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Christopher Reeve Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation

EIN 22-2939536 · Short Hills, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CHRISTOPHER AND DANA REEVE FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO CURING SPINAL CORD INJURY BY ADVANCING INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY PARALYSIS.

Income
$22.6 million
Spending
$16.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
59
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$346,983, president and ceo

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 82% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 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 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 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 (3)
  1. $10.4 million spent. THE FOUNDATION'S QUALITY OF LIFE GRANTS PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1999 AND EXPANDED IN 2001 WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PARALYSIS RESOURCE CENTER FUNDED BY A FEDERAL GRANT FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND NOW THE ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING. SINCE THEN, APPROPRIATIONS HAVE CONTINUED ANNUALLY, THE MOST RECENT, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025 FOR $10,000,000.THE RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES INTERACTIVE INFORMATION SERVICES TO THE PARALYSIS COMMUNITY AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. THEY ALSO AWARD QUALITY OF LIFE GRANTS TWICE A YEAR TO ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES FOSTER INCLUSION, INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHILE PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY PARALYSIS.
  2. $915,783 spent. OVER THE PAST FOUR DECADES, WE HAVE INVESTED MORE THAN $140 MILLION IN GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH THAT HAS HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR PROGRESS. NOW, AS 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY AND CUMULATIVE SCIENTIFIC GAINS CONVERGE, WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF A NEW ERA IN SPINAL CORD INJURY RESEARCH. TODAY, THE REEVE FOUNDATION IS HELPING TO FACILITATE RAPID SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT WITH PARTNERSHIPS AND INITIATIVES THAT SEEK TO: CATALYZE: CHANNEL RESOURCES INTO A ROBUST CLINICAL PIPELINE TO RAPIDLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL TREATMENTS. ENERGIZE: DRIVE PROGRESS AND INVESTMENT IN SPINAL CORD INJURY RESEARCH BY ADDRESSING THE BARRIERS THAT LIMIT AMBITIOUS ENGAGEMENT. EDUCATE: INCREASE TRANSPARENCY THROUGHOUT THE FIELD, BECAUSE SUCCESS DEPENDS ON SHARED KNOWLEDGE.
  3. $2.8 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY IS A CORNERSTONE OF THE FOUNDATION. IT MAINTAINS A CONSTANT PRESENCE IN WASHINGTON, DC. SPEAKING OUT AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND LEGISLATORS ON BEHALF OF THE PARALYSIS COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH ITS WEBSITE ENABLES THE FOUNDATION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON RESEARCH INITIATIVES CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 August 1989.

    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.

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