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American Kidney Fund

CharityWatch rating issued
February 2025

Top-Rated Charity
A+
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
96%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$3
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

American Kidney Fund
11921 Rockville Pike
Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20852

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

To help people fight kidney disease and live healthier lives.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2023

Program Percentage: 96%

The percentage of American Kidney Fund's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$284,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $3

How many dollars American Kidney Fund spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$348,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Joint Costs

American Kidney Fund's rating was adjusted for Joint Costs. If you are a donor who considers direct mail, telemarketing, and other Joint Cost solicitations to be true charitable programs, the below efficiency ratios, which were not adjusted for joint costs, may better reflect your goals.

Program % Cost to Raise $100
96% $2
Accounting rules allow charities to report some telemarketing, direct mail, and other solicitation costs as Program expenses. CharityWatch believes that most donors do not consider a charity's solicitation activities to be the Programs they are intending to support with their donations. We therefore adjust such expenses out of a charity's reported Program expense and add it to Fundraising expense prior to calculating its rating.

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
American Kidney Fund Audited Financial Statements 23-7124261
American Kidney Fund IRS Form 990 23-7124261
Entity: American Kidney Fund
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 23-7124261
Entity: American Kidney Fund
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 23-7124261

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
American Kidney Fund
meets governance benchmarks.
 
American Kidney Fund
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
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Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Lavarne Burton President/CEO $903,717
2 Tara Bunch EVP/COO $534,702
3 Marshall Strisik VP and General Counsel $477,627
1
Name: Lavarne Burton
Title: President/CEO
Compensation: $903,717
2
Name: Tara Bunch
Title: EVP/COO
Compensation: $534,702
3
Name: Marshall Strisik
Title: VP and General Counsel
Compensation: $477,627

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

According to the American Kidney Fund (AKF) audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Risks and Uncertainties):

"...The US District Court, Central District of California granted a preliminary injunction preventing California AB 290 from becoming law on December 30, 2019. Litigation was then severely delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, the parties await a decision on the State of California's motion for reconsideration of Judge Carter's January 4, 2024, summary judgment ruling. That ruling granted summary judgment in part for AKF and granted summary judgment in part for the State of California. AKF's Health Insurance Premium Program was unaffected by the summary judgment decision. However, because both sides of the litigation have indicated they will likely appeal any negative decision to the 9th Circuit Court of appeals, the long-term impact on grant assistance is currently unknown..."

See here for more information on California AB 290

"...In January 2023, AKF received a civil investigative subpoena from the District of Columbia Attorney General's office. The investigative subpoena called for certain documents and records related to (i) AKF's relationships with DaVita, Fresenius, and American Renal Associates in the District; and (ii) AKF's compliance with the D.C. Non-Profit Corporations Act. AKF met with District of Columbia officials in March 2023 and turned over multiple tranches of documents and records as requested. AKF has received no communication from the Attorney General's office since meeting with them in early 2023 and has no reason to believe there will be anything further on the matter."

See here for more information on this topic from the The New York Times


According to the American Kidney Fund (AKF) audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, In-Kind Contributions):

AKF received in-kind contributions during the fiscal year-ended December 31, 2023, on which it placed a total value of $951,422. Of this amount, $866,622 and $84,800 was attributed to "Advertising, Printing, and Donated Items for Patients and Events" and "Donated Services," respectively. 

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the American Kidney Fund (AKF) audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 11, Public Support):

"...AKF received public support from two corporations in the amount of $301,094,000 and $290,943,500 during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. These contributions represented 86% and 85% of the total support and revenue for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively."


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