Lifespan Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BUHF operates exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes, and more specifically, for the purpose of supporting and otherwise benefiting and being responsive to the needs of Brown University Health. (see Sched.O)
- Income
- $983,321
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 66%
- Employees
- 0
- Highest pay
- $1.2 million, evp & cfo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 66% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (4)
- $953,324 spent. In fiscal year 2024, BUHF transferred $603,324 to RIH to be used for cancer support, and well as support various patient care enhancement projects and research in the Brown University Health Cancer Institute. Also, $350,000 to RIH to support cardiology and cardiac surgery.
- $500,000 spent. In fiscal year 2024, BUHF transferred $500,000 to Rhode Island Hospital (RIH), to provide increased opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to have greater access to employment, job training, healthcare professional certification, advanced education, and leadership development.
- $91,329 spent. BUHF and Brown have an agreement pursuant to which each entity maintains an endowment fund representing 50% of an endowment gift, the income from which supports a diagnostic imaging shared chair. The agreement specifies a spending rate which is applied to the trailing three-year average fair value of the endowment fund to arrive at an amount used to support the named professorship. Payments distributing this amount, which are made by BUHF to Brown on a quarterly basis, totaled $91,329 in fiscal year 2024.
- OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: In fiscal year 2024, BUHF transferred $603,324 to RIH to be used for cancer support, and well as support various patient care enhancement projects and research in the Brown University Health Cancer Institute. Also, $350,000 to RIH to support cardiology and cardiac surgery.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Lifelink Foundation Inc (Tampa, FL), EIN 59-2193032. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.