Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Vision A world without childhood brain tumors. Mission Care. Cure. Thrive.
- Income
- $5.8 million
- Spending
- $6.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 475
- Highest pay
- $341,249, ceo/president through sept 2024
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 30, 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 (1)
- $4.6 million spent. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation funded research by leading experts across many institutions including Joelle Straehla at Seattle Childrens Hospital, Drs. Paul Northcott and Ching Lau at the Brain Tumor Funders Collective, Dr. David H. Gutmann and team at Washington University School of Medicine, Drs. Bandopadhayay and Beroukhim as well as Dr. Ligon at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Drs. Castro and Lowestein as well as Dr. Koschmann at the University of Michigan. PBTF also funded a Pediatric Statistical report led by Dr. Quinn Ostrom Risch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University at the Central Brain Tumor Repository of the United States. The Foundation played a critical role in establishing a Pediatric Neurology Oncology Journal led by Dr. Sabine Mueller. PBTF served 3,694 families through critical guidance, assistance with accessing care, and financial aid. PBTF also made policy impacts at the state and federal level through a network of 2,251 advocates. This work was made possible due in part to the addition of 6,718 new donors, a 13 increase in donors from last year.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 August 1992.
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.
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