National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE WILL CURE MS WHILE EMPOWERING PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MS TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES.
- Income
- $162.0 million
- Spending
- $155.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 789
- Volunteers
- 30,000
- Highest pay
- $566,633, president & ceo (as of 07/2024)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (diseases, over $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (diseases, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 26 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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, 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 (4)
- $40.9 million spent. CLIENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES (SEE SCHEDULE O)CLIENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES - THE SOCIETY EMPOWERS PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MS TO SOLVE EVERYDAY CHALLENGES. WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE INFORMED, CONNECTED AND SUPPORTED BY LOVED ONES, COMMUNITIES, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND THE SOCIETY, THEY EXPERIENCE AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE, INCREASED CONFIDENCE, NEW CONNECTIONS, AND TAKE POSITIVE ACTIONS TOWARD LIVING THEIR BEST LIVES. WE ACHIEVE THIS BY SERVING AS A TRUSTED SOURCE OF SUPPORT, OFFERING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, RELIABLE INFORMATION, AND ONE-ON-ONE GUIDANCE THROUGH MS NAVIGATORS. WE ALSO FOSTER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE IMPACTED BY MS, PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. IN FISCAL 2025, MS NAVIGATORS ASSISTED 22,980 INDIVIDUALS IN CONNECTING TO CRITICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS MS EDUCATION AND INFORMATION, HEALTHCARE, FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PERSONALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT. THE SOCIETY DELIVERED OVER 96 VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, REACHING 1,786 ATTENDEES. PROGRAMS WERE MADE AVAILABLE ON DEMAND, ALLOWING AN ADDITIONAL 268,996 INDIVIDUALS TO ENGAGE WITH THE CONTENT. TOPICS INCLUDED SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT, TREATMENT OPTIONS, AND WELLNESS STRATEGIES. APPROXIMATELY 654 ACTIVE SUPPORT GROUP LEADERS SPANNED THE COUNTRY, HELPING PROVIDE CONNECTIONS BOTH IN-PERSON AND WITHIN VIRTUAL SETTING FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH MS AND THEIR LOVED ONES. 1,042 INDIVIDUALS WERE REFERRED BY THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY TO RECEIVE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT IN MANAGING MS.AS A RESULT OF THESE CLIENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, 72% OF PARTICIPATING INDIVIDUALS FEEL MORE CONFIDENT IN ADDRESSING CHALLENGES OF MS, AND 78% OF INDIVIDUALS MADE NEW CONNECTIONS TO INFORMATION, PEOPLE, AND OTHER SOURCES OF SUPPORT.THESE PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT DIRECTLY ADVANCE OUR MISSION TO CURE MS WHILE ENPOWERING PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MS TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES.
- $33.6 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION (SEE SCHEDULE O)PUBLIC EDUCATION - PEOPLE WITH MS CAN BETTER MANAGE THEIR DISEASE WHEN THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM-FROM DOCTORS TO EMPLOYERS TO FAMILY MEMBERS. THAT'S WHY WE WORK RELENTLESSLY TO TELL THE WORLD WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE WITH MS. WE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE SOCIETY'S AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND MOMENTUM, WHICH IS THE SOCIETY'S FLAGSHIP MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTED QUARTERLY TO NEARLY 550,000 PEOPLE LIVING WITH MS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND SUPPORTERS OF THE SOCIETY. WE SEND BIMONTHLY EMAILS WITH NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT MS TO 700,000 PEOPLE AND MORE THAN 5.6 MILLION PEOPLE VISIT THE SOCIETY'S WEBSITE EACH YEAR TO ACCESS INFORMATION AND SUPPORT AND GET INVOLVED.IN ADDITION, MANY PEOPLE GET ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT MS VIA THE SOCIETY'S SOCIAL MEDIA, WITH MORE THAN 1.15 MILLION FOLLOWERS.
- $29.3 million spent. RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC STUDIES (SEE SCHEDULE O)RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC STUDIES - IN FISCAL 2025, THE SOCIETY INVESTED NEARLY $30 MILLION TO SUPPORT 311 NEW AND ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD AIMED AT STOPPING MS IN ITS TRACKS, RESTORING FUNCTION, AND ENDING THE DISEASE FOREVER. THE SOCIETY ENGAGED 100 EXPERT SCIENTIFIC AND PEER REVIEWERS TO EVALUATE 312 PROPOSALS FOR RESEARCH GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND EARLY CAREER AWARDS, COMMERCIAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, AND TARGETED RESEARCH GRANTS. WE ALSO ENGAGED 14 LAY COMMUNITY REVIEWERS TO HELP THE SOCIETY IDENTIFY THE MOST PROMISING AND APPROPRIATE RESEARCH INVESTMENTS.RESEARCH PRIORITY AREAS TO DRIVE BREAKTHROUGHS TO A CURE INCLUDE: ACCELERATING PROMISING RESEARCH TO EMPOWER PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MS TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES AND ADVANCE THE PATHWAYS TO MS CURES ROADMAP, INCLUDING: STOPPING DISEASE ACTIVITY AND PROGRESSION THROUGH PRECISION MEDICINE AND EARLY DETECTION; RESTORING WHAT'S BEEN LOST BY REVERSING SYMPTOMS AND DISABILITY THROUGH REGENERATION AND FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY ENHANCED BY REHABILITATION AND WELLNESS; AND ENDING THE DISEASE THROUGH PREVENTION BY LIMITING EXPOSURE TO RISK FACTORS ACROSS THE POPULATION AND FOR THOSE MOST AT-RISK.
- $6.0 million spent. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING - THE SOCIETY WANTS SCIENTISTS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO BE AWARE OF AND TRAINED IN MS SO THAT THE VERY BEST EXPERTISE WORLDWIDE IS ENGAGED IN FINDING TREATMENTS AND SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYONE WITH MS. THIS INCLUDES ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND CRITICAL JUDGEMENT OF SCIENTISTS, PHYSICIANS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ENGAGED (DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY) IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH MS BY KEEPING THEM ABREAST OF NEW DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES AND THERAPIES. IN FISCAL 2025, 41 ECHO-TRAINED CLINICIANS, WHO PROVIDE CARE FOR APPROXIMATELY 3,620 PEOPLE WITH MS, PARTICIPATED IN ECHO MS, WHICH IS A CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT ESTABLISHES A PEER-TO-PEER KNOWLEDGE SHARING NETWORK TO IMPROVE OVERALL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MS. 88% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THAT THEY WILL BE MAKING A CHANGE TO THEIR CLINICAL PRACTICE AS A RESULT OF THE PROGRAM. AS OF 2025, THE SOCIETY HAS FUNDED THE TRAINING OF 285 PHYSICIANS TO BECOME MS SPECIALISTS WHO ARE NOW PROVIDING CARE FOR NEARLY 50,620 PEOPLE LIVING WITH MS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1947.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.