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Brain Injury Association of America Inc

EIN 04-2716222 · Fairfax, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

(SEE SCHEDULE O)TO ADVANCE BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS, RESEARCH, TREATMENT, AND EDUCATION AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY BRAIN INJURY. THROUGH ADVOCACY, BIAA'S GOAL IS TO BRING HELP, HOPE, AND HEALING TO MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH BRAIN INJURY, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE THEM.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$5.4 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
28
Volunteers
1,200
Highest pay
$341,304, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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, 2025, 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 (5)
  1. $1.1 million spent. BIAA LEADS THE NATION IN RAISING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT BRAIN INJURY THROUGH ITS AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE, WWW.BIAUSA.ORG, ROBUST SOCIAL MEDIA, AND SOUGHT-AFTER PUBLIC SPEAKERS. THE PUBLICATIONS OFFERED BY BIAA ARE AVAILABLE IN PRINT AND DIGITAL FORMAT AND INCLUDE FACT SHEETS, QUARTERLY NEWS MAGAZINES, AND INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES. DURING 2025, BIAA'S #MORETHANMYBRAININJURY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN WAS HELD DURING BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH. THE CAMPAIGN HELPED THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE MANY CAUSES OF BRAIN INJURY WHILE EMPOWERING BRAIN INJURY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO TELL THEIR STORY TO DISPEL COMMON MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. AFFILIATE SERVICES - BIAA PROVIDES LEADERSHIP, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, OPERATIONAL BEST PRACTICES, AND INDIVIDUALIZED FUNDRAISING TRAINING AND CONSULTATION TO A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF CHARTERED STATE AFFILIATES, DIVISIONS, LOCAL CHAPTERS, AND SUPPORT GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL THOSE WHOSE LIVES ARE AFFECTED BY BRAIN INJURY.
  3. $884,231 spent. EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND RESEARCH - BIAA EDUCATES BRAIN INJURY SURVIVORS, CAREGIVERS AND PROFESSIONALS EVERY YEAR THROUGH SEVERAL PROGRAMS. THESE INCLUDE FREE AND LOW-COST WEBINARS, IN-PERSON CONFERENCES, AND SPECIALIZED RESOURCES AND MATERIALS. BIAA'S ACADEMY OF CERTIFIED BRAIN INJURY SPECIALISTS (ACBIS) PROVIDES PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW INDIVIDUALS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BRAIN INJURY AND EARN A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL. ACBIS PROGRAMS PROVIDE EDUCATION, TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, AND ONGOING RESOURCES FOR SPECIALISTS IN THE BRAIN INJURY COMMUNITY. CURRENT ACBIS PROGRAMS INCLUDE CERTIFIED BRAIN INJURY SPECIALIST (CBIS), CERTIFIED BRAIN INJURY SPECIALIST TRAINER (CBIST) AND PROVISIONAL CERTIFIED BRAIN INJURY SPECIALIST (PCBIS) CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE BRAIN INJURY FUNDAMENTALS CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. BIAA'S ACBIS PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO GROW THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM OFFERINGS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE BRAIN INJURY REHABILITATION COMMUNITY. BIAA ACCELERATES RESEARCH AND THE DISCOVERY OF CURES BY AWARDING GRANTS TO DISSERTATION CANDIDATES, YOUNG INVESTIGATORS, AND BRAIN INJURY SCHOLARS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BIAA'S STAFF AND LEADERS ARE KEY PARTNERS IN ADVISING RESEARCHERS AND DISSEMINATING FINDINGS.
  4. $509,076 spent. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND ADVOCACY - BIAA AND ITS NETWORK OF ADVOCATES EDUCATE FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BY INFORMING THEM ABOUT LIFE-SAVING RESEARCH, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR PEOPLE WITH BRAIN INJURIES. DURING 2025, BIAA ASSISTED THE CONGRESSIONAL BRAIN INJURY TASK FORCE IN CONDUCTING THE ANNUAL BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS DAY ON CAPITOL HILL, WHICH WAS HELD IN MARCH; IT CONSISTED OF IN-PERSON MEETINGS FOR SELECTED CONSTITUENTS THAT BIAA ARRANGED FOR WITH VARIOUS LAW MAKERS. BIAA KEEPS ITS CONSTITUENTS ABREAST OF RELEVANT PUBLIC POLICY THROUGH ITS FREE WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER, POLICY CORNER.
  5. $288,879 spent. INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SERVICES - BIAA OPERATES THE TOLL-FREE NATIONAL BRAIN INJURY INFORMATION CENTER (NBIIC), WHICH CONNECTS CALLERS TO A TRAINED SPECIALIST WHO IS COMPASSIONATE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT LOCAL RESOURCES. NBIIC OFFERS INFORMATION IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. BIAA RESPONDS TO INQUIRIES FOR PERSONALIZED ASSISTANCE. THE PEOPLE BIAA HELPS RANGE FROM FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH A CHILD IN A COMA TO CAREGIVERS WONDERING HOW TO SUPPORT A LOVED ONE WHO WAS INJURED MANY YEARS AGO.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1981.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.