Respiratory Health Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MISSION IS TO PREVENT LUNG DISEASE, PROMOTE CLEAN AIR AND HELP PEOPLE LIVE BETTER THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND POLICY CHANGE.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $3.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- -4.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $343,124, president and ceo (thru 8/29/2024)
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
Weak: 35 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 48% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 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
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
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 (4)
- $1.8 million spent. LUNG HEALTH PROGRAMS: REDUCE THE BURDEN OF AND DISPARITIES IN CHRONIC DISEASE (ESPECIALLY ASTHMA, LUNG CANCER, AND COPD).USE HEALTH EDUCATORS AND OTHER TRAINED STAFF/VOLUNTEERS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS, PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS AND COMMUNITIES ABOUT HOW THEY CAN ADDRESS BEST MANAGE THEIR CONDITIONS. PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS INCLUDE: (A) ASTHMA: (FIGHT ASTHMA NOW(C) (FOR YOUTH/TEENS, DEVELOPMENT OF VIRTUAL FIGHT ASTHMA NOW (C), ASTHMA MANAGEMENT EDUCATION FOR CAREGIVERS, AND PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE ALL ILLINOIS SCHOOLS WITH EMERGENCY ASTHMA RESCUE MEDICATIONS; (B) COPD INITIATIVE, WHICH INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROVISION OF DIGITAL AND HARD-COPY EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION FOR COPD PATIENTS AND THEIR INFORMAL CAREGIVERS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS TO SUPPORT IN-HOME PULMONARY REHABILITATION, AND RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF OUR COPD CAREGIVER'S TOOLKIT ON THE WELL-BEING OF CAREGIVERS; AND (C) OTHER ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING RADON AWARENESS EDUCATION, AND COVID-19 EDUCATION. WE DELIVERED ASTHMA MANAGEMENT EDUCATION TO NEARLY 300 STUDENTS WITH ASTHMA AND 1,500 ADULT CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA.
- $379,101 spent. TOBACCO CONTROL: REDUCE SMOKING RATES AND EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND SMOKE, AND PREVENT YOUTH FROM USING TOBACCO PRODUCTS, INCLUDING ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES. PROVIDE ADULT CESSATION SERVICES IN COLLABORATION WITH SEVERAL COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF CHICAGO, LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. PROVIDE TRAINING ON ITS COURAGE TO QUIT(R) SMOKING CESSATION CURRICULUM TO STAFF FROM COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO IN TURN OFFER THE PROGRAM TO THEIR CLIENTS. PROVIDE COUNSEL TO QUIT(R) TO HELP HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO SPEAK TO THEIR PATIENTS ABOUT QUITTING SMOKING AND LINK THEM TO CESSATION RESOURCES. DELIVER TRAINING TO STUDENTS ON THE RISKS AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF VAPING. VAPING EDUCATION FOR SCHOOL STAFF ALSO INCLUDES A COMPONENT ON RECOGNIZING ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES, DESIGNED TO BE HIDDEN FROM ADULTS. WORK WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO PROMOTE POLICIES THAT LIMIT YOUTH ACCESS TO CIGARETTES AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES. WE REACH MORE THEN 6,300 STUDENTS ANNUALLY.
- $352,119 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: PROMOTE POLICIES THAT IMPROVE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY, MITIGATE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AND RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HOW AIR POLLUTION AFFECTS LUNG HEALTH.ADVOCATE THE ELIMINATION OF DIESEL VEHICLES AND THE BROADER ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC CARS AND TRUCKS. SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL/AWARENESS ACTIVITIES TO LIMIT EMISSIONS FROM DIESEL VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, AND OTHERWISE PROMOTE EFFORTS TO ENSURE CLEAN AIR. WORK TO LIMIT POLLUTION BY FOSSIL FUEL-FIRED POWER PLANTS THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS; REDUCE AIR POLLUTION FROM TRANSIT VEHICLES, INCLUDING DIESEL BUSES AND LOCOMOTIVES; AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY-BASED AWARENESS ACTIVITIES TO INFORM LOCAL RESIDENTS ABOUT RISKS TO THEIR LUNG HEALTH. WORK WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWMAKERS TO GAIN SUPPORT TO LIMIT TOXIC MATERIALS, PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN EXISTING RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS, DEFEND CLEAN AIR ACT STANDARDS AND PROGRAMS, AND SUPPORT STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING AND CLEAN ENERGY.
- $144,041 spent. RESEARCH: ADVANCE THE UNDERSTANDING AND TREATMENT OF LUNG DISEASES BY SUPPORTING AND PARTICIPATING IN SCIENTIFICALLY MERITORIOUS RESEARCH AREAS INCLUDE ASTHMA, LUNG CANCER, COPD, AND IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS. WE AIM TO FUND THE MOST PROMISING RESEARCH AND STRIVE TO FOSTER GREATER COLLABORATION AMONG RESEARCHERS AND AMONG ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT LUNG DISEASE RESEARCH. THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS, RESPIRATORY HEALTH ASSOCIATION IS ABLE TO MAXIMIZE RESEARCH AWARDS AND MAKE EVERY DOLLAR RAISED GO FURTHER.RESEARCH FUNDED BY RESPIRATORY HEALTH ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS IN EFFORTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND LUNG DISEASE. PAST RESEARCH PROJECTS HAVE INCLUDED EFFORTS AT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO, RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER AND NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY. RESPIRATORY HEALTH ASSOCIATION ALSO ENGAGES STAKEHOLDERS IN CITYWIDE RESEARCH PROJECTS AND SERVES AS AN ADVISOR ON RESEARCH PROJECTS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH LUNG DISEASE.
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 April 1938.
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.
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