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Costs of Care

EIN 27-2898108 · Cambridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COSTS OF CARE IS DEDICATED TO CULTIVATING CHANGE AGENTS WHO WILL LEAD THE CREATION OF A MORE AFFORDABLE AND EQUITABLE HEALTH SYSTEM.

Income
$324,177
Spending
$199,643
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
11.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$41,100, deputy director

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

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.7 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 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 231% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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

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. $97,539 spent. THE STARS (STUDENTS AND TRAINEES ADVOCATING FOR RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP) PROGRAM CATALYZES GRASSROOTS, STUDENT-LED INITIATIVES TO ADVANCE HEALTH CARE VALUE IN MEDICAL EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN AND NOW INCLUDES MORE THAN 800 MEDICAL STUDENT PARTICIPANTS FROM MORE THAN 55 DIFFERENT MEDICAL SCHOOLS ENGAGED IN A LONGITUDINAL LEARNING COLLABORATIVE. THE STARS PROGRAM PROVIDES BOTH STUDENTS AND FACULTY OPPORTUNITIES TO "LEAD FROM WHERE YOU STAND AND ADVANCE HIGH-VALUE CARE EDUCATION AND IMPLEMENTATION, SUPPORTING THEIR OWN CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND FUTHERING OUR SHARED MISSION TO PROVIDE THE BEST CARE AT LOWER COSTS FOR PATIENTS. THE STARS 2025 COHORT CONSISTED OF OVER 100 STUDENTS AND 39 FACULTY REPRESENTING 28 MEDICAL SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. COSTS OF CARE ALSO RECEIVED DEDICATED GRANT FUNDING TO ADVANCE OUR INNOVATIVE AND INFLUENTIAL STARS PROGRAM. LEARN MORE AT STARS.COSTSOFCARE.ORG.
  2. $21,325 spent. AFFORDABILITY MOONSHOT: THE AFFORDABILITY MOONSHOT IS A MOVEMENT TO IMPROVE PATIENT AFFORDABILITY SO THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR LIFE AND THEIR LIFE SAVINGS. WE ARE INFORMED BY OUTPUTS FROM OUR PREVIOUS AFFORDABILITY ACCELERATOR, WHICH CONVENED INFLUENTIAL EXPERTS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO WORK TOGETHER ON DEVELOPING AND DISSEMINATING THE MOST PROMISING HIGH-IMPACT AND SUSTAINABLE INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE PATIENT AFFORDABILITY. WE UTILIZE OUR OUTPUTS TO CONTINUE TO CULTIVATE CHANGE AGENTS WHO WILL LEAD THE CREATION OF A MORE AFFORDABLE AND EQUITABLE HEALTH SYSTEM. OUR MOONSHOT WORK INCLUDES COSTS OF CARE FELLOWSHIPS FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH NATIONAL LEADERS TO PROMOTE DISCUSSION, TRAINING, AND DISSEMINATION EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF MORE AFFORDABLE AND VALUE-BASED HEALTHCARE. THE 2025 FELLOWSHIP CYCLE PROVIDED 2 SUCH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COSTS OF CARE TEAM TO MOVE FORWARD RESEARCH RELATED TO HIGH-VALUE CARE AND AFFORDABILITY. RECRUITMENT FOR THE 2026 FELLOWSHIP CYCLE WILL SEE 1-2 SUCH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS INTERESTED IN MOVING FORWARD HIGH-VALUE CARE AND AFFORDABILITY IN ANY MEDICAL SPECIALTY. THE AFFORDABILITY MOONSHOT ALSO INCORPORATES THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP IN IMPROVING PATIENT AFFORDABILITY AND INCLUDES THE STEVEN SCHROEDER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING HEALTHCARE CEO, AN AWARD WE GIVE TO RECOGNIZE A HOSPITAL AND/OR HEALTH SYSTEM CEO WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED COURAGEOUS AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP IN ADDRESSING THE TWIN ISSUES OF AFFORDABILITY AND QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. LEARN MORE AT COSTSOFCARE.ORG AND MOONSHOT.COSTSOFCARE.ORG

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2022 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    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 2025.

    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 September 2011.

    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.