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Melanoma Research Foundation

EIN 76-0514428 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MRF IS THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION DEVOTED TO MELANOMA. ITS MISSION IS TO ERADICATE MELANOMA BY ACCELERATING MEDICAL RESEARCH WHILE EDUCATING AND ADVOCATING FOR THE MELANOMA COMMUNITY.

Income
$7.4 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
24
Volunteers
340
Highest pay
$352,495, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 12 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $2.9 million spent. THE MRF IS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING A BROAD SCIENTIFIC AGENDA ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES OF PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT. ALTHOUGH THE MRF HAS ACHIEVED A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC MILESTONES, MUCH MORE WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE. TO THIS END, THE MRF FUNDS A SPECTRUM OF RESEARCH GRANTS, SCIENTIFIC INITIATIVES, AND PROGRAMS FOR CUTANEOUS MELANOMA AND RARER MELANOMA SUBTYPES (E.G. OCULAR, PEDIATRIC, ACRAL AND MUCOSAL MELANOMA). ITS RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM IS A COMPETITIVE, PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM FOR INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED RESEARCH HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1998. MRF-SUPPORTED RESEARCH IS OPEN TO MEDICAL STUDENTS THROUGH SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE TEAMS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. THE MRF'S ADVOCACY PROGRAM IS A PLATFORM FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY MELANOMA TO SHARE THEIR VOICE AND TRANSFORM POLICY. THE ADVOCACY AGENDA FOCUSES ON ISSUES ON BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. THE MAIN PILLARS OF THE PROGRAM ARE ACCESS, PREVENTION, EDUCATION AND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR MELANOMA RESEARCH.
  3. $876,088 spent. THE MRF HAS A ROBUST EDUCATION PROGRAM AIMED AT EDUCATING PATIENTS, PHYSICIANS AND THE GENEREAL PUBLIC ON PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF MELANOMA, AS WELL AS INCREASING OVERALL AWARENESS OF THE DISEASE. PROGRAMS INCLUDE WEBINARS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, ANIMATED MELANOMA PATIENT VIDEOS, PATIENT/CAREGIVER SYMPOSIUMS AND RESOURCES SUCH AS SUPPORT GROUPS, CLINICAL TRIAL FINDER, TREATMENT CENTER FINDER AND ACCESS TO AN ONCOLOGY NURSE FOR NAVIGATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.