Passes our checks

Usher Syndrome Society Inc

EIN 26-1577154 · Needham, MA

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

What it says it does

To use the arts to create empathy in order to raise awareness and funding for Usher Syndrome to ultimately find a cure.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 90 out of 100.

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 17.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15
Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 68 out of 100.

Independent board
25 of 25
8 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no 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.
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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$892,446 spent. In 2025, the Usher Syndrome Society continued its award-winning Every Second Counts campaign with a new commercial bringing total impressions to more than 500 million. The campaign returned to Times Square for a second time, featuring members of the Usher syndrome community and generating national coverage, including an ABC News segment highlighting the powerful story of a newly diagnosed family. Our awareness efforts also included a first-of-its-kind immersive exhibit in New York City attended by more than 200 guests, an event featuring a singer-songwriter sharing his experience of vision loss, and a traveling exhibit displayed in five building lobbies across Boston. Together, these initiatives helped generate the funding needed to award $763,000 for research, representing a 188% increase in research support from the prior year. The cutting edge PUSH research program funded by the Usher syndrome Society, reached major scientific milestones, with new data supporting a promising platform that may lead to treatments for certain forms of Usher syndrome.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 November 6, 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 December 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 June 2008.
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 November 4, 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.