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Macular Degeneration Foundation Inc

EIN 65-0403437 · Henderson, NV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EDUCATE AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM MACULAR DEGENERATION BY PROVIDING INFORMATIONM RESOURCES WORKING WITH LOW VISION CENTERS TO RECYCLE DONATED LOWVISION DEVIICES PROVIDING LOW COST MAGNIFICATION FUNDING GRANTS FOR SUPPORT GROUPS AND TO FURTHER RESEARCH TO RESTORE VISION

Income
$654,051
Spending
$681,790
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
47.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
3
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$85,000, secretary director of operations

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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 47.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 (9)
  1. $298,168 spent. RESEARCH PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SURVEY AND APPRAISAL OF EMERGING THERAPIES FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION SUPPORT OF MACULAR DEGENERATION PATIENTS BY PROVIDING TOLL-FREE PHONE SUPPORT CREATING REPORTS AND PROVIDING CURRENT INFORMATION VIA 2 WEBSITES WWW.EYESIGHT. ORG AND WWW.MACULAR NEWS. ORG ELECTRONIC AND LARGE PRINT NEWSLETTERS TRAVEL TO CONFERENCES FILM EDIT AND UPLOAD INTERVIEWS AND INFORMATION ON LATEST TREATMENTS AND RESEARCH. DIRECT SUPPORT OF PATIENTS BY WORKING WITH LOW VISION CENTERS AND MANUFACTURES TO FIND LOW COST OR NO COST DEVICES. MAIL OUT DVDS NEWSLETTERS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL POSTING NEWS ARTICLES ON WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
  2. $75,000 spent. Research Grant - UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK 520 LEE ENTRANCE STE 211 AMHERST NY 14228 unrestricted funding of Epigenetic Architecture of the RPE and Choroid: Identification of therapeutic targets for AMD
  3. $80,000 spent. Educational support Grant - COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR VISION REHABILITATION 360 Bel Air Blvd 110 Mobile AL 36606 Unrestricted funding for onboarding new specialists support education and training people on low vision devices and safety
  4. $40,000 spent. MDSupport. org 460 SW Tower Dr. Lees Summit MO 64081 Grant to fund Comcast interviews for National AMD Support Groups providing information and finding resources for people with AMD
  5. $10,000 spent. Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology Eye and The Chip Eye World Congress. Encouraging research into AI technology for retinal repair and for artificial intelligence technology for automobiles to accommodate for low vision and safety
  6. $10,000 spent. VIS Group 46 Genesis Rd. Crossville TN 38555 Grant funds are to be used as needed to support the noble efforts as you requested: 1. InSight on Vision Conference 2. Office Maintenance 3. Community CCTV Project 4. Equipment On-Loan Program 5. Media Publicity 6. TN Council of the Blind.
  7. $5,000 spent. Nancy Marks-Becker American Council of the Blind 6300 Shingle Creek Pkwy Ste 195 Brooklyn Center MN 55430 to help sponsor the ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk 2023 in conjunction with the ACB Conference and Convention.
  8. $57,000 spent. Greater Detroit Agency for Blind & Visually Impaired 26777 Central Park Blvd. Ste 150 Southfield MI 48076 : grant is for Low Vision Activities of Daily Living ADL Technology Training and Orientation & Mobility Program. Grant funds are to be used as needed to support the needs of the macular degeneration community
  9. $5,000 spent. Research Grant Mass Eye & Ear Schepens Eye Research Institute sponsor the Biennial World Congress for AMD2025 bringing top AMD researchers together to further individual research

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2022 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2022.

    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 September 2022.

    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.