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Bay Area Lyme Major Gift Fund

EIN 46-3312992 · Portola Valley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BAY AREA LYME MAJOR GIFT FUND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES OF CERTAIN SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE BAY AREA LYME FOUNDATION, WHOSE PURPOSES OR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE PREVENTION, CARE, TREATMENT, AND INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF LYME DISEASE OR OTHER TICK-BORNE DISEASES.

Income
$11.1 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
1
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$276,479, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 80% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 462% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. GRANTS ARE MADE IN SUPPORT OF BAY AREA LYME FOUNDATION AS WELL AS TO OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON THE PREVENTION OF AND FINDING A CURE FOR LYME DISEASE; PROMOTES AN INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF SYMPTOMS, TREATMENTS, AND CARE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH LYME DISEASE; AND INCREASES THE ACCESSIBILITY OF CARE AND TREATMENTS FOR THOSE AFFECTED WITH LYME DISEASE. IN 2024 GRANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $680,000 WERE MADE TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF LYME DISEASE BIOBANK FOUNDATION, WHOSE FOCUS IS TO ENSURE THAT SCIENTISTS HAVE A COLLECTION OF HUMAN BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES NEEDED TO FACILITATE THE RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF LYME DISEASE AND OTHER TICK-BORNE INFECTIONS. IN ADDITION, GRANTS OF $686,500 REPRESENT SUPPORT OF THE GRANT AND PREVENTION/AWARENESS PROGRAMS AND GENERAL OPERATIONS OF BAY AREA LYME FOUNDATION.

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 August 2014.

    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.