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Nonprofiteer
← BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION.

Totals

Total revenue
$63,423,924
Total expenses
$53,295,009
Contributions and grants received
$52,879,488
Grants paid
$16,943,701
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$9,840,578
Other revenue
$703,858
Total assets, end of year
$65,129,292
Total liabilities, end of year
$28,168,825
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$36,960,467
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$34,827,679
Management and general expenses
$4,607,460
Fundraising expenses
$13,859,870
Program service expenses (Part III)
$34,827,679

Program services were 65.3% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $124,297

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $222,435

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $52,532,756

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $394,954

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,052,357 · excluded $1,052,357

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $370,381 · excluded $370,381

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $565,015

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $179,056

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $385,959

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $385,959 · excluded $385,959

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $22,404,949 · other assets $11,871,081

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $21,893,998 · other assets $3,593,811

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $510,951 · other assets $8,277,270

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $8,788,221 · excluded $8,788,221

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $30,640

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $222,435

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $87,248

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$56,608 · excluded -$56,608

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $4,126 · excluded $4,126

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $4,126

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $13,267,808 · program services $13,267,808

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $3,675,893 · program services $3,675,893

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,652,825 · program services $975,321 · management and general $365,576 · fundraising $311,928

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,413,792 · program services $1,685,554 · management and general $1,263,641 · fundraising $464,597

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $327,893 · program services $172,202 · management and general $105,437 · fundraising $50,254

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $735,356 · program services $386,193 · management and general $236,460 · fundraising $112,703

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $349,345 · program services $183,468 · management and general $112,335 · fundraising $53,542

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $71,456 · program services $38,524 · management and general $25,216 · fundraising $7,716

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $118,544 · program services $63,911 · management and general $41,833 · fundraising $12,800

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $1,027,076 · fundraising $1,027,076

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $241,293 · management and general $241,293

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,441,677 · program services $1,266,242 · management and general $147,747 · fundraising $27,688

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $2,434,520 · program services $1,230,126 · fundraising $1,204,394

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $1,270,619 · program services $658,427 · management and general $135,325 · fundraising $476,867

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $602,095 · program services $326,769 · management and general $171,648 · fundraising $103,678

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $368,766 · program services $214,621 · management and general $114,177 · fundraising $39,968

  • 17 · Travel

    total $258,884 · program services $221,715 · management and general $19,208 · fundraising $17,961

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $876,230 · program services $820,584 · management and general $24,020 · fundraising $31,626

  • 20 · Interest

    total $383,185 · management and general $383,185

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $596,953 · program services $332,227 · management and general $181,264 · fundraising $83,462

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $54,674 · program services $25,895 · management and general $14,298 · fundraising $14,481

  • 24a · Other expenses: PUB. AWARENESS POSTAGE

    total $9,119,632 · program services $4,191,654 · management and general $528,303 · fundraising $4,399,675

  • 24b · Other expenses: PUB. AWARENESS PRINTING

    total $6,362,574 · program services $2,938,902 · management and general $276,015 · fundraising $3,147,657

  • 24c · Other expenses: PUB. AWARENESS COMP.

    total $2,744,419 · program services $1,277,945 · management and general $127,580 · fundraising $1,338,894

  • 24d · Other expenses: LIST RENTAL

    total $1,899,500 · program services $873,698 · management and general $92,899 · fundraising $932,903

  • 26 · Joint costs (an allocation of the lines above)

    total $19,360,619 · program services $8,338,957 · management and general $982,887 · fundraising $10,038,775

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $829,628 · end of year $3,278,680

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $8,516,562 · end of year $6,619,066

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $6,199,054 · end of year $9,183,959

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $23,832 · end of year $25,908

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $28,325 · end of year $36,763

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $998,282 · end of year $1,557,144

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $9,283,683

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $5,312,032

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $7,847,284 · end of year $3,971,651

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $31,237,150 · end of year $32,437,847

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $7,784,535 · end of year $8,018,274

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $2,580,327 · end of year $1,551,998

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $24,991,458 · end of year $25,940,333

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $9,000,000 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $674,130 · end of year $676,494

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $12,270,789 · end of year $25,140,265

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $13,947,948 · end of year $11,820,202

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION FUNDS EXCEPTIONAL RESEARCH WORLDWIDE TO DEFEAT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, MACULAR DEGENERATION, AND GLAUCOMA AND PROVIDES EXPERT INFORMATION ON THESE HEARTBREAKING DISEASES. PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR A COMPLETE OVERVIEW OF OUR MISSION.

