Tennessee Kidney Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To empower and support those at risk or affected by kidney disease. Its vision is a Tennessee where the rate of kidney disease is minimized and everyone who needs care receives care.
- Income
- $871,643
- Spending
- $887,451
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 5.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 41%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $167,360, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 60% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 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
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep 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 June 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 (3)
- $769,149 spent. Access to Care, Food Security, and Emergency Financial Assistance - provides a lifeline for low-income individuals with End Stage Kidney Disease who cannot afford the cost of transportation to and from life-sustaining dialysis appointments. TKF is the only organization providing transportation assistance for dialysis patients and transplant candidates in Middle Tennessee and funded more than 80,000 trips in 2024-2025 year. Also, the emergency assistance program aids individuals who are facing the termination of utilities, eviction from housing, and depleted food supplies which are essential to kidney health. The program provides relief in times of crisis that allows individuals to plan and save for the following months and concentrate on their health outcomes. Also, TKF addresses food security concerns and adherence to kidney-related diet for low-income kidney patients by providing fresh, kidney-friendly meals delivered to their homes at no cost to participants. TKF provided 12,675 meals in 2024-2025.
- Preventive services and Community Education - provides free prevention kidney health screenings throughout Middle Tennessee at workplaces, churches, community health fairs and other places it can reach individuals who are most at risk for kidney disease. A kidney health screening includes a medical history questionnaire, blood pressure reading, height and weight measurements, A1C test, and a urinalysis. Every participant talks one-on-one with a physician or health educator to understand their results, possible risks and action steps. TKF provides exhibits at community events and public education presentations at workplaces, churches, health fairs and civic groups to educate the community about kidney disease and identifying possible risk factors. In 2024-2025, TKF held 22 education and preventive screening events, helping 162 people identify health risks and more than 50% of participants showing abnormal screening results and receiving information about how to ensure follow-up care is received.
- Professional Education - provides administrative support related to the coordination of transportation, community education and prevention program services. TKF participates in and hosts professional education events alongside kidney health professionals to maintain the most current level of knowledge about kidney health trends. TKF offers education and prevention programming through free in-person kidney screenings and outreach events. Each screening consists of a urinalysis, blood pressure reading, and height and weight calculations. Screenings help identify health issues such as hypertension and diabetes that can lead to CKD and ESKD. Medical Professionals are on-site to offer education and resources and encourage participants to seek follow-up care. Many attendees of TKF screenings do not participate in regular doctor visits, have limited knowledge of their health status, and often do not know their numbers. These screening events provide life-saving information. In the past year, TKF has held seven screenings throughout our 42-county service area with over 150 individuals screened in total. Of those, 70 of our participants had abnormal results the result of an elevated blood pressure, the presence of protein in the urine causing an abnormal urinalysis or both and were referred for follow-up care. Early detection is the key to kidney health. Also, TKF also hosts a Health Equity Patient Focus Group and Health Equity Roundtable series, working with selected healthcare professionals, community members, and patients to examine how trust is established and cultivated with patients and their providers, what steps can be taken by both patients and providers to improve communication and trust, and what resources can be provided for patients and providers to foster.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 October 2009.
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.