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National Brain Tumor Society Inc

EIN 04-3068130 · Newton, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR SOCIETY UNRELENTINGLY INVESTS IN, MOBILIZES, ANDUNITES OUR COMMUNITY TO DISCOVER A CURE, DELIVER EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS,AND ADVOCATE FOR PATIENTS AND CARE PARTNERS.

Income
$15.1 million
Spending
$13.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
10.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
60
Volunteers
30,964
Highest pay
$359,892, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

    15 of 15 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 (3)
  1. $5.5 million spent. OUR DEFEAT STRATEGY DRIVES AND INFLUENCES BEST-IN-CLASS MEDICAL RESEARCH TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER NEW INNOVATIVE TREATMENTS AND POTENTIAL CURES TO PATIENTS WITH BRAIN TUMORS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS ARE OUR PRIORITY. WE FOCUS ON GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH INITIATIVES WITH THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSLATE PROMISING SCIENCE FROM THE LAB INTO TREATMENTS THAT IMPROVE SURVIVAL AND QUALITY OF LIFE. WE'RE ACCELERATING BREAKTHROUGHS THAT WILL HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE BRAIN TUMOR COMMUNITY. OUR RESEARCH INITIATIVES ADVANCE TREATMENTS FOR PATIENTS OF ALL AGES ACROSS BRAIN TUMOR TYPES. WE INCENTIVIZE AND FACILITATE COLLABORATION BETWEEN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, INVESTORS, AND WORLD-CLASS SCIENTISTS TO GET RESULTS FOR PATIENTS.
  2. $4.0 million spent. OUR CONNECT STRATEGY CONVENES, EDUCATES, AND UNITES THE BRAIN TUMOR COMMUNITY. WE BRING STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER, TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TREATMENTS AND BETTER HEALTH CARE. NBTS LEADS SEVERAL NATIONAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT BRAIN TUMORS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING THE BURDEN OF THEM. WE EQUIP PATIENTS AND CARE PARTNERS WITH TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO NAVIGATE EVERY STEP OF THEIR UNIQUE HEALTH CARE JOURNEYFROM UNDERSTANDING THEIR DIAGNOSIS AND BUILDING THEIR MEDICAL TEAM TO MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT TREATMENT. WE ORGANIZE EVENTS THAT BRING THE BRAIN TUMOR COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO HONOR, LEARN, DEVELOP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, TURN GRIEF INTO ACTION, AND FUEL MOMENTUM FOR OUR CAUSE. OUR SUPPORT GROUPS FOSTER CONNECTIONS SHOWING PATIENTS AND CARE PARTNERS THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE.
  3. $1.8 million spent. OUR CHANGE STRATEGY FUELS THE VOICE OF THE BRAIN TUMOR COMMUNITY TO ADVOCATE PUBLIC POLICY. WE ENSURE THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS ARE REFLECTED IN NATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE POLICY. TOGETHER, WE ADVOCATE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN BRAIN TUMOR RESEARCH, IMPROVE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY, REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND RAISE THE PRIORITY LEVEL FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. OVER 18,000 VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES ACROSS ALL 50 STATES AFFECT CHANGE AT ALL LEVELS ANNUALLY. WE MOBILIZE OUR COMMUNITY ON POLICY ISSUES TO URGE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO ENACT POLICIES THAT SUPPORT OUR VISION OF CONQUERING AND CURING BRAIN TUMORSONCE AND FOR ALL. THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY, WE AFFECT THE LIVES OF NEARLY ONE MILLION AMERICANS LIVING WITH A BRAIN TUMOR TODAY, AND THOSE WHO WILL BE DIAGNOSED.

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 October 13, 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 April 1994.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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