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Bay Area Lyme Foundation

EIN 45-3715012 · Portola Valley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BAY AREA LYME FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS (1) TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIABLE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS FOR ALL STAGES OF LYME DISEASE AND A CURE FOR LATE STAGE LYME THROUGH FUNDING INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH; AND (2) TO FOSTER PREVENTION THROUGH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS BUILDING.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
1
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$276,479, executive director/secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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, 2024, 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. AS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, BAY AREA LYME IS ABLE TO PARTNER WITH LEADING RESEARCHERS AND INSTITUTIONS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SUPPORT THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND PROMISING PROJECTS IN LYME DISEASE RESEARCH, REGARDLESS OF AFFILIATION. TRUE BREAKTHROUGHS WILL OCCUR ONLY THROUGH WELL-DESIGNED RESEARCH PROJECTS AND AT BAY AREA LYME, WE HAVE A RIGOROUS SCREENING AND MONITORING PROCESS, GRANT CONTINGENCIES, AND PROJECT REPORTING, TO ENSURE THAT PROJECTS ARE EFFECTIVELY DESIGNED AND FUNDS WELL SPENT. IN 2024, BAY AREA LYME FOUNDATION FUNDED 2 GRANTS IN THE AMOUNTS OF $379,172 AND $100,000 TO TWO INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR A TOTAL OF $479,172. $379,172 WAS AWARDED TO PROJECTS FOCUSED ON IMPROVED DIAGNOSTICS OF LYME DISEASE AND OTHER TICK-BORNE INFECTIONS; $100,000 AWARDED TO IMPROVE THERAPIES, AND THE REMAINING GRANTS FOR ECOLOGY AND AWARENESS PROJECTS. DUKE UNIVERSITY RECEIVED A GRANT OF $370,447 TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE LATE DR. NEIL SPECTOR ON LYME DISEASE. THE 2024 EMERGING LEADER AWARD TOTALING $150,000 WAS AWARDED TO A THERAPIES PROJECT AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY.
  2. $355,969 spent. BAY AREA LYME FOUNDATION'S EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS INCLUDE FREE TICKTECTIVE PODCASTS, SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTATIONS AND A WIDE VARIETY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING REGARDING TICK-BITE PREVENTION. IN 2024, BAY AREA LYME ENTERED INTO ITS FOURTH YEAR OF ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION (AJGA) PROVIDING ITS YOUNG MEMBERS WITH TICK PREVENTION POUCHES THAT INCLUDED A TICK REMOVAL KEY, REPELLANT AND INFORMATION ABOUT LYME DISEASE AND OTHER TICK BORNE INFECTIONS. THIS MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP IS TARGETING OVER 10,000 YOUTHS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT WAS THE PREMIER SPONSOR OF 2 TOURNAMENTS BOTH HELD IN CALIFORNIA. TWO VIRTUAL SPEAKER SERIES EVENTS WERE HELD IN 2024 - ONE IN THE SPRING IN BOSTON REGARDING A PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIANS PERSPECTIVE ON LYME DISEASE AND NEUROPSYCHIATRIC MANIFESTATIONS AND ONE IN THE FALL OF 2024 WHERE GUESTS LISTENED TO AN UPDATE ON THE UCSF NEW LYME CLINICAL TRIALS CENTER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 July 2012.

    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.