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Kessler Foundation Inc

EIN 31-1562134 · East Hanover, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION HAS TWO PRIMARY MISSIONS: (1) TO CONDUCT WORLD-CLASS MEDICAL REHABILITATION RESEARCH FOCUSED ON FUNCTIONAL GAINS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND (2) TO IDENTIFY AND FUND PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

Income
$32.4 million
Spending
$36.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
82.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 41%
Employees
214
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$868,446, president and ceo

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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 82.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 22 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. $27.1 million spent. RESEARCH CENTER: KESSLER FOUNDATION RESEARCHERS IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES THROUGH REHABILITATION RESEARCH IN ITS TEN (10) SPECIALIZED CENTERS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF NOTED RESEARCH DIRECTORS: MOBILITY AND REHABILITATION ENGINEERING RESEARCH; NEUROPSYCHOLOGY & NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH; EMPLOYMENT AND DISABILITY RESEARCH; SPINAL CORD INJURY RESEARCH; STROKE REHABILITATION RESEARCH; TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY RESEARCH; OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT RESEARCH; AUTISM RESEARCH; TIM & CAROLINE REYNOLDS CENTER FOR SPINAL STIMULATION AND ROCCO ORTENZIO NEUROIMAGING CENTER. WHILE THE STAFF OF EACH CENTER HAS EXPERTISE IN PARTICULAR AREAS, COLLABORATION AMONG FOUNDATION RESEARCHERS AS WELL AS WITH COLLABORATORS FROM AROUND THE US AND THE WORLD, ENHANCES PROGRESS TOWARD FINDING WAYS TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES FACED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAUSED BY BRAIN INJURY, SPINAL CORD INJURY, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, ARTHRITIS, AND OTHER CHRONIC NEUROLOGICAL AND ORTHOPEDIC CONDITIONS. THE FOUNDATION HAS THE DISTINCTION OF HAVING THE ONLY 3T MRI SCANNER with BioMatrix technology SOLELY DEVOTED TO REHABILITATION RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES. SINCE 1998, THE FOUNDATION HAS INVESTED $181 MILLION IN RESEARCH, IN ADDITION TO $166 MILLION FOR RESEARCH FUNDED BY FEDERAL, STATE AND PRIVATE SOURCES. IN 2024, THE FOUNDATION RECEIVED OVER $28 MILLION IN NEW FEDERAL, STATE, AND PRIVATE GRANTS AND CONTRACTS. TWO FEDERAL MODEL SYSTEM GRANTS ESTABLISH KESSLER FOUNDATION AS A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR BOTH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) AND SPINAL CORD INJURY (SCI) RESEARCH. MODEL SYSTEMS ARE COMPREHENSIVE NETWORKS THAT PROMOTE INDEPENDENT AND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH THAT WILL IMPROVE THE NATIONAL STANDARD OF CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH THESE DEVASTATING INJURIES. MODEL SYSTEMS ARE FUNDED BY LARGE, MULTI-YEAR GRANTS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY, INDEPENDENT LIVING AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH. KESSLER FOUNDATION IS ONE OF ONLY SIX CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES TO HAVE DUAL MODEL SYSTEMS: NORTHERN NEW JERSEY SCI SYSTEM AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY TBI SYSTEM. THESE MODEL SYSTEMS ARE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH RUTGERS UNIVERSITY-NJ MEDICAL SCHOOL AND KESSLER INSTITUTE FOR REHABILITATION. IN 2018, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVED A STRATEGIC AREA OF RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF TRANSCUTANEOUS AND EPIDURAL STIMULATION TO IMPROVE FUNCTION FOR PEOPLE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES. IN 2024, THE Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation in partnership with Overlook Medical Center, completed its first epidural stimulation implant, marking a significant advancement in spinal cord injury treatment and rehabilitation.
  2. $1.0 million spent. PROGRAM CENTER: KESSLER FOUNDATION FOCUSES ON INCREASING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH ITS SIGNATURE EMPLOYMENT AND COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT GRANTMAKING PROGRAMS WHICH FUND LOCAL AND NATIONAL PROGRAMS AIMED TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE WORKFORCE. SPECIAL INITIATIVE GRANTS, AN INVITATION ONLY PROGRAM, ARE AWARDED TO PROJECTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT OPERATE WITHIN THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF REHABILITATION AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES PRIMARILY IN NEW JERSEY. RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT ARE UNACCEPTABLY HIGH AMONG THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. BY WORKING FULL OR PART-TIME, WITH TRAINING AND SUPPORT, MANY PEOPLE CAN FIND MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND REAP THE BENEFITS OF GREATER INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM. HAVING A JOB ENHANCES SOCIAL INTERACTION AND ACCEPTANCE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. ALTHOUGH INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES REPRESENT THE LARGEST MINORITY GROUP SEEKING EMPLOYMENT IN TODAY'S MARKETPLACE, THEY ARE OFTEN NOT CONSIDERED AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF CORPORATE DIVERSITY PROGRAMS. THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT, KESSLER FOUNDATION HAS INVESTED OVER $58 MILLION SINCE 1998 IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TO CREATE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. PROJECTS FUNDED INCLUDE PLACEMENT, TRAINING AND EDUCATION, SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, EMERGENCY GRANTS AND INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT. THIS FUNDING HAS ENABLED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES THAT OFTEN FACE THEM AND MEET THE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF AMERICAN BUSINESS. INNOVATIVE GRANT MAKING HAS INTRODUCED CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HELP ELIMINATE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM WORKING. Since 2013, Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's (UNH) Institute on Disability (IOD) have issued "National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) custom reports and complementary webinars covering employment data for Americans with and without disabilities. nTIDE reports are followed by government agencies, policymakers, disability organizations, employers, and reporters. The semi-monthly reports have been cited by top-tier outlets including Bloomberg.com, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, and Fortune.

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 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 October 1998.

    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.