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Society of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeons

EIN 65-0227883 · North Miami Beach, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SLS ENDEAVORS TO IMPROVE PATIENT CARE AND PROMOTE THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PRACTICE THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION. SLS PROVIDES A FORUM FOR THE INTRODUCTION, DISCUSSION AND DISSEMINATION OF NEW AND ESTABLISHED IDEAS, TECHNIQUES AND THERAPIES IN LAPAROSCOPIC, ENDOSCOPIC, ROBOTIC, AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGICAL TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES. A FUNDAMENTAL GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT ITS MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE NEWEST IDEAS AND APPROACHES IN THESE EVOLVING FIELDS. SLS' UNIQUE MULTISPECIALTY FOCUS PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF MINIMAL ACCESS THERAPIES TO PROMOTE IMPROVED PATIENT OUTCOMES. SLS HAS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT USE RESEARCH, SCIENTIFIC CASE STUDIES, AND TECHNIQUES FROM MULTIPLE SPECIALTIES TO BROADEN PARTICIPANTS' SCOPE OF KNOWLEDGE, PROVIDE STRATEGIES TO BRING NEW IDEAS AND IMPROVEMENTS INTO THEIR PRACTICES, AND EMPOWER CHANGE. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO MAKE OUR LEARNERS BETTER SURGEONS AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR THEIR PATIENTS.

Income
$581,836
Spending
$682,299
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
5
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$60,000, executive 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 16 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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. $449,189 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS: THE ORGANIZATION WAS FORMED FOR THE BENEFIT OF SURGEONS WHO PERFORM OPERATIVE LAPAROSCOPY/ENDOSCOPY AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY. THE ORGANIZATION HAS SUCCESSFULLY SOLICITED THE MEMBERSHIP OF APPROXIMATELY 2,000 PRACTITIONERS OF THIS MEDICAL SPECIALTY. THE ORGANIZATION'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS THE RESULT OF SEVERAL ACTIVITIES. THE SOCIETY'S ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: 1. TO TEACH, DEMONSTRATE, INSTRUCT, EXCHANGE IDEAS, DISTRIBUTE LITERATURE AND HOLD MEETINGS, SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES RELATED TO OPERATIVE LAPAROSCOPY/ENDOSCOPY AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY. 2. STIMULATE INTEREST IN OPERATIVE LAPAROSCOPY/ENDOSCOPY AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY. 3. MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR OPERATIVE LAPAROSCOPY/ENDOSCOPY AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY IN MEDICAL SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS. 4. MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ETHICS, PRACTICE, AND EFFICIENCY OF THE MEDICAL PRACTICE PERTAINING TO OPERATIVE LAPAROSCOPY/ENDOSCOPY AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY. 5. TO IMPROVE MEDICAL SURGICAL TECHNIQUES, AS WELL AS PROVIDE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE TO INTERESTED PARTIES AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. 6. TO CONDUCT MEDICAL RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF OPERATIVE LAPAROSCOPY/ENDOSCOPY AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY AND TO PUBLISH MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE PERTAINING TO SUCH FIELD. 7. TO SHARE INFORMATION AMONG ALL SURGEONS AND MEDICAL SPECIALTIES WHICH PRACTICE OPERATIVE LAPAROSCOPY/ENDOSCOPY AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY. 8. TO RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE AN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD OF OPERATIVE LAPAROSCOPY/ENDOSCOPY AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY.

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

  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 December 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 February 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.