Sickle Forward
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Transforming the lives of individuals affected by sickle cell disease in low-resource environments by championing access to timely diagnosis and basic treatment.
- Income
- $168,023
- Spending
- $755,830
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 85%
- Employees
- 0
- 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (health care, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 350% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 82% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $751,887 spent. 1 Purchase and distribution of rapid point-of-care sickle cell disease screening kitsfor the pilot screening programs in Mali Togo Tanzania Kenya Nigeria Uganda and Cameroon. The distribution of the test kits in each country for systematic screening of infants at multiple hospitals was done in direct partnership with clinical leaders from the national sickle cell disease program in each country. The tests were purchased from Silver Lake Research Corporation in California. The screening tests have extensive quality testing in similar environments and have been shown to have high reliability when compared to laboratory testing methods. All of the rapid screening tests were donated by Sickle Forward and were recorded by health ministry officials as not for resale in the respective countries. 2 Project implementation data management and cultural awareness for newborn screening projects in Mali and Togo. 3 Donation of medications and laboratory equipment necessary for ongoing treatment of children with SCD in the areas where Sickle Forward is working. 4 Travel to locations where work is being done for oversight and ongoing support.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2023.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.