Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Melanoma Research Alliance Foundation

EIN 26-1636099 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO END SUFFERING AND DEATH DUE TO MELANOMA BY COLLABORATING WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO ACCELERATE POWERFUL RESEARCH, ADVANCE CURES FOR ALL PATIENTS, AND PREVENT MORE MELANOMAS.

Income
$16.5 million
Spending
$17.4 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
16
Volunteers
44
Highest pay
$626,632, treasurer

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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 77% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 36% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 26 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 (2)
  1. $15.5 million spent. THE MELANOMA RESEARCH ALLIANCE FOUNDATION ("MRA") SUPPORTS AMBITIOUS AND INNOVATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS, SELECTED THROUGH PEER-REVIEW PANEL(S) AND INITIATED BY INDIVIDUAL SCIENTISTS AND SCIENCE RESEARCH TEAMS, TO PREVENT, DETECT AND TREAT MELANOMA. MRA CONVENES WORLD CLASS, CROSS-DISCIPLINARY GROUPS OF EXPERTS POSSESSING CLINICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE TO DEVELOP A RESEARCH AGENDA THAT WILL PROVIDE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CRITICAL RESEARCH ISSUES LEADING TO MORE EFFECTIVE PREVENTION, EARLIER DETECTION AND BETTER TREATMENTS FOR MELANOMA. MRA MAKES GRANTS TO DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES, MEDICAL SCHOOLS, AND NONPROFIT MEDICAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN DETERMINING THE CAUSES AND CURES OF MELANOMA ON THE CONDITION THAT SUCH RESEARCH BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY.
  2. $560,426 spent. THE MRA OPERATES A PATIENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS INCREASED AWARENESS OF MELANOMA IN GENERAL, AND OF PREVENTION, DETECTION AND TREATMENT OPTIONS SPECIFICALLY. THE PATIENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATION ABOUT AND PROMOTION OF CLINICAL TRIALS AND A PATIENT REGISTRY FOR RARE MELANOMAS. THE PATIENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL FORUMS, A CLINICAL TRIAL NAVIGATOR FOR PATIENTS AND AN ON-LINE PATIENT COMMUNITY.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.