Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Biomedical Research Foundation of Southern Arizona

EIN 86-0622181 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BREFSA'S RESEARCH MISSION IS TO PROMOTE BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICE RESEARCH FOR THE BENEFIT OF VETERAN PATIENTS.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$839,967
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
15
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$105,969, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 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 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 September 30, 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 (1)
  1. $630,763 spent. BREFSA PROVIDED SALARY SUPPORT TO SAVAHCS FOR FOUR RESEARCH COORDINATORS. BREFSA SUPPORTS NEW INVESTIGATORS BY PROVIDING COORDINATORS TO SUBMIT REGULATORY DOCUMENTS TO OPEN NEW RESEARCH STUDIES. BREFSA PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS FOR ONE PI TO PRESENT RESEARCH MATERIALS AT A MEDICAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE. BREFSA PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR A RESIDENT TO PRESENT RESEARCH POSTERS AT THE DESERT PODIATRIC SYMPOSIUM. BREFSA HOSTED THE GRADUATION FOR THE PODIATRY RESIDENTS AS APPRECATION FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE 100 YEAR RESEARCH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE RESEARCH PROGRAM. BREFSA'S LONG TERM GOALS REMAIN DEDICATED TO ADVANCING BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND MEDICAL EDUCATION AT THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM (SAVAHCS). BREFSA'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH THAT IMPROVES THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF VETERANS BY ENABLING VA INVESTIGATORS TO CONDUCT INNOVATIVE BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL, AND CLINICAL RESEARCH THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE INACCESSIBLE THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDING MECHANISMS ALONE. BREFSA PROVIDED SALARY SUPPORT TO SAVAHCS FOR FOUR RESEARCH COORDINATORS. BREFSA SUPPORTS NEW INVESTIGATORS BY PROVIDING COORDINATORS TO SUBMIT REGULATORY DOCUMENTS TO OPEN NEW RESEARCH STUDIES. BREFSA PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS FOR ONE PI TO PRESENT RESEARCH MATERIALS AT A MEDICAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE. BREFSA PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR A RESIDENT TO PRESENT RESEARCH POSTERS AT THE DESERT PODIATRIC SYMPOSIUM. BREFSA HOSTED THE GRADUATION FOR THE PODIATRY RESIDENTS AS APPRECATION FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE 100 YEAR RESEARCH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE RESEARCH PROGRAM. BREFSA'S LONG TERM GOALS REMAIN DEDICATED TO ADVANCING BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND MEDICAL EDUCATION AT THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM (SAVAHCS). BREFSA'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH THAT IMPROVES THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF VETERANS BY ENABLING VA INVESTIGATORS TO CONDUCT INNOVATIVE BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL, AND CLINICAL RESEARCH THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE INACCESSIBLE THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDING MECHANISMS ALONE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 October 1991.

    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.