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National Kidney Foundation Inc

EIN 36-6009226 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS IMPROVES THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AT RISK FOR OR AFFECTED BY KIDNEY DISEASE THROUGH PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND EMPOWERMENT.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
17
Volunteers
744
Highest pay
$190,585, executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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 March 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 (4)
  1. $1.2 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC EDUCATION: THE NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS (NKFI) PROVIDES PREVENTION SCREENINGS FOR DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND KIDNEY DISEASE AS WELL AS EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE REFERRAL AND FOLLOW UP TO MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS THROUGH ITS KIDNEYMOBILE PROGRAM. THE NKFI ALSO PARTNERS WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE TO PROMOTE AND BRING A GREATER AWARENESS TO ORGAN DONATION. THE NKFI ALSO OFFERS A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND RESOURCES, BOTH IN PRINT AND ON THEIR WEBSITE. THE NKFI CONDUCTS VARIOUS ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT AND HELP PREVENT KIDNEY DISEASE. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS REGARDING CKD, DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE WERE DISTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 23,000 PEOPLE IN FISCAL YEAR 2025.
  2. $580,247 spent. PATIENT SERVICES: THE NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS (NKFI) OFFERS EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON TOPICS RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT OF KIDNEY DISEASE AND ITS CO-MORBIDITIES. THE NKFI ALSO OFFERS ONE-ON-ONE PHONE CONSULTATION AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL TO ANYONE LIVING IN ILLINOIS INTERESTED IN RECEIVING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT KIDNEY DISEASE AND ITS TWO LEADING CAUSES, DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, 1,738 PARTICIPANTS WERE SCREENED.
  3. $355,790 spent. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION: THE NKFI PROVIDES CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, NEPHROLOGISTS, TRANSPANT SURGEONS, NURSES, DIETITIANS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS.
  4. $121,126 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES:RESEARCH: THE NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS ("NKFI") RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS YOUNG INVESTIGATORS WHO HAVE RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT WILL INCREASE THE UNDERSTANDING OF KIDNEY, UROLOGIC AND RELATED DISEASES AND TRANSPLANTATION AS WELL AS IMPROVE THE CLINICAL MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT OR CURE OF THESE DISEASES. THE NKFI ALSO SHARES A PORTION OF ITS REVENUE TO SUPPORT NATIONAL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES OF THE NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION.NKFI ALSO HAS AN INNOVATIONS GRANT THAT SUPPORTS AND FUNDS NEW, INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS, RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGIES, AND OTHER NOVEL PROCESSES THAT LEAD TO MORE EFFECTIVE, EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE AT RISK FOR KIDNEY DISEASE AND TRANSPLANTATION-RELATED DISEASES, AND/OR IMPROVE THE PREVENTION, MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT OR CURE OF THESE DISEASES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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? 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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 March 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 1969.

    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.