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University Kidney Research Organization

EIN 03-0459723 · Los Angeles, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UNIVERSITY KIDNEY RESEARCH ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS MEDICAL RESEARCH RELATED TO THEPREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND ERADICATION OF KIDNEY DISEASE. UKRO FUNDRAISES TO SUPPORTTHE SYNTHETIC KIDNEY PROJECT AT THE NEWLY NAMED VITO M. CAMPESE, M.D./UKRO KIDNEY RESEARCH CENTER OF USC.

Income
$110,733
Spending
$238,586
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
14.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$65,004, secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (medical research, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 115% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 71% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 45 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (medical research, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 22 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $115,000 spent. IN APRIL 2024, UKRO MADE A GIFT OF $100,000 TO THE KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF USC TO SUPPORT THE SYNTHETIC KIDNEY PROJECT.IN DECEMBER 2024, UKRO MADE A DONOR-DIRECTED GIFT OF $15,000 TO THE KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF USC TO FUND THE RE-HIRING OF A KEY RESEARCHER ON THE SYNTHETIC KIDNEY PROJECT TEAM.
  2. $14,502 spent. THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, AND E-NEWSLETTERS, THE ORGANIZATION RAISES AWARENESS OF KIDNEY DISEASE AND RESEARCH BREAKTHROUGHS, PARTICULARLY SPOTLIGHTING THE WORK OF SCIENTISTS AT THE NEWLY NAMED VITO M. CAMPESE, M.D./UKRO KIDNEY RESEARCH CENTER AND THE KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF USC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.