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Passes our checks

Glaukos Charitable Foundation

EIN 83-4634463 · Aliso Viejo, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceWeak27 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONSISTENT WITH OUR CORPORATE MISSION TO DELIVER TRANSFORMATIVE THERAPIES FOR GLAUCOMA, CORNEAL, AND RETINAL DISEASES WORLDWIDE, WE CREATED THE GLAUKOS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AS A PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED, IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

Income
$345,915
Spending
$367,811
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 27 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (29)
  1. $51,835 spent. CAPOC - OC Food Bank
  2. $43,145 spent. Stand Up to Cancer
  3. $35,000 spent. Ophthalmology Foundation
  4. $30,500 spent. Wills Eye Foundation
  5. $30,000 spent. The Foundation of the AAO
  6. $26,375 spent. Employee matches
  7. $23,000 spent. Beyond Blindness
  8. $20,000 spent. Foundation Fighting Blindness
  9. $10,000 spent. UCI Foundation
  10. $10,000 spent. ASCRS Foundation
  11. $10,000 spent. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
  12. $10,000 spent. Pet Project Foundation
  13. $10,000 spent. Firm Foundation Youth Home (Gigi's cottage)
  14. $5,500 spent. Human Options
  15. $5,000 spent. Advanced Centers for Eyecare
  16. $5,000 spent. Carroll Center for the Blind
  17. $5,000 spent. The Priority Center
  18. $5,000 spent. Boys and Girls Club of San Clemente
  19. $4,000 spent. Armenian Eye Care Project
  20. $3,000 spent. Indiana Blind Children's Foundation
  21. $3,000 spent. Combat Blindness Int'l
  22. $2,800 spent. Operation Sight
  23. $2,500 spent. Australia New Zealand Eye Foundation
  24. $2,500 spent. NCL Capistrano Coast
  25. $2,500 spent. You Run This Town Foundation - OC
  26. $2,500 spent. Pier Pride Foundation - San Clemente
  27. $1,500 spent. Aliso Viejo Girls Softball
  28. $1,222 spent. Lifeline Australia
  29. $1,000 spent. Adult Care Center of Roanoke

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 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 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 February 2020.

    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.