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Mission Gait

EIN 81-3796186 · Richmond, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER THE PHYSICAL REHABILITATION COMMUNITY, THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND RESEARCH. MAKING A SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN HEALTHCARE TO HELP PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX GAIT DISABILITIES (ORTHOPEDIC, NEUROLOGIC, AND LIMBLOSS PATHOLOGIES)LEARN TO MOVE AGAIN WITH CONFIDENCE.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$340,462
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
5
Volunteers
25

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 67% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (3)
  1. $152,252 spent. MISSION GAIT ACADEMY - EDUCATION, OUR HALLMARK PROGRAM, INCLUDES TRAINING, RESEARCH AND OUR GROUNDBREAKING GAIT REHABILITATION SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. WE PROVIDE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COURSES NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY. OUR DATABASE OF PROVIDERS CONNECTS PATIENTS WITH CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR REGION. WE HAVE CREATED OVER 407 EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS ON TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS FOR WORKING WITH THE COMPLEX GAIT COMMUNITY, WHICH ARE PROVIDED ON YOUTUBE AT NO COST. THESE VIDEOS HAVE RECEIVED OVER 5 MILLION VIEWS, WITH OVER 33,500 SUBSCRIBERS FROM MORE THAN 186 COUNTRIES. OUR TRAINING IS PROVIDED IN-PERSON TO PROFESSIONALS AND PATIENTS ALIKE, AND OFFERED ACROSS NUMEROUS TOPICS. WE HAVE COMPLETED A NUMBER OF RESEARCH PROJECTS AND ARE CURRENTLY SUPPORTING SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES, WITH OVER 247 EDUCATORS USING OUR FREE INSTRUCTOR LIBRARY.
  2. $93,295 spent. PATIENT REINTEGRATION PROGRAM - WE ARE REDEFINING LIMITS FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING COMPLEX GAIT CONDITIONS, "TO MOVE AGAIN WITH CONFIDENCE." WE PROVIDE NO-COST ONLINE RESOURCES, ADAPTIVE SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING EVENTS. OUR ANNUAL "DISCOVER YOUR POSSIBLE" EVENT BRINGS TOGETHER AMPUTEES, CAREGIVERS, AND PROFESSIONALS FOR EDUCATION, HANDS-ON SKILLS AND ACTIVITY TRAINING, AND EMPOWERMENT, ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY PARTNERS. OUR ANNUAL ALL-STARS EVENT HONORS OUR PATIENT AMBASSADORS WHO INSPIRE OTHERS THROUGH EDUCATION, RESOURCES, AND CONNECTION. OUR "WALKING FOR WELLNESS" PROGRAM BUILDS ENDURANCE, CONFIDENCE, AND COMMUNITY BEYOND CLINICAL CARE. OUR "PATIENT POINTERS" RESOURCE SHARES PRACTICAL, PEER-DRIVEN, NON-MEDICAL TIPS AND INSIGHTS. WE ALSO PROVIDE GUIDANCE, TEMPLATES, AND RESOURCES TO HELP OTHERS DEVELOP SIMILAR EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS.
  3. $22,101 spent. WALKING FREE PROGRAM - OUR INTERNATIONAL PROSTHETIC, ORTHOTIC, AND REHABILITATION INITIATIVE BRINGS CAPACITY TO UNDERSERVED COUNTRIES, CURRENTLY 10 SUSTAINABLE CENTERS IN 7 COUNTRIES. IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, WE BUILT A P & O LAB INSIDE A 40-FOOT SHIPPING CONTAINER, DEPLOYED TO THE SOLOMON ISLANDS READY TO USE WITH ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. TWO MISSION TRIPS PROVIDED ON-SITE TRAINING, DEMONSTRATING A SUSTAINABLE AND REPLICABLE MODEL WITH A REGIONAL MULTI-DISCIPLINARY HEALTHCARE SYMPOSIUM IN DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO LAUNCHED AN INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM, STARTING WITH A 2-WEEK SHADOWING EXPERIENCE FOR A PHYSICAL THERAPIST FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. WE ARE ALSO HELPING TO ESTABLISH A STUDENT EXCHANGE BETWEEN VCU'S DPT PROGRAM AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.(FOUNDED IN 2000 THROUGH 'PHYSICIANS FOR PEACE,' WE ASSUMED LEADERSHIP OF WALKING FREE IN 2016.)

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 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 October 13, 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 December 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 January 2017.

    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 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.