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The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation Inc

EIN 20-1750379 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO FOSTERING AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING AND RESEARCH FOR EARLY-ONSET BIPOLAR DISORDER. THE FOUNDATION IS ON A "QUEST FOR THE TEST" TO FIND AN EMPIRICAL TEST FOR BIPOLAR DISORDER SO THAT EARLY DETECTION AND INTERVENTION BECOME A REALITY.

Income
$451,553
Spending
$393,938
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
12.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$98,200, president/director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 June 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 (1)
  1. $232,661 spent. THE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED A NEW DIRECTIVE - "MAKING A DIFFERENCE" - WITH PROJECTS IN THE AREAS OF RESEARCH, UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF EARLY-ONSET BIPOLAR DISORDER, AIMED AT REDUCING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE BRAIN, AND ITS "QUEST FOR THE TEST" AIMED AT FINDING AN EMPIRICAL, BIOMARKER TEST FOR BIPOLAR DISORDER. PROJECTS INCLUDED: 1) THE FOUNDATION'S INSIGHTS VII JURIED ART COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION SHOWCASING "CREATIVITY AND THE BIPOLAR BRAIN" HELD IN CHICAGO (OCTOBER 2024) AT THE ZOLLA/LIEBERMAN GALLERY AND IN PALM BEACH (JANUARY 2025) AT THE SUROVEK GALLERY. GRANTS FOR THE ARTISTS OF SELECTED WORKS WERE UNDERWRITTEN. EACH EXHIBITION HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL OPENING NIGHT FUNDRAISER AND WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT NO CHARGE THEREAFTER TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT BIPOLAR DISORDER. MANY GRANTEE ARTISTS WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE; 2) THE FOUNDATION'S 19TH ANNUAL CHICAGO BIPOLAR DISORDER MEDICAL BRIEFING LUNCHEON WAS HELD IN MAY 2025 AND FEATURED A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH DR. JOHN WALKUP OF LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND DR. JANET WOZNIAK OF MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL; 3) THE FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTED TO ITS FUND AT MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL TO SUPPORT "QUEST FOR THE TEST" RESEARCH INTO EARLY-ONSET BIPOLAR DISORDER BY PROMISING POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS; 4) JERSEY MIKE'S SUBS HELD A FOURTH ANNUAL MULTI-STORE FUNDRAISER FOR THE FOUNDATION IN CHICAGO THAT NOT ONLY RAISED FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION BUT ALSO SPREAD AWARENESS DEEP INTO VARIOUS CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS; 5) THE FOUNDATION'S ONLINE AWARENES STORE FULFILLED AWARENESS PIN ORDERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD; AND, 6) THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO SPREAD AWARENESS THROUGH ITS INFORMATIONAL WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 December 2004.

    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.

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