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Arthritis National Research Foundation

EIN 95-6043953 · Irvine, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE INITIAL RESEARCH FUNDING TO BRILLIANT, INVESTIGATIVE SCIENTISTS WITH NEW IDEAS TO CURE ARTHRITIS AND RELATED AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
30.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
10
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$298,698, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 March 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 (2)
  1. $2.7 million spent. EACH YEAR, ARTHRITIS RESEARCH GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO INDEPENDENT MD AND/OR PHD SCIENTISTS AT UNAFFILIATED RESEARCH FACILITIES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE ARTHRITIS NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (THE "FOUNDATION") SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD PERFORMS A NIH-LEVEL REVIEW OF ALL APPLICATIONS, RANKING THE PROPOSALS AS TO THE EXCELLENCE OF THE SCIENCE, OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A BREAK-THROUGH DISCOVERY AND THE QUALITY OF THE INVESTIGATOR AWARDEES, WHO RECEIVE A MAXIMUM GRANT OF $125,000. APPLICANTS MUST PROVIDE PROGRESS AND FINAL REPORTS OF THEIR WORK, INCLUDING PUBLICATIONS IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS AND PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS. IF PROGRESS IS DEEMED SIGNIFICANT IN THE FIRST YEAR, AWARDEES MAY APPLY FOR AND EARN A SECOND YEAR OF SUPPORT.
  2. $516,929 spent. THE FOUNDATION HAS VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO RAISE AWARENESS WITHIN THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THOSE SUFFERING WITH ARTHRITIS AND THE MEDICAL/SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AND NEED FOR ARTHRITIS RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPING A CURE AND MORE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS. ALSO PART OF THE EDUCATION COMPONENT IS RAISING AWARENESS OF THE PREVALENCE OF ARTHRITIS AND RELATED AUTOIMMUNE, THE FACT THAT CHILDREN GET ARTHRITIS AND THE CURRENT WORK BEING DONE IN THE FIELD OF ARTHRITIS RESEARCH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1973.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.