Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Making Headway Foundation Inc

EIN 13-3906297 · Chappaqua, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WHEN A CHILD IS DIAGNOSED WITH A BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD TUMOR, THE WHOLE FAMILY NEEDS A SPECIAL KIND OF CARE AND SUPPORT. MAKING HEADWAY FOUNDATION WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NEED. OUR HUMANISTIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS SUPPORT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM DIAGNOSIS THROUGH TREATMENT AND BEYOND. THE FOUNDATION IS ALSO COMMITTED TO FUNDING MEDICAL RESEARCH SO BETTER TREATMENTS AND CURES BE FOUND.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
33.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
4
Volunteers
100

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 64% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $515,160 spent. MAKING HEADWAY FOUNDATION MAINTAINS A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH NYU LANGONE MEDICAL CENTER AND ITS STEPHEN D HASSENFELD CHILDREN'S CENTER FOR CANCER AND BLOOD DISORDERS. EACH GRANT THAT IS FUNDED IS SELECTED BASED ON ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE HUMANISTIC SUPPORT TO PATIENT FAMILIES WHILE SEARCHING FOR IMPROVED TREATMENTS AND EVENTUALLY A CURE.
  2. $503,880 spent. RETURNING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL CAN BE A DISORIENTING AND ISOLATED FEELING FOR THE PATIENTS AND FOR THE PARENTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. THEY FIND THEMSELVES STRUGGLING TO ADJUST TO A FAMILIAR PLACE WHERE EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED. TO THIS END, MAKING HEADWAY PROVIDES, FREE OF CHARGE, INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYACHIATRIC COUNSELING FOR PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH A BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD TUMOR AND FREE OF CHARGE EDUCATIONAL COUNSELING FOR CHILDREN SURVIVING A BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD TUMOR WHO HAVE DIFFICULTIES RETURNING TO SCHOOL AND KEEPING UP WITH THE CURRICULUM.
  3. $119,529 spent. AT LOCAL HOSPITALS, WE PROVIDE PATIENT SUPPORT IN SOME OTHER WAYS, SUCH AS FUNERAL EXPENSES FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY AND WHOSE FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD THE COSTS, SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN SURVIVING A BRAIN TUMOR AND OTHER FAMILY EVENT EXPENSES FOR THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

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 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 2024.

    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 October 1996.

    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.