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Iowa City Va Medical Research Foundation

EIN 39-1886437 · Iowa City, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE IOWA CITY VA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION'S (ICVARF) MISSION IS TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES THAT HELP IMPROVE VETERANS' HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND LIVES. BASED IN IOWA CITY, A HUB OF RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE IN THE MIDWEST, THE FOUNDATION SERVICES VETERANS IN IOWA AND EASTERN ILLINOIS. ICVARF ALSO HELPS THE IOWA CITY VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ADVANCE ITS HEALTHCARE GOALS. ICVARF SUPPORTS MEDICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS LED BY VA PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS AND STAFF TO ASSIST AND IMPROVE THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDED TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.

Income
$387,310
Spending
$389,952
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
10.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
2
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$179,786, chair

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs.

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

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $266,246 spent. IOWA CITY VA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ICVARF) MOBILIZES RESOURCES THAT HELP IMPROVE VETERANS' HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND LIVES. BASED IN IOWA CITY, A HUB OF RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE IN THE MIDWEST, WE SERVE VETERANS IN IOWA AND EASTERN ILLINOIS. ICVARF HELPS THE IOWA CITY VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ADVANCE ITS HEALTHCARE GOALS. ICVARF SUPPORTS MEDICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS LED BY PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS AND STAFF TO ASSIST AND IMPROVE THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDED TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.THE FOUNDATION HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE NOVARTIS-VALOR-QI STATIN COMPLIANCE CRADA.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.