The Max Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 81 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
AT THE MAX FOUNDATION WE BELIEVE THAT ALL PEOPLE LIVING WITH CANCER SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS HIGH IMPACT MEDICINES, THAT GEOGRAPHY SHOULD NOT DICTATE ONE'S DESTINY, AND THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO STRIVE FOR HEALTH WITH DIGNITY AND HOPE. WE ARE ON A MISSION TO ACCELERATE HEALTH EQUITY BY DELIVERING MEDICATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SERVICES TO PATIENTS FACING CANCER AND OTHER CRITICAL ILLNESSES, FOCUSING OUR ENERGY ON THOSE NO ONE ELSE IS HELPING.
- Income
- $8.6 million
- Spending
- $8.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 90%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 704
- Highest pay
- $349,289, chief executive officer
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
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 81 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (1)
- $4.9 million spent. A KEY FOCUS OF THE MAX FOUNDATION IS EXPANDING HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE TREATMENTS FOR CANCER AND OTHER CRITICAL ILLNESSES IN LOW-AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES. DONATIONS OF HIGH IMPACT PRODUCTS FROM DRUG MANUFACTURERS ARE RECEIVED BY OUR SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION, MAXAID, AND CHANNELED TO INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS VIA OUR NETWORK OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS. THIS ACCESS TO MEDICINES IS ENABLED THROUGH OUR PATIENT-CENTERED TREATMENT ACCESS MODEL KNOWN AS MAX ACCESS SOLUTIONS. OUR PRIMARY CLIENT IS A PATIENT WHO IS TREATED BY ONE OF OUR PARTNER PHYSICIANS, DIAGNOSED WITH A SPECIFIC CANCER OR CRITICAL ILLNESS, AND PRESCRIBED A MEDICATION FOR WHICH THE ONLY AVAILABLE FORM OF ACCESS IS A HUMANITARIAN CHANNEL THROUGH MAX ACCESS SOLUTIONS. WE USE A SOPHISTICATED WEB-ENGINE PLATFORM DEVELOPED IN-HOUSE TO ALLOW US TO WORK IN REAL TIME WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND CREATE INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAM LIFE CYCLES TO MEET EACH PATIENT'S NEEDS. WE FURTHER ACT AS HEALTHCARE NAVIGATORS FOR THESE PATIENTS, HELPING THEM WALK THROUGH THE ACCESS PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT. IN ORDER TO OPTIMIZE TREATMENT, WITHIN OUR CAPABILITIES WE PROVIDE CRUCIAL SUPPORT THAT INCLUDES ACCESS TO DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, EMOTIONAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES AND EDUCATION, AS WELL AS ADVOCATING ON THEIR BEHALF WHEN NEEDED. WE STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITIES AROUND PATIENTS BY SUPPORTING PATIENT ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATING AWARENESS INITIATIVES IN LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES.
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
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 December 2024.
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 November 1998.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: The Ucla Foundation (Los Angeles, CA), EIN 95-2250801. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.