Pku Hope Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 35% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The mission of the PKU Hope Foundation is to improve the quality of life for those with PKU by fostering community influencing and supporting research treatment therapies and easing the burden of managing the diet.
- Income
- $660,641
- Spending
- $310,061
- Spent on programs
- 35%
- Reserves
- 50.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 12
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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 50.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1535% 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 3 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
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 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 (3)
- $34,050 spent. FOSTERING COMMUNITY FOR A RARE DISEASE PROVIDES A SUPPORT NETWORK FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES FACILITIES INFORMATION SHARING AND RESOURCES RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE DISEASE PROMOTES ADVOCACY FOR RESEARCH AND FUNDING AND COMBATS FEELINGS OF ISOLATION OFTEN EXPERIENCED BY THOSE AFFECTED. ULTIMATELY IT HELPS EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO NAVIGATE THEIR JOURNEY WITH THE DISEASE MORE EFFECTIVELY.
- $74,333 spent. INFLUENCING AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH TREATMENT THERAPIES FOR THE RARE DISEASE COMMUNITY IS CRUCIAL TO HELP ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS AND THERAPIES TAILORED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH PKU. BY ADVOCATING FOR RESEARCH THE COMMUNITY CAN ATTRACT FUNDING INCREASE AWARENESS AMONG RESEARCHERS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND FOSTER COLLABORATION BETWEEN STAKEHOLDERS. ADDITIONALLY IT OFFERS HOPE TO PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO POTENTIALLY LIFE-IMPROVING INTERVENTIONS. OVERALL ADVANCING RESEARCH AND TREATMENT OPTIONS IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROGNOSIS FOR THOSE LIVING WITH RARE DISEASES.
- EASING THE BURDEN OF MANAGING THE RESTRICTIVE PHENYLKETONURIA DIET IS ESSENTIAL TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION. IT INVOLVES PROVIDING SUPPORT RESOURCES AND EDUCATION TO HELP PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE DIET EFFECTIVELY. BY EASING THE BURDEN OF THE PKU DIET INDIVIDUALS CAN BETTER MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH PREVENT COMPLICATIONS AND IRREVERSIBLE BRAIN DAMAGE AND LIVE MORE FULFILLING LIVES.
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 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 November 6, 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 2025.
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 August 2023.
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 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.