American Kidney Fund Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN KIDNEY FUND IS TO FIGHT KIDNEY DISEASE AND HELP PEOPLE LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES. FOUNDED IN 1971, AKF FIGHTS KIDNEY DISEASE ON ALL FRONTS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SCOPE OF PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT PEOPLE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM FROM DISEASE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION THROUGH POST-TRANSPLANT LIVING.
- Income
- $324.6 million
- Spending
- $302.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 7.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 131
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $1.1 million, president & chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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 December 31, 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)
- $268.9 million spent. PATIENT ASSISTANCE: IN 2025, WE HELPED MORE THAN 73,500 LOW-INCOME PEOPLE WITH KIDNEY FAILURE IN ALL 50 STATES GAIN ACCESS TO LIFESAVING HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING DIALYSIS AND TRANSPLANT, BY PROVIDING NEED-BASED GRANTS TO PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS, TRANSPORTATION TO TREATMENT, PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS AND NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS, AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IN THE WAKE OF NATURAL DISASTERS. WITH AKF'S SUPPORT FOR HEALTH COVERAGE THEY OTHERWISE COULD NOT AFFORD, NEARLY 1,700 DIALYSIS PATIENTS HAD LIFESAVING KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS AND POST-TRANSPLANT CARE, REPRESENTING NEARLY 6% OF ALL U.S. KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS PERFORMED IN 2025. WE PROVIDED 76 DIALYSIS AND POST-TRANSPLANT PATIENTS WITH DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE IN THE WAKE OF FLOODS, AND WILDFIRES. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DISASTER RELIEF, OUR GRANT PROGRAMS ARE NEEDS-BASED AND PATIENTS MUST COMPLETE A GRANT APPLICATION TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE. ON AVERAGE, OUR GRANT RECIPIENTS HAVE TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOMES LESS THAN $31,000 PER YEAR.
- $19.6 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION, AWARENESS AND PREVENTION ACTIVITIES:AWARENESS AND PREVENTION35.5 MILLION AMERICANS 1 IN 7 ADULTS HAVE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD), AND MOST DON'T REALIZE THEY HAVE IT. AKF'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS HELP INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFY THEIR RISKS FOR CKD AND MANAGE CKD, KIDNEY FAILURE AND CO-MORBIDITIES. A HALLMARK OF OUR AWARENESS-BUILDING WORK WAS OUR SIXTH ANNUAL KIDNEY ACTION WEEK, HELD FROM MARCH 3-7, 2025. THE VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL EVENT WAS STREAMED THROUGH A DIGITAL CONFERENCE PLATFORM AND SIMULCASTED THROUGH AKF'S FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE SOCIAL CHANNELS. APPROXIMATELY 3,000 PEOPLE PREREGISTERED FOR THE EVENT, WITH MORE THAN 150,000 PEOPLE VIEWING THE COMBINED LIVE AND ARCHIVED SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE PROVIDED PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MESSAGING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, WHICH GREW TO 245,000 FOLLOWERS IN 2025.PUBLIC EDUCATIONWE CONTINUALLY ENHANCE OUR EDUCATION CONTENT AND OFFERINGS. OUR WEBSITE HAD MORE THAN 12 MILLION VIEWS IN 2025 FROM PEOPLE LOOKING FOR KIDNEY HEALTH INFORMATION. AS PART OF OUR WEB STRATEGY, WE CONTINUED TO ENRICH OUR AWARD-WINNING KIDNEY KITCHEN WEBSITE, A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE FOR PLANNING A KIDNEY-FRIENDLY DIET. KIDNEY KITCHEN CONTENT HAD NEARLY 2 MILLION VIEWS IN 2025. OUR BLOG, KIDNEY TODAY, HAD MORE THAN 700,000 VIEWS OF ARTICLES HIGHLIGHTING STORIES OF PATIENT EXPERIENCE, INNOVATION AND ADVOCACY. WE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST PODCAST, THE KIDNEY COLLECTIVE, WITH UNSCRIPTED CONVERSATIONS GIVING A GLIMPSE INTO THE PATIENT AND CAREGIVER EXPERIENCE; THE PODCAST HAD MORE THAN 53,000 VIEWS ON YOUTUBE. WE CONTINUED OUR MAJOR NATIONAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON REDUCING HEALTH DISPARITIES IN KIDNEY DISEASE, AND WE HELD THE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONWIDE AMKD AWARENESS DAY TO BRING ATTENTION TO A GENETIC VARIANT THAT CAN MAKE PEOPLE OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICAN ANCESTRY MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO MORE SEVERE, RAPIDLY PROGRESSING KIDNEY DISEASE. WE CONTINUED TO RUN EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS AND PROGRAMS WHICH FOCUS ON MANAGING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF KIDNEY DISEASE AND ITS CO-MORBIDITIES. THESE INCLUDED THE KNOW YOUR KIDNEYS, KNOW YOUR CAUSE, KNOW YOUR PLAN PROGRAM; THE KIDNEY HEALTH FOR ALL HEALTH EQUITY PROGRAM; AND THE LAUNCH OF OUR STEP FORWARD EDUCATION MODULES. