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Muscular Dystrophy Association

EIN 13-1665552 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION (MDA) IS THE #1 VOLUNTARY HEALTH ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, ALS, AND RELATED NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES. (CONT. SCHEDULE O) FOR OVER 70 YEARS, MDA HAS LED THE WAY IN ACCELERATING RESEARCH, ADVANCING CARE, AND ADVOCATING FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR FAMILIES. MDA'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER THE PEOPLE WE SERVE TO LIVE LONGER, MORE INDEPENDENT LIVES.

Income
$64.2 million
Spending
$61.7 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
272
Volunteers
934
Highest pay
$679,842, outgoing president & 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

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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. $22.0 million spent. HEALTH CARE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES: MDA IS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING PEOPLE LIVING WITH MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, ALS AND RELATED NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES THROUGH RESEARCH, CARE, AND ADVOCACY. AS THE LARGEST SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE RESEARCH OUTSIDE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MDA HAS COMMITTED MORE THAN $1 BILLION TO ACCELERATE THE DISCOVERY OF THERAPIES AND CURES. WE SUPPORT THE LARGEST NETWORK OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY CLINICS AT MORE THAN 150 TOP MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS, SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH ONE-ON-ONE SPECIALIZED SUPPORT, AND OFFER EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES, EVENTS, AND MATERIALS FOR FAMILIES AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. (CONT. SCHEDULE O)EACH OF OUR MDA CARE CENTERS OFFERS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BEST-IN-CLASS, COMPREHENSIVE CARE FROM AN INTEGRATED MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF HEALTHCARE SPECIALISTS CONVENIENTLY SITED AT ONE LOCATION. IN A SINGLE DAY, PATIENTS CAN SEE MULTIPLE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WHO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE COORDINATED INDIVIDUAL CARE FOR EVERY PATIENT TO BEST FIT THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS. HIGHLY TRAINED MDA CARE SPECIALISTS SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT PART OFTHE CARE TEAM, HELPING FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE HEALTH SYSTEM, ANSWERING QUESTIONS, DISTRIBUTING MDA EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, COORDINATING MDA SERVICES, AND ASSISTING WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCE REFERRALS. EACH YEAR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN/YOUNG ADULTS LEARN VITAL LIFE SKILLS AND GAIN INDEPENDENCE AT SUMMER CAMP AND THROUGH RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS, AT NO COST TO FAMILIES. EACH CAMP IS STAFFED WITH DEDICATED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND TRAINED CAMP VOLUNTEERS WHO MEET THE MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS OF EACH CAMPER ALL AT NO COST TO FAMILIES.
  2. $7.8 million spent. RESEARCH: MDA IS THE LARGEST NON-GOVERNMENTAL FUNDER OF NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE RESEARCH IN THE COUNTRY, SUPPORTING STRATEGIC RESEARCH FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, ALS, AND RELATED NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1950, MDA HAS INVESTED MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE RESEARCH TO UNCOVER NEW TREATMENTS. A SINGLE BREAKTHROUGH CAN LEAD TO A CURE. OUR FUNDING RESEARCH ACROSS MANY NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES MEANS FINDINGS FROM ONE DISEASE OFTEN ENABLE PROGRESS IN OTHERS, MAXIMIZING THE SPEED AT WHICH WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS. SUPPORT FOR MDA'S RESEARCH ENABLES MDA TO FUND LEADING RESEARCH TEAMS WORKING TOWARD BREAKTHROUGH THERAPIES, WHICH CAN HAVE A LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT ON PATIENTS. (CONT. SCHEDULE O)MDA-FUNDED BREAKTHROUGHS INCLUDE DRUGS FOR AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS), DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY (DMD), PERIODIC PARALYSIS, POMPE DISEASE, AND SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY (SMA). MDA LAUNCHED THE MOVR (NEUROMUSCULAR OBSERVATIONAL RESEARCH) DATA HUB AS A TRANSFORMATIVE PLATFORM, COMBINING MDA'S CARE CENTER NETWORK WITH A STATE-OF-THE-ART INFORMATION-MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. AS THE LARGEST CENTRALIZED DATA HUB FOR MULTIPLE NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES, MOVR AGGREGATES CLINICAL, GENETIC, AND PATIENT-REPORTED DATA ACROSS BROAD COMMUNITIES OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, RESEARCHERS, AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS THAT WILL LEAD TO RAPID DEVELOPMENTS IN PATIENT CARE, TREATMENTS, AND CURES.
  3. $14.1 million spent. PROFESSIONAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION:MDA OFFERS A BROAD AND EXPANDING ARRAY OF RESOURCES AND EVENTS EXPERTLY DEVELOPED TO RESPOND TO THE RAPIDLY CHANGING TREATMENT LANDSCAPE. OUR RESOURCES FOR PROVIDING RELEVANT MEDICAL EDUCATION TO PROFESSIONALS ARE UNPARALLELED AND OUR SERVICES AND INITIATIVES REFLECT OUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA. WE PROVIDE BOTH ACCREDITED CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) AND NON-CME PROGRAMS. AS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE MEETING IN THE WORLD, OUR ANNUAL MDA CLINICAL & SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM, BE INSPIRED BY, AND SHARE IDEAS WITH EXPERTS FROM ACADEMIA, GOVERNMENT, AND INDUSTRY. (CONT. SCHEDULE O)AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, WE ESTABLISHED MDA ENGAGE AND MDA ACCESS EDUCATIONAL EVENT SERIES THAT BRINGS LOCAL HIGH-IMPACT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO THE NEUROMUSCULARCOMMUNITY IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. EACH OF THE ENGAGE PROGRAMS INCORPORATES MULTIPLE MODULES OF INTEREST, FROM THERAPY DEVELOPMENT ROUNDTABLES TO DISEASE MANAGEMENT TO GENETIC TESTING, DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR COMMUNITY AUDIENCES. EACH EVENT ALSO INCLUDES A SOCIAL ELEMENT FOR FAMILIES AND PARTICIPANTS WITH THE AIM OF STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING ATTENDEES MAKE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS.

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 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 2025.

    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 July 1952.

    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.