Lymphatic Education & Research Network Inc Le&Rn
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO FIGHT LYMPHATIC DISEASES AND LYMPHEDEMA THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY. THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO ACCELERATE THE PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND CURE OF LYMPHATIC DISEASES WHILE BRINGING PATIENTS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE UNMET NEEDS SURROUNDING LYMPHATIC DISORDERS.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 16.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $372,407, president & ceo
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 64% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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 (1)
- $1.4 million spent. Some activities of the organization during 2025 include the following: LE&RN continued to expand programs to meet the goals of the expanded mission of fighting lymphatic disease through education, research, and advocacy. LE&RN continued its grant program, which allows young investigators to attend conferences focused on lymphatic research. LE&RN continued its educational and awareness outreach programs targeting academia, government, industry, and the medical and patient communities. LE&RN continued its monthly virtual symposium series, which brings the world's foremost authorities in lymphatic disease and lymphedema to patients, their families, and professionals. LE&RN updated its website and provided daily social media posts and monthly newsletters featuring significant events in the field. LE&RN produced six issues of Lymphatic Research and Biology, an international, peer-reviewedbiomedical journal providing a forum for the exchange of cutting-edge scientific developments in lymphatic science and medicine. LE&RN secured ongoing support from the Congressional and National Institutes of Health for lymphatic research. LE&RN continued the LE&RN/LymphNotes Lymphedema Scholarship Program to provide tuition support to therapists seeking certification in lymphedema therapy. LE&RN continued a web-based "Ask the Experts" feature that allows patients, their families, and professionals to ask the most prominent authorities in the field questions directly. LE&RN spokesperson and Academy Award Winner Kathy Bates appeared in print and television media to support research. LE&RN's Virtual Expo was expanded to better serve patients and therapists. LE&RN and NAVBO prepared a biennial Virtual Lymphatic Forum for researchers LE&RN developed new chapters in several states and countries. LE&RN continued to lead global events related to its establishment of World Lymphedema Day on March 6, 2016. LE&RN supported and grew its Centers of Excellence in the Diagnosis & Treatment of Lymphatic Diseases to 80 member institutions in over 20 countries. LE&RN, in collaboration with Stanford University, hosted the annual virtual State-of-the-Art Summit in Lymphatic Research & Medicine. LE&RN promoted its PSA video featuring National Spokesperson Kathy Bates, which was hosted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 's cancer-related websites. LE&RN continued its cancer-related lymphedema campaign. LE&RN succeeded in having the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) include lymphedema as a category in the Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). LE&RN successfully requested that Congress establish a National Commission on Lymphatic Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). LE&RN established a global Patient Resource Center. LE&RN expanded and updated its Global Patient Registry. LE&RN successfully advocated for a Program Manager in Lymphatics at the Advanced Research Agency for Health (ARPA-H) LE&RN, in concert with the research community, created a "Gaps in Lymphatic Research" document that was distributed to the NIH, CDC, ARPA-H, CDMRP, NNLBI, and NIAID. LE&RN hired its first full-time Vice President of Scientific Affairs and Science and Medical Director.
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 February 1999.
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.