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OUR KIDNEY HEALTH COACH PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM, WHICH NOW INCLUDES MORE THAN 8,000 COACHES NATIONWIDE WHO IN 2025 EDUCATED MORE THAN 27,000 PEOPLE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES ABOUT KIDNEY DISEASE. FOR CHILDREN, LIVING WITH KIDNEY DISEASE IS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING. AKF OFFERS A FREE, NATIONWIDE ONLINE VIRTUAL CAMP PROGRAM FOR PEDIATRIC KIDNEY PATIENTS. THE CAMPERS PARTICIPATE MONTHLY IN MODERATED ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSIONS THAT ALLOW THEM TO CONNECT WITH OTHER CHILDREN AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME CHALLENGES. IN 2025, NEARLY 150 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN AKF'S VIRTUAL CAMP, CAMP CONNECTIONS, WHICH ALSO HOSTED A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN LIVING WITH CYSTINOSIS, A RARE KIDNEY DISEASE. AKF IS A STRONG AND INDEPENDENT VOICE ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND STRENGTHEN THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE. WE WORK WITH CONGRESS, THE ADMINISTRATION, FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TO ADVANCE LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY POLICIES IMPORTANT TO KIDNEY PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. ENGAGING PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS AROUND ADVOCACY ISSUES IS CENTRAL TO THIS WORK. IN 2025, WE GREW OUR ADVOCACY NETWORK TO OVER 48,000 PATIENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING TWO IN-PERSON CONGRESSIONAL FLY-INS, INCLUDING ONE FOCUSED ON RARE KIDNEY DISEASES. IN NOVEMBER 2025 WE HELD OUR THIRD PATIENT ACCESS INITIATIVE SUMMIT, WHERE WE FOCUSED ON ISSUES SUCH AS ACCESS TO INNOVATION, USE OF AI TECHNOLOGY IN TREATING KIDNEY DISEASE, AS WELL AS EXPLORING WAYS TO CREATE INCENTIVES FOR SCREENING AND TREATMENT TO AVOID OR DELAY KIDNEY FAILURE. WE PUBLISHED OUR FIFTH ANNUAL "STATE OF THE STATES: LIVING DONOR PROTECTION REPORT CARD," WHICH HOLDS EACH STATE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE LAWS IT HAS IN PLACE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO BE LIVING KIDNEY DONORS. SINCE AKF BEGAN SPEARHEADING THE LIVING DONOR PROTECTION ADVOCACY WORK IN 2018, 41 STATES HAVE ENACTED LAWS THAT REMOVE ROADBLOCKS TO LIVING ORGAN DONATION. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAKF DEVELOPS COURSES THAT ARE PROVIDED ONLINE AND MEET THE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONALS WHO TREAT KIDNEY PATIENTS. IN 2025, THERE WERE MORE THAN 380,000 AKF COURSES COMPLETED BY PHYSICIANS, NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, DIALYSIS TECHNICIANS, DIETITIANS, HEALTH EDUCATORS AND OTHER RENAL CARE PROFESSIONALS.
- $472,855 spent. RESEARCH: ESTABLISHED IN 1988, AKF'S CLINICAL SCIENTIST IN NEPHROLOGY PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED RESEARCH FUNDING TO MANY OF NEPHROLOGY'S BRIGHTEST SCHOLARS. MANY FORMER CSN FELLOWS HAVE GONE ON TO DISTINGUISHED CAREERS IN THE FIELD, CONDUCTING GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH THAT ADVANCES KNOWLEDGE AND TREATMENT OF KIDNEY DISEASE. IN 2025, AKF SELECTED TWO NEW FELLOWS: DR. MOMEN ABBASI, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, WILL BE LOOKING TO FIND ANY VARIANCES IN KIDNEY MRIS OF PATIENTS WITH VARYING LEVELS OF CKD TO LOOK FOR SUBTYPES OR IMAGING MARKERS; AND DR. API CHEWCHARAT, FROM BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL IN BOSTON, WHO WILL BE LOOKING FOR CIRCULATING INFLAMMATION BIOMARKERS IN PATIENTS AFTER STEM-CELL TRANSPLANTS.AKF TOOK MAJOR STEPS IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF UNKNOWN CAUSES OF KIDNEY DISEASE (UCKD) BY CONTINUING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ASPECTS OF AKF'S UCKD ROADMAP. THESE INCLUDED THE LAUNCH OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAVEN PROJECT TO BRING RESOURCES AND EDUCATION TO PRIMARY CARE PROFESSIONALS IN RURAL SETTINGS NATIONWIDE, HOSTING OUR THIRD RARE DISEASE FLY-IN, AND HOSTING OUR THIRD, IN-PERSON UCKD SUMMIT ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2025, BRINGING TOGETHER PATIENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND RENAL PROFESSIONALS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1971.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.