Alzheimers Disease Research Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO FUND RESEARCH WITH THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY OF PREVENTING, SLOWING OR REVERSING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. ALL OVERHEAD EXPENSES ARE PAID BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TRUSTEES AND CORE GROUP OF OTHER DONORS, ALLOWING 100% OF GENERAL DONATIONS TO FUND OUR RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $56.7 million
- Spending
- $46.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $531,179, ceo & director
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 78% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 45% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $38.3 million spent. IN 2025, CURE ALZHEIMER'S FUND SUPPORTED 161 RESEARCH PROJECTS AT 74 LEADING RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, FOR A TOTAL RESEARCH OUTPUT OF $38.3 MILLION. PROJECTS IDENTIFIED AND INVESTIGATED MECHANISMS OF ACTION OF THE GENES AND VARIANTS WITH THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON RISK AND TIMING OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AS POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC TARGETS. OTHER STANDALONE PROJECTS AND MULTI-LAB CONSORTIA PURSUED NOVEL THEORIES AND TOOLS TO ASSESS POTENTIAL AVENUES FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT, IN PARTICULAR REGARDING THE ROLE OF NEUROINFLAMMATION, THE GUT MICROBIOME, AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN HEALTHY BRAIN FUNCTION. CUREALZ ALSO PROVIDED FUNDING TO SUSTAIN VITAL RESEARCH ASSETS, LIKE BRAIN BANKS AND SCIENTIFIC TRAINEES, FACING UNANTICIPATED REDUCTIONS IN FEDERAL SUPPORT. ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INCLUDE SCIENTIFIC MEETING HOSTING; HUSBANDRY OF TRANSGENIC ANIMAL MODELS BY A CONTRACT RESEARCH ORGANIZATION; THE DIRECT SUPPORT OF FACILITATING GRANTS AND THE AWARD PROCESS; AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ASSESSING RESEARCH PROPOSALS AND DETERMINING FUNDING PRIORITIES.
- $4.2 million spent. CREATING AWARENESS TOOK THE FORM OF MAILINGS, OUTREACH, WEBINARS, AND SUPPORT OF THIRD PARTY EVENTS DESIGNED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE RESEARCH INTO THE ORIGINS AND PROGRESSION OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.