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Operation Smile Inc

EIN 54-1460147 · Virginia Bch, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPERATION SMILE, INC. (OPERATION SMILE OR OSI) IS A 501C(3) NOT-FOR-PROFIT VOLUNTARY HEALTH AND WELFARE ORGANIZATION WHOSE PURPOSE INCLUDES PROVIDING LIFE-CHANGING SURGERY FOR PEOPLE BORN WITH CLEFT LIP AND CLEFT PALATE AND OTHER SURGICAL CONDITIONS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MEDICAL EDUCATION AND SUPPORTS HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING INITIATIVES IN LOWER- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES. AS ONE OF THE LARGEST MEDICAL VOLUNTEER-BASED NONPROFITS, OPERATION SMILE HAS MOBILIZED THOUSANDS OF MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF CLINICAL SPECIALTIES FROM MORE THAN 80 COUNTRIES. OPERATION SMILE ENGAGES IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENTS, HEALTH MINISTRIES, CORPORATIONS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER NGOS TO ADVANCE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY, TRAIN LOCAL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO PROVIDE SURGICAL CARE FOR PATIENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, DONATE CRUCIAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, AND INCREASE ACCESS TO SURGICAL CARE SO THAT EVERYONE LIVING WITH CLEFT HAS ACCESS TO CARE.

Income
$100.2 million
Spending
$108.1 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
212
Volunteers
9,133
Highest pay
$371,801, chief strategy officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • 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

    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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • Surgical care was provided to 16,548 patients in 36 countries.Work delivered
  • 203 short-term surgical programs were conducted.Work delivered
  • Dental care was provided to 26,976 patients through short-term programs.Work delivered
  • Comprehensive care services were provided to 120,476 patients.Work delivered
  • 7,609 health care workers were trained.Work delivered
  • 16 hospital investments were made in 10 countries.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $46.6 million spent. OPERATION SMILE RAISES AWARENESS OF CLEFT LIP AND CLEFT PALATE AND ITS EFFECTS ON PATIENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTH. THROUGH VARIOUS COMMUNICATION CHANNELS INCLUDING DIGITAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA, IT SEEKS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND DONORS ABOUT THE SURGERIES AND COMPREHENSIVE CARE IT PROVIDES. ALSO, CRITICAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO LOCAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND ESSENTIAL CLEFT TREATMENTS INCLUDING SPEECH THERAPY, PSYCHOLOGICAL, NUTRITION AND DENTAL CARE. PREVENTION-RELATED MESSAGING IS HIGHLY ACTIONABLE AND FOCUSED ON PRENATAL MATERNAL SMOKING CESSATION, FOOD PREPARATION AND DIET, EXPOSURE TO HARMFUL ENVIRONMENTAL AGENTS AND OTHER FACTORS. ITS STUDENT PROGRAMS ALSO CREATE AWARENESS AMONG YOUNGER GENERATIONS OF LEADERSHIP TO ACTIVATE THEIR SERVICE AS VOLUNTEERS AND ADVOCATES. OPERATION SMILE ESTABLISHES PARTNERSHIPS WITH LEADING MEDICAL AND TEACHING INSTITUTIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE SKILLSETS OF CLINICIANS IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES. ITS HEALTH CARE TRAINING PROGRAMS INCLUDE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL CONFERENCES, SEMINAR WORKSHOPS, SURGICAL TRAINING ROTATION PROGRAMS, VISITING PROFESSORSHIPS, AND SHORTAND LONG-TERM FELLOWSHIPS. OPERATION SMILE FUNDS RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN COLLABORATION WITH ACADEMIC AND HOSPITAL PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS RELATED TO CLEFT CONDITIONS TO ONE DAY PROVIDE PREVENTATIVE TREATMENTS AND INTERVENTIONS. IT ALSO CONDUCTS EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH ANALYSES TO UNDERSTAND PATIENT POPULATIONS AND THE SURGICAL BURDEN OF DISEASE RELATED TO CLEFT LIP AND CLEFT PALATE. THESE RESEARCH PROGRAMS ALLOW IT TO PROVIDE BETTER CARE FOR THE PEOPLE IT SERVES AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACADEMIC AND PRACTICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH AND GLOBAL SURGERY COMMUNITIES.
  2. $22.0 million spent. IN COORDINATION WITH INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS AND MINISTRIES OF HEALTH, THE ORGANIZATION ADDRESSES SYSTEMIC BARRIERS WITHIN HEALTH SYSTEMS THAT CAN PREVENT SURGICAL CARE FROM BEING DELIVERED OR RECEIVED. OPERATION SMILE PROVIDED SURGICAL CARE TO 16,548 PATIENTS VIA ITS SHORT-TERM SURGICAL PROGRAMS AND HOSPITAL PARTNERSHIPS IN 36 COUNTRIES ACROSS A FOOTPRINT OF OVER 200 HOSPITALS. THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED 203 SHORT-TERM SURGICAL PROGRAMS, ALL OF WHICH WERE CONDUCTED BY A MAJORITY OF LOCAL MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS. DENTAL CARE WAS PROVIDED TO 26,976 PATIENTS THROUGH SHORT-TERM PROGRAMS. OPERATION SMILE PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE CARE SERVICES INCLUDING ORAL HEALTH, SPEECH THERAPY, PSYCHOSOCIAL SERVICES, AND LIFE-SAVING NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT TO 120,476 PATIENTS. 7,609 HEALTH CARE WORKERS WERE TRAINED AND 16 HOSPITAL INVESTMENTS WERE MADE IN 10 COUNTRIES. OPERATION SMILE CONTINUES TO ASSESS SURGICAL SAFETY AND PROVIDE SERVICE DELIVERY THROUGH HOSPITAL PARTNERSHIPS AND CARE CENTERS, PATIENT MANAGEMENT, NONSURGICAL INTERVENTIONS AND NGO PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 March 1992.

    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.