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National Headache Foundation

EIN 23-7073022 · Chicago, IL

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

THE NATIONAL HEADACHE FOUNDATION (NHF) AIMS TO CREATE A FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WITH HEADACHE CAN THRIVE IN OPTIMAL, FUNCTIONAL AND CONNECTED LIVES. SUPPORT IS ALIGNED TO THREE PILLARS: (1) RESILIENT AND FUNCTIONAL LIVING, (2) MEDICAL UNDERSTANDING AND ADVANCEMENTS, (3) COMMUNITY-CENTERED INSIGHTS AND EMPOWERED ENGAGEMENT. NHF'S NATIONWIDE PROGRAMS PROMOTE GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY OF HEADACHE MEDICINE THROUGHOUT THE CONTINUUM OF EXPERIENCES FROM DIAGNOSIS, CARE, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT. THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT PATIENTS, CARE PARTNERS, HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS, PAYERS, AND POLICYMAKERS BY INTEGRATING VARIOUS CHANNELS LIKE WEBSITES, MOBILE APP, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL, AND IN PERSON TO CREATE A UNIFIED AND PERSONALIZED JOURNEY FOR ALL THEY SERVE.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
35 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
10
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$195,000, ceo & executive director

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.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 35.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 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 (4)
  1. $643,455 spent. NHF FOCUSES ON THE FOLLOWING PATIENT PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES:-ACTION4ACCESS: PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE ADVOCACY NAVIGATION GUIDE TO ACCESS CARE AND TREATMENT. THERE ARE FOUR MAIN EDUCATIONAL AREAS OF FOCUS: PATIENT ASSISTANCE, INSURANCE AND PHARMACY COVERAGE, HEALTHCARE POLICY, AND EMPOWERING PATIENTS AND CARE PARTNERS IN MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS. -OPERATION BRAINSTORM: PROVIDES ADVOCACY SUPPORT, RESOURCES AND EDUCATION FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVING WITH HEADACHE DISORDERS AND MIGRAINE DISEASE. TO EMPOWER THE MILITARY COMMUNITY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR HEADACHE CARE WHETHER NAVIGATING WITHIN THE VA, TRICARE, AND/OR CHAMPVA, AT HOME AND/OR WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. BECOMING A STRONG SELF-ADVOCATE AND CREATING A PARTNERSHIP WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO CO-CREATE THE CARE/TREATMENT PLAN ALIGNED WITH PERSONAL GOALS AND PREFERENCES. -MIGRAINE UNIVERSITY: PROVIDES ADVOCACY TIPS AND TOOLS FOR SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATING COLLEGE WITH A HEADACHE DISORDER. EDUCATION AND SUPPORT AROUND ACCOMMODATIONS, UNDERSTANDING TRIGGERS, HEADACHE TYPES, TRACKING YOUR HEADACHE, FINDING A PROVIDER, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THIS INFORMATION ALSO EXTENDS TO PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO ON-CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS, INSTRUCTORS AND HEALTH CENTER PROFESSIONALS.-PUBLIC AWARENESS & EDUCATION PROGRAMS: TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THAT HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES ARE LEGITIMATE NEUROBIOLOGICAL DISEASES. AND THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS AND TREATMENTS AVAILABLE TO THEM. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:1) LIVING WITH MIGRAINE: A SERIES OF INFORMATIVE VIDEOS FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH MIGRAINE AND HEADACHE DISORDERS. THE VIDEOS ADDRESS LIFESTYLE CHANGES, DIET, AVOIDING TRIGGERS, TALKING WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, AND THE MANY TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE.2) NHF ON THE JOB: AN ONLINE WORKPLACE WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT HELPS EMPLOYEES AND THEIR MANAGERS UNDERSTAND MIGRAINE DISEASE. THE NHF PROGRAM CAN REDUCE BOTH THE INCIDENTS OF MIGRAINE AS WELL AS LOST WORKDAYS AND REDUCED PRODUCTIVITY DUE TO MIGRAINE DISEASE.
  2. $315,035 spent. NHF FOCUSES ON THE FOLLOWING PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES:-PRIMARY CARE MIGRAINE: A CME OR NON-CME PROGRAM TARGETED TO ANY CLINICIAN WITH INTEREST IN EDUCATION ON MIGRAINE, INCLUDING PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS, AND PEDIATRICIANS. THIS WEB AND APP-BASED TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDES CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION AT NO CHARGE.-ADVANCED QUALIFICATION IN HEADACHE MEDICINE CERTIFICATION (AQH): HIGH STAKES EXAMINATION THAT RECOGNIZES A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER'S HEADACHE EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSIFICATION, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF PRIMARY HEADACHES, SECONDARY HEADACHES, AND PAINFUL LESIONS OF THE CRANIAL NERVES AND OTHER FACIAL PAIN. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AQH EXAMINATION, A CANDIDATE MUST BE A LICENSED HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONER WITH PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN INDEPENDENTLY EVALUATING AND MANAGING HEADACHE PATIENTS.-FELLOWSHIP & GRANTS: THE FOUNDATION FUNDS CERTAIN EXTERNAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF ITS MISSION. -PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS/EDUCATION: THE FOUNDATION ATTENDS ONGOING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, CONFERENCES, AND WEBINARS FOR THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  3. $212,442 spent. NHF FOCUSES ON THE FOLLOWING NHF BRAND INITIATIVES:-HEADACHES.ORG: IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT HEADACHE, WE ARE HERE TO HELP EVERYONE WHO VISITS OUR COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE.-HEADWISE PODCASTS: HEADWISE VIDEO AND AUDIO HOSTED BY DR. LINDSAY WEITZEL ARE EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSIONS WITH HEADACHE EXPERTS ON THE LATEST TREATMENT, RESEARCH, LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT LIVING WITH MIGRAINE DISEASE AND HEADACHE DISORDERS. HEADWISE CAN BE FOUND ON APPLE PODCASTS, SPOTIFY, STITCHER, OVERCAST AND MORE. A VIDEO VERSION AND TRANSCRIPT OF HEADWISE IS AVAILABLE ON THE NHF WEBSITE, YOUTUBE, AND NHF FACEBOOK PAGE.-NHF INSIGHTS : A NEW VIDEO PODCAST CHANNEL WAS INITIATED IN 2024 AND IS HOSTED BY A MEMBER OF THE NHF BOARD WHERE INVITED GUESTS APPEAR IN A FIRESIDE CHAT FORMAT DISCUSSING THE LATEST HEADACHE TOPICS OF INTEREST.-SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS: NHF DIGITAL STRATEGY IS ACTIVE ACROSS ALL CHANNELS; FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, X, YOUTUBE, TIKTOK, LINKED IN, THREADS.
  4. $4,925 spent. PAYMENTS RELATED TO THE PHILIP AND HELENE HIXON NATIONAL HEADACHE FOUNDATION CHARITABLE REMAINDER UNITRUST

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 February 1971.

    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.

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.