Perry Initiative
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Perry Initiative was formed to promote the advancement of women in orthopaedic surgery and engineering through mentorship, strategic research and advocacy, and community outreach. The Perry Initiative strives to develop future leaders in the fields of Orthopaedic Surgery and Engineering.
- Income
- $590,154
- Spending
- $505,941
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 13.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 48%
- Employees
- 0
- Highest pay
- $65,933, executive dir.
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
- $420,112 spent. The Perry Initiative is a non-profit organization that inspires young women to pursue careers in orthopaedics through day-long outreach programs, Perry Outreach Program - POP for high school students and for first and second year medical students Medical Student Outreach Program - MSOP. Both POP and MSOP feature laboratory-based workshops that introduce surgical and engineering skills along with small-group mentoring from prominent women surgeons, biomedical engineers, and business professionals in orthopaedics Program evaluation results indicate that both POP and MSOP are effective in building the pipeline for women in the orthopaedics workforce. Follow up studies have shown that 85 of POP alumnae are pursuing STEM majors at the college level, with 25 in engineering and 60 in the biosciences. The MSOP has had a similar positive effect on first and second year medical students' intentions to pursue careers in orthopaedics. After participating in the program, 90 of the students who were initially undecided on a specialty, 100 of those initially considering another specialty, and 96 of those who were initially considering orthopaedic surgery indicated that they were now considering or strongly considering applying to orthopaedic surgery residency programs.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.