Concussion Legacy Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CONCUSSION LEGACY FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT ATHLETES, VETERANS, AND ALL AFFECTED BY CONCUSSIONS AND CTE; ACHIEVE SMARTER SPORTS AND SAFER ATHLETES THROUGH EDUCATION AND INNOVATION; AND TO END CTE THROUGH PREVENTION AND RESEARCH.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 11.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $382,431, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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, 2024, 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)
- $2.6 million spent. CLF SUPPORTS MULTIPLE RESEARCH PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY (CTE) AND OTHER CONSEQUENCES OF BRAIN TRAUMA IN ATHLETES, VETERANS AND OTHERS. CLF LEADS OUTREACH, RECRUITING, AND EDUCATION EFFORTS FOR THE BRAIN BANK AT THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY CTE CENTER, THE WORLD'S LEADING CTE RESEARCH CENTER. CLF COLLABORATES WITH SIMILAR BRAIN BANKS IN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, THE UNITED KINGDOM, CANADA, AND BRAZIL. CLF ALSO LEADS RECRUTING FOR MULTIPLE CLINICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON DIAGNOSING AND TREATING CTE.
- $519,622 spent. CLF PATIENT AND FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM DIRECTLY SUPPORTS FAMILIES FIGHTING CONCUSSIONS, POST-CONCUSSION SYNDROME (PCS), AND POSSIBLE CTE. THE CLF HELPLINE HAS PROVIDED OVER 5,000 PATIENTS AND FAMILIES WITH PERSONALIZED MEDICAL REFERRALS, EDUCATION, SUPPORT GROUPS AND MENTORS. CLF EDUCATION THROUGH EARNED MEDIA EFFORTS RESULTED IN PLACEMENT OF DOZENS OF UNIQUE STORIES IN LEADING MEDIA INCLUDING THE NY TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, USA TODAY, AP AND MORE. CLF ALSO EDUCATES THROUGH INNOVATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA, A WEBSITE, AND WEBINARS.
- $105,158 spent. CLF EDUCATES COACHES, PARENTS, ATHLETES, MEDIA INFLUENCERS AND POLICY MAKERS THROUGH MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AND ADVOCATES FOR CONCUSSION AND CTE PREVENTION AND SAFETY. THE CLF MEDIA PROJECT TRAINS SPORTS JOURNALISM STUDENTS AT 20 UNIVERSITIES ON HOW TO COVER CONCUSSIONS AND HAS TRAINED HUNDREDS OF WORKING JOURNALISTS. TO CREATE TOP-DOWN CHANGE, CLF LEADERSHIP SERVES ON ADVISORY BOARDS FOR MULTIPLE SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT SET SAFETY POLICIES. TEAM UP AGAINST CONCUSSION COLLABORATES WITH YOUTH SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES TO PROMOTE CONCUSSION AWARENESS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.