Mario Lemieux Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO FUND PROMISING PATIENT CARE AND MEDICAL RESEARCH INITIATIVES IN THE AREAS OF HODGKIN'S DISEASE, PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY, CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE, AS WELL AS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF HOSPITAL PLAYROOMS.
- Income
- $4.8 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 55%
- Reserves
- 97 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $187,303, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 97.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 61% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1555% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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 September 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 (4)
- $743,970 spent. FOLLOWING THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF NATHALIE AND MARIO LEMIEUX DURING THE HOSPITALIZATION OF THEIR PREMATURE SON IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT MAGEE-WOMENS HOSPITAL, NATHALIE LEMIEUX RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR A SAFE AND ENGAGING SPACE FOR SIBLINGS AND OTHER CHILDREN VISITING HOSPITALIZED FAMILY MEMBERS. IN RESPONSE, SHE ESTABLISHED AUSTIN'S PLAYROOMS IN 2000 TO PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT WHILE FAMILIES FOCUS ON HEALTH AND HEALING DURING DIFFICULT MEDICAL SITUATIONS. AUSTIN'S PLAYROOMS FEATURE AGE-APPROPRIATE TOYS, GAMES, BOOKS, TECHNOLOGY, AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO REDUCE STRESS AND PROVIDE COMFORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. ** SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O **SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED TO 44 AUSTIN'S PLAYROOMS AND RELATED FAMILY SUPPORT SPACES LOCATED THROUGHOUT HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES. TO DATE, MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THESE PLAYROOMS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO SUPPORT EXISTING PLAYROOMS THROUGH RENOVATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND THE PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION COMPLETED THE OPENING OF A NEW AUSTIN'S PLAYROOM AT UPMC CHILDREN'S HARRISBURG AND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS FOR FUTURE PLAYROOM LOCATIONS.
- $154,632 spent. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTS BLOOD CANCER RESEARCH IN BOTH THE CLINIC AND LAB. IN 2014, THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED THE MARIO LEMIEUX CENTER LYMPHOMA CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH OF UPMC. THIS CENTER, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, TREATS PATIENTS WITH DIFFICULT-TO-TREAT AND RARE CHILDHOOD LYMPHOMAS. THE CENTER HAS INCREASED ACCESS TO CARE AND CUTTING-EDGE TREATMENTS FOR ALL CHILDHOOD LYMPHOMAS, WHILE ALSO BRINGING TOGETHER A CRITICAL VOLUME OF PATIENTS WITH RARE LYMPHOMAS FOR RESEARCH STUDIES THAT CAN HAVE HAD A GLOBAL IMPACT ON CARE. THE ANNUAL COMMITMENT TO THIS $2.5M PROJECT IS $357,000. **SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O**THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTS HODGKIN'S DISEASE RESEARCH AND PATIENT CARE BY PROVIDING FUNDING TO THE MARIO LEMIEUX CENTER FOR BLOOD CANCERS, LOCATED AT THE UPMC HILLMAN CANCER CENTER. IN NOVEMBER 2018, THE MARIO LEMIEUX FOUNDATION PLEDGED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE UPMC HILLMAN CANCER CENTER IN A $5M GIFT FOR GROUNDBREAKING IMMUNOTHERAPY RESEARCH AND TREATMENT. THE MARIO LEMIEUX IMMUNOTHERAPY CENTER WILL EXPAND AND ENHANCE INNOVATIVE IMMUNOTHERAPY TREATMENTS FOR PATIENTS WITH CERTAIN TYPES OF SOLID TUMORS, BOTH THROUGH RESEARCH AND PERSONALIZED PATIENT CARE. THE IMMUNOTHERAPY CENTER OPENING WAS DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. HOWEVER, THE CENTER FOR BLOOD CANCERS REMAINED OPEN AND SERVED PATIENTS. IN FY 22 THE BOARD COMMITTED $5M TO UPMC CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH TO ESTABLISH THE MARIO LEMIEUX INSTITUTE FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH. THE OPENING WAS HELD IN OCTOBER 2023. THIS NEW INSTITUTE FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING FUTURE RESEARCH LEADERS WHO WILL HELP GENERATE NEW SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS AND CUTTING-EDGE CLINICAL TRIALS IN PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH AND TRANSLATE THAT RESEARCH DIRECTLY TO PATIENTS.
- $82,202 spent. IN MAY 2024, THE FOUNDATION MADE A $5M GIFT TO ESTABLISH THE MARIO LEMIEUX CENTER FOR HEART RHYTHM CARE AT AHN CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE. THIS GIFT WAS MATCHED WITH A $5M COMMITTMENT FROM HIGHMARK.
- $52,600 spent. THE FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO PATIENT CARE AND FAMILY SUPPORT AT THE CHILDREN'S HOME OF PITTSBURGH AND LEMIEUX FAMILY CENTER. THE LEMIEUX FAMILY CENTER IS DESIGNED TO BE A HOME AWAY FROM HOME WHERE FAMILIES ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND ONE OR MORE NIGHTS IN A PRIVATE BEDROOM WITH THEIR CHILD. WHILE NESTING, FAMILIES CAN PRACTICE PROVIDING CARE ON THEIR OWN WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE PEDIATRIC SPECIALTY HOSPITAL ONSITE. THERE IS ALSO AN AUSTIN'S PLAYROOM AS WELL AS SEVERAL PLAY SPACES PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION IN THIS FACILITY. IN FY 23, THE BOARD GIFTED $150,000 FOR 2023 AND 2024.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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