Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Sepsis Alliance

EIN 38-3110993 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SAVE LIVES AND REDUCE SUFFERING BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND LEADING AN ALLIANCE OF PATIENTS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, AND PARTNERS COMMITTED TO PREVENTING AND CURING SEPSIS.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
15.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
14
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$321,372, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.3 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 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 120% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 19 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, 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. $721,707 spent. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION & SUPPORTSEPSIS ALLIANCE CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS REACH THROUGH SEPSIS.ORG, WHICH SERVED OVER 1.5 MILLION VISITORS WITH UPDATED AND MULTILINGUAL RESOURCES. THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED SEVERAL TARGETED CAMPAIGNS, INCLUDING THE GET VAXXED VACCINE CONFIDENCE CAMPAIGN AND AN ADDITIONAL CAMPAIGN WHICH ADDRESSED INFECTION PREVENTION FOR CANCER PATIENTS. THESE EFFORTS WERE SUPPORTED BY GRANTS FROM GLAXOSMITHKLINE AND ASTRAZENECA. ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, SEPSIS AWARENESS INCREASED TO 75%, A 9% INCREASE OVER 2024 AND A NEW HIGH, ACCORDING TO THE ANNUAL SEPSIS ALLIANCE AWARENESS SURVEY. SEPSIS ALLIANCE CONNECT GREW TO OVER 8,000 MEMBERS, OFFERING MORE THAN 150 LIVE VIRTUAL SUPPORT SESSIONS AND 14 NEW ON-DEMAND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. (CONTINUED ON SCHED O)(CONTINUED FROM PART III, 4A) THE PLATFORM OFFERS AFFINITY GROUPS FOR YOUNG ADULTS, AMPUTEE SURVIVORS, AND THOSE WITH INVISIBLE DISABILITIES AFTER SEPSIS, AND CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS EDUCATIONAL AND RESOURCE OFFERINGS. CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM'S EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS CAME FROM MERCK.
  2. $897,219 spent. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING SEPSIS ALLIANCE INSTITUTE (SAI) EXPERIENCED A 20.2% INCREASE IN USERS, REACHING OVER 69,900 LEARNERS. IT DELIVERED MORE THAN 179,000 REGISTERED NURSE (RN) CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS AND ADDED 25 NEW COURSES. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED MULTIPLE HIGH-IMPACT EVENTS, INCLUDING THE SEPSIS ALLIANCE ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR) CONFERENCE AND THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CRITICAL-CARE NURSES NATIONAL TEACHING INSTITUTE & CRITICAL CARE EXPOSITION (AACN NTI) AND EXPO HALL ACTIVITIES, AND THE SEPSIS ALLIANCE SYMPOSIUM: HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS. THE SIXTH ANNUAL SEPSIS ALLIANCE SUMMIT DREW OVER 2,500 REGISTRANTS. PEER-TO-PEER ENGAGEMENT ALSO GREW, WITH A 28% INCREASE IN DISCUSSION RESPONSES (CONTINUED ON SCHED O)(CONTINUED FROM PART III, 4B) AND AN 18.3% INCREASE IN RESOURCE DOWNLOADS. IN 2025, SEPSIS ALLIANCE ALSO BECAME AN ACCREDITED PROVIDER TO THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (ACCME) WHICH ALLOWS SAI TO OFFER CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS TO PHYSICIANS.
  3. $212,739 spent. POLICY AND ADVOCACYIN 2025, SEPSIS ALLIANCE EXPANDED ITS ADVOCACY EFFORTS AT BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS TO IMPROVE SEPSIS AWARENESS, EARLY RECOGNITION, AND PATIENT OUTCOMES. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED KEY FEDERAL LEGISLATION RELATED TO SEPSIS, DIAGNOSTICS, AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE, WHILE ALSO ADVANCING THE STOP SEPSIS ACT IN NEW JERSEY TO STRENGTHEN HOSPITAL SEPSIS PROTOCOLS AND REPORTING. SEPSIS ALLIANCE MOBILIZED GRASSROOTS ADVOCATES THROUGH HILL DAY ACTIVITIES AND ADVOCACY ACTIONS, WHILE CONTINUING TO EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.
  4. $240,069 spent. RESEARCH AND INNOVATIONSEPSIS ALLIANCE HOSTED ITS INAUGURAL UNITE FOR SEPSIS SYMPOSIUM IN CHICAGO IN SEPTEMBER. THE EVENT DREW MORE THAN 180 OF THE NATION'S LEADING EXPERTS FROM INDUSTRY, RESEARCH, POLICY, FUNDING, AND HEALTHCARE TO DISCUSS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES IN SEPSIS RESEARCH AND INNOVATION. THE SUCCESS OF THIS EVENT IS LEADING TO THE 2ND ANNUAL MEETING IN WASHINGTON D.C. IN 2026. SEPSIS ALLIANCE ALSO PARTNERED WITH A BROAD NETWORK OF INDUSTRY LEADERS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS TO ENGAGE SEPSIS SURVIVORS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN SHAPING CRITICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, ENSURING THAT INNOVATION IS INFORMED BY REAL-WORLD PATIENT AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCE. THESE INITIATIVES UNDERSCORE THE ORGANIZATION'S GROWING ROLE AS A CONVENER AND THOUGHT LEADER IN SEPSIS RESEARCH AND INNOVATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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? 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 December 1993.

    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.