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National Quality Forum

EIN 52-2175544 · Oakbrook Ter, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF NATIONAL QUALITY FORUM (NQF) IS TO BE THE TRUSTED VOICE DRIVING MEASURABLE HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS. NQF WAS FOUNDED IN 1999 AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT-MEMBERSHIP-BASED ORGANIZATION IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CONSUMER PROTECTION AND QUALITY IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY, WHICH CALLED FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO LEAD QUALITY MEASUREMENT AS A FORMAL CONSENSUS-BASED ENTITY (CBE). NQF IS A TRUSTED CONVENER THAT OPERATES CONSISTENTLY AS A CBE GOVERNED BY A CONSUMER-PURCHASER MAJORITY BOARD. NQF BRINGS TOGETHER DIVERSE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS FROM ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES OF STAKEHOLDERS IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD INCLUDING PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, HOSPITALS, HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, CLINICIANS, PAYERS, EMPLOYERS, AND POLICY MAKERS. WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IDENTIFYING AND DEVELOPING CONSENSUS STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO MEASURE DEVELOPMENT, USE, AND IMPLEMENTATION, NQF FORGES NOVEL PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE MEASURES THAT LOWER MEASUREMENT BURDEN.

Income
$8.2 million
Spending
$12.1 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
49
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$2.8 million, 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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 74% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 15 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 (3)
  1. $5.1 million spent. QUALITY PROGRAMS INNOVATION AND MEASUREMENT: NQF DEVELOPS AND ADVANCES QUALITY INNOVATION STRATEGIES THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH ITS MEMBERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. NQF AIMS TO EXPAND THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPACT ON HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH A VARIETY OF PARTNERSHIPS AND PROJECTS. NQF'S PROGRAMMATIC WORK IMPACTS PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS, PROPOSED LEGISLATION, AND THE MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AND APPLICATION LANDSCAPE. PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS OFTEN LEARN ABOUT LEADING PRACTICES AND APPLY THE INSIGHTS THEY GAIN TO PROGRAMS AND PROCESSES AT THEIR ORGANIZATIONS TO DRIVE IMPROVEMENT IN THE FIELD. THIS WORK CONNECTS TO QUALITY MEASUREMENT WORK TO AMPLIFY NQF'S IMPACT IN THE HEALTHCARE ECOSYSTEM. RESOURCES DEVELOPED AS PART OF PAST PROGRAMMATIC WORK INCLUDING PLAYBOOKS AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDES THAT HIGHLIGHT BEST PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNED ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS AND ARE DESIGNED TO HELP STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING CONSUMERS, FRONT-LINE CLINICIANS, AND HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES IMPROVE HEALTHCARE QUALITY MEASUREMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION. NQF SETS STANDARDS FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY MEASURES BASED ON EVIDENCE AND INNOVATION TO MAKE CARE BETTER FOR ALL PEOPLE. HEALTHCARE QUALITY MEASURES ESTABLISH IMPORTANT STANDARDS OF CARE AND ARE KEY TO ENHANCING HEALTHCARE VALUE, EQUITY, AND SAFETY. FUNDED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOURCES, NQF HAS SOLVED A DIVERSE ARRAY OF CHALLENGING AND OFTEN CONTROVERSIAL QUALITY MEASUREMENT ISSUES ENABLING CONSENSUS PROGRESS ON PRIORITY SETTING, MEASUREMENT METHODS, MEASURE DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND DATA DEVELOPMENT, AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. NQF HAS A LONG HISTORY OF SUCCESS RECRUITING AND ENGAGING FOREMOST EXPERTS AND A BROAD ARRAY OF STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING BOTH MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS, TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF CONSENSUS-DRIVEN PROJECTS TO FORGE CONSENSUS ON DEVELOPMENT, TESTING, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MEASURES.
  2. $1.6 million spent. MEMBERSHIP: THE NATIONAL QUALITY FORUM IS A ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER DIVERSE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY DEDICATED TO IMPROVING HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE THROUGH QUALITY MEASUREMENT. COMPRISED OF MORE THAN 3,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PART OF MORE THAN 150 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, NQF MEMBERS ARE AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY OF PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, HOSPITALS, HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, CLINICIANS, PAYERS, AND EMPLOYERS WHO COME TOGETHER TO ADVANCE THE NEXT GENERATION OF MEASURES, METHODS, AND PRACTICES AND SCALE THEIR IMPLEMENTATION TO ACHIEVE BETTER HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES FOR ALL. NQF IS THE LEADING SOURCE OF LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE FOR THE QUALITY MEASUREMENT COMMUNITY AND PROVIDES RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND IDEAS TO ADVANCE THE MISSION OF DRIVING MEASURABLE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT TOGETHER. NQF PROVIDES ITS MEMBERS WITH THE PLATFORM TO SHARE THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE INPUT ON ISSUES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE AND TO LEARN FROM AND COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER.
  3. $1.0 million spent. SHARED SERVICES: NATIONAL QUALITY FORUM PROVIDES COMMON MANAGEMENT SERVICES, REFERRED TO AS SHARED SERVICES FEES, OF THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED ON FOR RELATED ORGANIZATIONS. SEE SCHEDULE R FOR LIST OF RELATED ORGANIZATIONS.

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 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 2024.

    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 October 1999.

    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.