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 11
  • Christine Leistner — Secretary
  • Dennis Li — director
  • Heather Tillewein — director
  • Justin Sitron — President
  • Karen Beale — President-Elect
  • Karen John — director
  • Leo Wilton — director
  • Megan Korovich — student representative
  • Megan Maas — director
  • Sasha Canan — Treasurer
  • Shayna Skakoon-Sparling — director
relationships · 12

Who they work with

  • Alfred Kinsey Partner — Founders of SSSS were inspired by the groundbreaking work of Alfred Kinsey and his contemporaries in advancing sexuality research.
  • American Public Health Association Network — Board member participates in APHA's Maternal and Child Health Section and its Adolescent and Young Adult Health Committee.
  • Asian American Psychological Association Partner — Board member served as Co-Chair of its Division on LGBTQQ and participates in advocacy committees.
  • Board of Directors Network — Responsible for final approval of award recipients; members abstain from voting if nominated.
  • Center of Excellence for Sexual Health at Morehouse School of Medicine Partner — Board member was a Sexual Health Scholar through its Community Leadership Program.
  • Glue Up Partner — Uses Glue Up's platform to manage event registration and details for the 2026 Annual Conference.
  • SSSS Annual Conference Network — Hosts the award presentation and requires recipient attendance for acceptance.
  • SSSS Board of Directors Government — Responsible for approving sanctions and revoking membership in cases of confirmed misconduct.
  • Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) BDSM / Kink Research Special Interest Group Network — Volunteer team formed from this SIG to develop the Kink Literature Database
  • Taylor and Francis Partner — Hosts the online manuscript submission system and publishes JSR content through its platform.
  • The Kinsey Institute Partner — Collaborates through shared faculty appointments and research affiliations with board members.
  • The Trevor Project Partner — Board member previously served as Director of Research Science at this LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention organization.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Contextualized Translation of Research into Practice
    methodology: research_translation
    By adapting scientific findings for specific audiences—including conservative or religious communities—and partnering with community organizations, the organization increases uptake of evidence-based sexuality education and HIV services because scientific impact depends on cultural resonance and implementation context.
  • Equity-Centered Knowledge Infrastructure
    methodology: equity-centered_curation
    By curating specialized databases that counter algorithmic bias and center marginalized voices, the organization improves access to affirming, non-pathologizing research on sexuality because standard academic search systems systematically exclude emerging scholars and Global South perspectives.
  • Evidence-Based, Inclusive Advocacy and Recognition
    methodology: evidence_and_inclusivity_based_advocacy
    By grounding organizational positions and recognition practices in empirical rigor and inclusivity, the organization advances scientific integrity and equity in sex research because combining methodological depth with representation strengthens both validity and social impact.
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration as a Mechanism for Comprehensive Sexuality Science
    methodology: interdisciplinary_collaboration
    By convening professionals across disciplines and career stages, the organization produces more nuanced, rigorous, and comprehensive scholarship on human sexuality because diverse epistemic perspectives are essential to addressing its complexity.
  • Investment in Next-Generation Scholarship through Support and Recognition
    methodology: invest-in-next-generation
    By providing financial support, awards, and visibility to emerging scholars, the organization strengthens the long-term vitality of the field because sustained investment in early-career researchers ensures continuity, innovation, and diversification of sexual science.