Activities or mission (Part I)

BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION (BRIGHTFOCUS) SEEKS A WORLD FREE FROM DISEASES OF MIND AND SIGHT.

  • ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH (ADR)PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH.

    Expenses $21,402,299 · Grants $10,412,240

  • MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH (MDR)PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH.

    Expenses $10,955,751 · Grants $5,329,984

  • NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH (NGR) PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH.

    Expenses $2,469,629 · Grants $1,201,477

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Patricia M Stewart

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Scott Kaiser MD

    SECRETARY UNTIL 06/24, VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Thomas F Freddo Od PhD

    DIRECTOR UNTIL 06/24, SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Shawna Gottlieb

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Cecilia Arradaza

    VICE CHAIR UNTIL 06/24, DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Paul Campbell

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Herbert L Drayton III

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Dana Griffin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Tonya Matthews PhD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Ann Seclow

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Jan M Stouffer PhD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Adam Myers

    DIRECTOR AS OF 04/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • John Penn

    DIRECTOR AS OF 03/25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Dale Young

    DIRECTOR AS OF 03/25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Stacy Pagos Haller

    PRESIDENT/CEO

    Total calculated
    $471,505
    From this org
    $424,828
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $46,677
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $423,113
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,715
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $46,677
    Filer's total
    $471,505

  • Nancy Keach

    SR. VP, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

    Total calculated
    $321,870
    From this org
    $270,157
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $51,713
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $268,573
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,584
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $51,713
    Filer's total
    $321,870

  • R Brian Elderton

    SR. VP, DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $301,369
    From this org
    $261,323
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,046
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $259,608
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,715
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $40,046
    Filer's total
    $301,369

  • Jonathan Walsh

    SVP, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

    Total calculated
    $231,037
    From this org
    $226,786
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,251
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $226,326
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $460
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $4,251
    Filer's total
    $231,037

  • Diane Bovenkamp PhD

    VP, SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS

    Total calculated
    $220,600
    From this org
    $196,242
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,358
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $195,690
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $552
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,358
    Filer's total
    $220,600

  • Kaci Baez - Vp Integrated

    MKTING & COMM. UNTIL 06/24

    Total calculated
    $119,485
    From this org
    $110,647
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,838
    Hours/week
    45

  • Preeti Subramanian - PhD Dir

    OF SCIENT. PROGRAMS, VISION SCIENCE

    Total calculated
    $156,331
    From this org
    $139,931
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,400
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $139,571
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $360
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,400
    Filer's total
    $156,331

  • Lisa Morgan

    SENIOR DIRECTOR, ANNUAL GIVING

    Total calculated
    $157,982
    From this org
    $135,115
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,867
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $134,563
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $552
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,867
    Filer's total
    $157,982

  • Sharyn Rossi - PhD Dir Of

    SCIENT. PROGRAMS, NEUROSCIENCE

    Total calculated
    $167,875
    From this org
    $125,732
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $42,143
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $125,492
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $240
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $42,143
    Filer's total
    $167,875

  • Jeffrey Honaker

    SR. MGR. OPS AND BUILDING

    Total calculated
    $149,323
    From this org
    $115,469
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,854
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 3
THE LAST COMPENSATION SURVEY WAS COMPLETED ON 3/9/2022.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LLC

    PROPERTY RENTAL AND MANAGEMENT · MD · income $8,684,432 · assets $24,681

    Directly controlled by BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION

  • AMERICAN HEALTH ASSISTANCE LLC

    OWNER OF BRIGHTFOCUS HEADQUARTERS · MD · income $0 · assets $2,981,266

    Directly controlled by BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
22 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202522969349300607

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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