Joseph Robert Shaw Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Providing financial support to individuals, organizations or other entities engaged in research, education, and innovation related to children with brain injuries, their treatment, rehabilitation, recovery and activities of daily living.
- Income
- $311,833
- Spending
- $97,794
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 7
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 69% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 30, 2026, 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 (4)
- $50,000 spent. The BFit Power Exercise Program has been so successful that the management of the National Rehabilitation Hospital has expanded the program to a second location. There are now three 12-week programs: Fall and Spring programs are held at the Northern Virginia site, and the Summer program is held at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. In FY 2023 Joey's Foundation provided the initial $100,000 as the supporting organization and financial sponsor of the inaugural year of the BFit Power-based Exercise Program in Northern Virginia. The complimentary program included two full sessions: the first in the Fall of 2024 and a second session in the Spring of 2025. By word of mouth the reputation of the program has spread throughout the disability community, and parents are eager to have their children enrolled. The BFit program encourages physical activity and participation for children with cerebral palsy (CP), the most common motor disability in childhood, affecting an estimated 500,000 to 700,00 children and adults in the United States. CP is a collection of non-progressive conditions affecting the brain. Impairments are caused by abnormal development of the nervous system characterized by spasticity, muscle weakness, and poor motor control. This vulnerable population is often excluded from participating in community-based physical activity. The BFit program's supportive social environment reduces barriers to participation and focuses on increasing not only physical but also social functioning. The 12-week program consists of two 60-90 minute activity sessions each week. Outcome measures for each participant are based on standardized assessments done at the start of the program with goals set by the participants and their families. BFit enables adolescents with physical disabilities to pursue their desire to participate in recreational sports and increase physical activity. With positive reinforcement and increased self-esteem, participants learn that they are capable of participating in many different types of exercises, utilizing a variety of equipment and learning new motor skills. The program implementation requires exercise space, equipment, program coordination, volunteer trainers from local physical therapy schools, and medical oversight. Participants demonstrate improved functional outcomes, mental health and socialization. An additional benefit of the program is the hands-on experience for the physical therapy students who volunteer to work with these children. Under the oversight of licensed physical therapists, these students are responsible for administering the exercise programs, documentation, set up, break down (including cleaning), nightly feedback, and outcome measures. The volunteer students meet with the MedStar Health professional staff before and after each session to discuss each child's needs, develop appropriate exercises based on individual needs, and review outcomes and progress. The volunteer students benefit from the hands-on learning experience with the children and from the professional mentoring of the MedStar National Rehabilitation Network physical and occupational therapists.
- $2,500 spent. Joey's Foundation supported the 9th Annual Cerebral Palsy Research Network (CPRN) Meeting held April 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. Attendees included leaders in the field of cerebral palsy care and research---clinician researchers from 35 CPRN sites as well as partner organizations, advisors, and community members. The mission of CPRN is to "optimize the lifelong health and wellness of people with cerebral palsy and their families through high quality research, education and community programming.....CPRN is the largest and most comprehensive network of hospitals and community members working together to improve health outcomes for people with CP."
- $15,000 spent. Joey's Foundation is committed to support Kennedy Krieger Institute and its life-changing work. The Institute treats children, adolescents and young adults with neurological injuries and conditions that impact how they think, move, speak, learn and interface with the world. Kennedy Krieger has over 80 programs, including a hospital and schools that serve nearly 30,000 patients and students each year. Their scientists lead over 700 active research studies, investigating new treatments, interventions and innovation. Their collaborative model creates a unique, interdisciplinary approach to whole-child care.
- Joey's Corner provides books for children with and without disabilities. The organization is engaged in the creation and distribution of multisensory adaptive books for children with motor skill impairment. Adapted text and symbol-supported versions of reading material will bring books to life in a visual and physical way. Props like puppets or toys enhance a story and increase understanding. Renovated, laminated copies of image or characters make the reading material interactive. Finally, the use of speech-generating devices aligned to a text will increase interaction and understanding of the story. Multisensory books are creative, fun and enhance comprehension.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2026.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.