Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Americans for Cures Foundation

EIN 20-1824931 · Palo Alto, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceWeak35 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE ADVOCACY DEDICATED TO PROMOTING LIFE-SAVING STEM CELL RESEARCH AND SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION AND AWARENESS OF THE CALIFORNIA STEM CELL PROGRAM.

Income
$2,264
Spending
$132,543
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 56%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$43,200, secretary/treasurer

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (health care, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5754% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 100% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (health care, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $110,347 spent. PROVIDED ADVOCACY DEDICATED TO PROMOTING LIFE-SAVING STEM CELL RESEARCH AND THERAPY DEVELOPMENT. STAFF MADE AVAILABLE TECHNICALLY CORRECT SCIENTIFIC AND POLICY-RELATED INFORMATION AND MATERIALS TO THE PUBLIC, INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR STAFFS VIA OUR WEBSITEAND OUTREACH. MATERIALS INCLUDED INFORMATION ABOUT KEY STEM CELL AND THERAPY DEVELOPMENTS, AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS OF "PERSONHOOD" LEGISLATION FOR IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF), STEM CELL RESEARCH, AND OTHER AREAS. CONTINUED TO HELP COMMUNICATING TO THECALIFORNIA PUBLIC ABOUT THE SUCCESSES OF CIRM AND ITS GRANTEES AROUND CALIFORNIA.

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 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 2024.

    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 November 2005.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Americares Foundation Inc (Stamford, CT), EIN 06-1008595. 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.