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Life Raft Group Inc

EIN 82-0547746 · Wayne, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENHANCING SURVIVAL AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH GIST AND OTHER RARE CANCERS THROUGH PATIENT-POWERED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT AND GLOBAL ADVOCACY EFFORTS.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
16.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
17
Volunteers
215
Highest pay
$155,246, executive director

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. RESEARCH: WE FUND AND MANAGE UNIQUELY COORDINATED RESEARCH INITIATIVES THAT ALWAYS KEEP THE NEEDS OF GIST PATIENTS FOREMOST. THE LIFE RAFT GROUP (LRG) CONTINUES TO LEAD A COLLABORATIVE TEAM OF WORLD-RENOWNED SCIENTISTS AND CLINICIANS IN GIST. LRG HAS THE LARGEST GIST PATIENT REGISTRY IN THE WORLD. OUR RESEARCH PARADIGM IS PATIENT-POWERED SCIENCE FOR LIFE. A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT COMPLIMENTS TRADITIONAL RESEARCH WITH REAL WORLD EVIDENCE SUPPORTED BY DATA.
  2. $488,643 spent. INFORMATION, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT: THE LRG PROVIDES SUPPORT, INTERVENTION, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY TO GIST PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS. LOCAL SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE TO THE GIST COMMUNITY THROUGH A NETWORK OF LRG MENTORS AND VOLUNTEERS. OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED WORLDWIDE. OUR GIST DAYS OF LEARNING ANDOUR BIENNIAL LIFE FEST EVENT GATHER EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE TO BRING THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON GIST RESEARCH, EMERGING THERAPIES AND UPDATES ON THE WORLD OF GIST. OUR OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS ALSO INCLUDE PATIENT SUPPORT GROUPS, FOCUS GROUPS, MONTHLY WEBCASTS, OUR WEBSITE, ACCESS TO OUR CLINICAL TRIALS DATABASE AND OUR WORLDWIDE GIST SPECIALIST DATABASE. EXPERT PATIENT TRAINING IS OFFERED TO ALL MEMBERS.

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

  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 2024.

    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 July 2002.

    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.