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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: May 2023 Expires: June 2025

BrightFocus Foundation

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

Accreditation seal
22512 Gateway Center Drive
Clarksburg, MD, 20871

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

BrightFocus Foundation meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to fund exceptional scientific research worldwide to defeat Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma and provide expert information on these heartbreaking diseases."

Year, State Incorporated:
1973, DC

Also Known As:
National Glaucoma Research Macular Degeneration Research Alzheimer's Disease Research

BrightFocus Foundation (BFF) works to advance research and public information in Alzheimers disease, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. The organization funds science investigations to better understand and find ways to diagnose, prevent, and treat these diseases. The organization utilizes the Internet, print publications, email, social media, and television, as well as radio public service announcements to distribute information to the public, especially those affected by the disease. BFF also aims to educate people about risk factors, the latest research, treatments, and risk reduction. Some ($7,872,444 or 15%) of BFF's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fundraising appeals.

For the year ended March 31, 2022, BrightFocus Foundation's program expenses were:

Research: $28,633,350

Health information services: $23,619,778

Total Program Expenses: $52,253,128

Chief Executive
Stacy Pagos Haller, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$486,391

Chair of the Board
Patricia McGloghlin Stewart

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired, Financial Services

Board Size
11

Paid Staff Size
56

*2021 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Print advertisements

BrightFocus Foundation incurred joint costs of $16,603,523 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $7,872,444 was allocated to program expenses, $7,680,744 was allocated to fundraising expenses, and $1,050,335 was allocated to administrative expenses.

Fundraising costs were 21% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $46,522,410, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on BrightFocus Foundation's audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2022.

Source of Funds
Contributions and grants $36,802,838
Bequests $9,719,572
Donated goods and services $12,439,938
Rental income, net $584,767
Other $976,704
Investment income, net $1,287,397
Total Income $61,811,216

Programs: 79% Fundraising: 15% Administrative: 6%

Total Income $61,811,216
Total expenses: $65,826,058
  Program expenses $52,253,128
  Fundraising expenses $9,847,110
  Administrative expenses $3,725,820
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-4,014,842
Beginning Net Assets $33,034,717
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $29,019,875
Total Liabilities $36,521,089
Total Assets $65,540,964

Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements -consolidated- for the year ended March 31, 2022, BFF reported in-kind public service announcements valued at $12,439,938.

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance