Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation a Charitable Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ALISA ANN RUCH BURN FOUNDATION ("AARBF") WAS FOUNDED IN 1971 AND DERIVES ITS NAME AND INSPIRATION FROM AN EIGHT-YEAR OLD CHILD, ALISA ANN, WHO WAS FATALLY BURNED IN A BACKYARD BARBEQUE ACCIDENT. THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BURN INJURIES THROUGH PREVENTION EDUCATION, AND TO ENCHANCE THE QUALIFY OF LIFE OF THOSE AFFECTED BY BURN INJURIES IN CALIFORNIA. THE FOUNDATION WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FIREFIGHTERS, EDUCATORS, BURN CARE PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THE FOUNDATION IS GOVERNED BY AN EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND IS AIDED BY A SMALL TEAM OF STAFF LOACTED IN PASADENA, FRESNO, CLOVIS, AND SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 800
- Highest pay
- $117,675, 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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, 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 (2)
- $706,891 spent. SURVIVOR SERVICESSCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS: THE ALISA ANN RUCH BURN FOUNDATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR BURN SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AARBF OFFERS FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS, THE WOODY AND LOUISE "BRIDGE TO LIFE" SCHOLARSHIP, THE AIMING HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP, THE PHOENIX WORLD BURN CONGRESS SCHOLARSHIP AND THERAPY GRANTS. IN ADDITION, AARBF OFFERS EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DURING HOSPITALIZATION, INCLUDING FINANCIAL, HOUSING AND FOOD ASSISTANCE; AS WELL AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES, INCLUDING PRESSURE GARMENTS AND IMAGE ENHANCEMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING COSMETICS, WIGS, AND MAKE-UP.CAMPS AND RECREATION: CHAMP CAMP IS THE LARGEST AS WELL AS ONE OF THE LONGEST RUNNING SUMMER BURN CAMPS IN THE WORLD AND IS HELD EACH YEAR DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE AT WONDER VALLEY RANCH IN SANGER, CA. IN 2024, WE HOSTED 95 CAMPERS AND 17 COUNSELORS IN TRAINING (CIT). CITS ARE PAST CAMPERS (AGES 18-20) WHO HAVE RETURNED TO CAMP TO TRAIN TO BE FUTURE COUNSELORS WHEN THEY TURN TWENTY-ONE. CHAMP CAMP IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE, UPLIFT AND EMPOWER BURN SURVIVOR CHILDREN. THROUGH CHAMP CAMP, MANY OF OUR CAMPERS BUILD LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS WITH FELLOW SURVIVORS AND GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE WHICH THEY CARRY BACK INTO THEIR LIVES AFTER CAMP. OUR CAMPER EVALUATIONS SHOWED, 98% OF OUR CAMPERS REPORTED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO CHAMP CAMP NEXT YEAR.OTHER CAMP PROGRAMS - YOUNG ADULT SUMMIT (YAS) IS A WEEKEND RETREAT FOR BURN SURVIVORS AGES 16-21 THAT TEACHES LIFE MANAGEMENT SKILLS, PROMOTES EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND FOCUSES ON RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. IN 2024, YAS WAS HELD OVER PRESIDENTS' WEEKEND, AT CAMP OCEAN PINES IN CAMBRIA, CA. WHERE WE WELCOMED 30 YOUNG ADULT BURN SURVIVORS. THIS YEAR'S THEME WAS "SURVIVOR, AND WE EXPLORED THE VALUES OF CONNECTION, LEADERSHIP, AND THRIVING. WE PARTICIPATED IN A VARIETY OF WORKSHOPS, INCLUDING BODY IMAGE, FINANCE, ETIQUETTE, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND MORE.THE ADULT RETREAT IS A SURVIVOR-DRIVEN PROGRAM THAT OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR ADULT BURN SURVIVORS, AGES 21 AND OVER, TO LEARN FROM OTHER BURN SURVIVORS IN ATTENDANCE. THE ADULT RETREAT IS HELD AT THE SAME LOCATION AND WEEKEND AS THE YOUNG ADULT SUMMIT. WE WELCOMED 30 ADULT BURN SURVIVORS. THE RETREAT ALLOWED OLD FRIENDS TO RECONNECT WHILE ALSO PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS. THOUGHT-PROVOKING SESSIONS INVOLVING GRIEF/LOSS, BODY IMAGE, GUIDED MEDITATIONS, MUSIC, AND MORE WERE HELD, WITH A FOCUS ON THE FAMOUS WORDS OF JAMES BOSCH - "IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT