Leukemia Research Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CURE LEUKEMIA BY FUNDING INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, AND TO SUPPORT PATIENTS AND FAMILIES.
- Income
- $6.0 million
- Spending
- $3.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 24.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $176,513, executive director
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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 142% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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 (3)
- $2.1 million spent. RESEARCH GRANTS - IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, 13 RESEARCH GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO NEW INVESTIGATORS STUDYING LEUKEMIA OR MDS FROM US-BASED MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS. EACH GRANT AWARD IS $150,000 OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, WITH TOTAL RESEARCH FUNDING OF $1.95 MILLION. RESEARCH GRANT AWARDS WERE SELECTED BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FOUNDATION'S INDEPENDENT MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD AFTER A RIGOROUS GRANT REVIEW PROCESS.
- $307,925 spent. PATIENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT - IN FY25, THE FOUNDATION DELIVERED 11 VIRTUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS. THESE PROGRAMS WERE ORGANIZED WITHIN OUR TWO ANNUAL SERIES (LEUKEMIA Q&A AND NEW & EMERGING TREATMENTS), A LEUKEMIA AWARENESS MONTH SERIES (CANCER AND FINANCES AND MINDFULNESS), AND A SPRING SERIES (GENETICS AND NUTRITION). MORE THAN 1,500 INDIVIDUALS REGISTERED FOR THESE PROGRAMS, AND 86% OF PARTICIPANTS RATED THEM AS EXCELLENT OR VERY GOOD.IN ADDITION, FOUR NEW EDUCATIONAL PAGES WERE ADDED TO OUR WEBSITE, PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT TESTS ORDERED BY CLINICIANS, WHAT THEY REVEAL, AND HOW THEY GUIDE TREATMENT DECISIONS. THE NEW RESOURCES INCLUDE DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING, LEUKEMIA BLOOD TESTS, BONE MARROW TESTS FOR LEUKEMIA, AND LEUKEMIA BIOMARKER TESTING.
- $217,956 spent. PATIENT GRANT PROGRAM - IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, 100 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS OF UP TO $1,500 WERE AWARDED TO PATIENTS. THIS NEED-BASED PROGRAM ASSISTS LEUKEMIA PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY EASING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT COMES WITH A LEUKEMIA DIAGNOSIS SO THE FOCUS CAN BE ON HEALTH AND TREATMENT. GRANT AWARDS CAN BE USED FOR ANY EXPENSE, INCLUDING MEDICAL BILLS, MEDICATIONS, TRANSPORTATION AND LODGING EXPENSES, RENT, FOOD, AND MORE.
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 October 13, 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 November 1954.
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 October 21, 2026.
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