I SEE" - RESONATING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.THE GETAWAY FAMILY CAMP IS A WEEKEND CAMP FOR ADULT BURN SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES/SUPPORTERS HELD IN COARSEGOLD, CA. THE CAMP IS DESIGNED TO BE A PLACE WHERE ADULT BURN SURVIVORS CAN CONNECT WITH PEERS WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR SITUATIONS AND RECEIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IN A FUN AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND, WE WELCOMED 35 FAMILIES WITH A TOTAL OF 164 ATTENDEES. THE WEEKEND INCLUDED MANY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ARCHERY, SWIMMING, GIANT SWING, ROCK CLIMBING, HIGH ROPES, SUPPORT GROUPS, KIDS/TEENS CLUB, OPEN MIC, BINGO, AND DANCING WITH FAMILIES FROM ALL OVER CALIFORNIAWOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND -AARBF HOSTED THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND RETREAT FROM APRIL 18TH-21TH. WE WELCOMED 14 REMARKABLE AND POWERFUL BURN SURVIVOR WOMEN.THE RETREAT WAS PACKED WITH ELEVEN DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS SUCH AS RELATIONSHIPS, INTIMACY, MIRROR WORK, JOURNALING, MANIFESTATION, VOCATIONAL REHAB, EMPOWERED ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND MUCH MORE. AS A GROUP, WE WERE ABLE TO EXPLORE NATURE AND GROUND OURSELVES BY TAKING GROUP WALKS AROUND CAMP CALVIN CREST. THE RETREAT PROVIDED A SAFE SPACE FOR EVERYONE, AND THE GROUP BECAME ONE AND SUPPORTED EACH OTHER THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. ADDITIONAL SUPPORTIN 2024, THE ALISA ANN RUCH BURN FOUNDATION CONDUCTED IN-PERSON AND E-VISITS TO HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA VISITING 687 BURN SURVIVORS AND 78 FAMILY MEMBERS. PARTNER HOSPITALS INCLUDE: SHRINER'S HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAINT FRANCIS BOTHIN BURN CENTER, SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER, FRESNO COMMUNITY REGIONAL CENTER, LA GENERAL, TORRANCE MEMORIAL CENTER, AND UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE BURN CENTER.AARBF FACILITATED 431 PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT MEETINGS IN 2024, ALLOWING BURN SURVIVORS TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH BURN SURVIVORS AND FAMILY/CAREGIVERS SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH FAMILY/CAREGIVERS TO ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS. IN ADDITION, AARBF FACILITATED OR SUPPORTED 108 SUPPORT GROUPS, SERVING 479 BURN SURVIVORS AND 229 FAMILY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS.
- $243,192 spent. BURN PREVENTION:AT THE NATIONAL AMERICAN BURN ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO APRIL 8TH-12TH, AARBF ENTERED INTO A "PREVENTION MESSAGE" POSTER COMPETITION TO GET THE WORD OUT IN NEW WAYS ABOUT BEING FIRE SAFE. THE THEME OF THE POSTER COMPETITION WAS "BURN PREVENTION WHERE YOU LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY PREVENTING BURNS IN THE HOMES" OUR ENTRY HIGHLIGHTS DISTRACTED COOKING AND CELL PHONE USAGE AS A POSSIBLE COOKING HAZARD, AND WON THIRD PLACE FOR THE NATIONAL COMPETITION. IN 2024, AARBF BEGAN DISTRIBUTION TO SELECTED AREAS OF FRESNO COUNTY, CA OF WILDFIRE P.R.E.P.A.R.E. PROGRAM MATERIALS. THE FIRST ROUND OF PREVENTION MATERIALS INCLUDED DOOR HANGERS TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH CAL FIRE PARTNERS AND AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE MATERIALS WERE DESIGNED TO DIRECT RESIDENTS TO THE ONLINE DOWNLOADABLE WILDFIRE P.R.E.P.A.R.E. GUIDE AND WAS SUPPORTED WITH A MONTHLY SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGE. MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT FROM CAL FIRE, WHICH WILL EXTEND THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2026.
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
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 2024.
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 May 1972.
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.
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