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Nonprofiteer
← KESSLER FOUNDATION INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by KESSLER FOUNDATION INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$32,355,977
Total expenses
$35,996,524
Contributions and grants received
$18,722,935
Grants paid
$685,946
Program service revenue
$269,750
Investment income
$13,247,942
Other revenue
$115,350
Total assets, end of year
$289,601,125
Total liabilities, end of year
$21,425,320
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$268,175,805
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$28,066,898
Management and general expenses
$6,915,205
Fundraising expenses
$1,014,421
Program service expenses (Part III)
$28,066,898

Program services were 78.0% 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.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $221,543

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $10,636,687

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $7,864,705

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $85,736

  • 2a · Program service revenue: IMAGING REVENUE

    total $269,750 · related or exempt $269,750

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $6,124,102 · excluded $6,124,102

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $5,729 · excluded $5,729

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $0

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $53,674,590 · other assets $0

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

    securities $46,037,417 · other assets $513,333

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $7,637,173 · other assets -$513,333

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $7,123,840 · excluded $7,123,840

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $45,277

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

    $221,543

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $45,277

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0 · excluded $0

  • 9a · Gaming: gross income

    $0

  • 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

    $0

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $0

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $109,621 · related or exempt $109,621

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $109,621

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $685,946 · program services $685,946

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,085,523 · program services $1,217,077 · management and general $868,446

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $15,064,125 · program services $13,053,084 · management and general $1,562,790 · fundraising $448,251

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $1,000,618 · program services $832,266 · management and general $138,152 · fundraising $30,200

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $2,901,254 · program services $2,393,567 · management and general $425,590 · fundraising $82,097

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,116,130 · program services $918,031 · management and general $167,568 · fundraising $30,531

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $495,788 · program services $419,581 · management and general $76,207

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $104,742 · management and general $104,742

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $1,436,477 · management and general $1,436,477

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $3,740,007 · program services $3,628,967 · management and general $57,201 · fundraising $53,839

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $0

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $1,163,108 · program services $477,515 · management and general $531,886 · fundraising $153,707

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $847,457 · program services $247,427 · management and general $525,208 · fundraising $74,822

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,907,437 · program services $1,408,652 · management and general $498,785

  • 17 · Travel

    total $310,129 · program services $246,314 · management and general $63,618 · fundraising $197

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $243,507 · program services $77,469 · management and general $125,744 · fundraising $40,294

  • 20 · Interest

    total $9,254 · management and general $9,254

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,583,591 · program services $1,583,591

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $471,162 · program services $234,304 · management and general $236,858

  • 24a · Other expenses: SUBJECT RESEARCH COSTS

    total $622,699 · program services $622,699

  • 24b · Other expenses: RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EXPENSES

    total $130,570 · program services $20,408 · management and general $9,679 · fundraising $100,483

  • 24c · Other expenses: GRANT ALLOCATION

    total $77,000 · management and general $77,000

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,089,926 · end of year $566,095

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $4,389,584 · end of year $5,213,017

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $6,300,334 · end of year $5,621,670

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $295,519 · end of year $259,918

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $1,010,530 · end of year $995,630

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

    $23,434,847

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

    $14,153,245

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $9,069,353 · end of year $9,281,602

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $212,348,063 · end of year $219,738,249

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $39,020,488 · end of year $38,685,807

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $8,796,926 · end of year $9,239,137

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $3,537,259 · end of year $4,432,822

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $1,194,605 · end of year $827,384

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $4,336,909 · end of year $5,204,281

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $659,240 · end of year $0

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $10,604,107 · end of year $10,960,833

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $252,129,116 · end of year $256,896,473

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $10,859,487 · end of year $11,279,332

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE FOUNDATION HAS TWO PRIMARY MISSIONS: (1) TO CONDUCT WORLD-CLASS MEDICAL REHABILITATION RESEARCH FOCUSED ON FUNCTIONAL GAINS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND (2) TO IDENTIFY AND FUND PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE FOUNDATION HAS TWO PRIMARY MISSIONS: TO CONDUCT WORLD-CLASS MEDICAL REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND TO INDENIFY AND FUND PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.

  • RESEARCH CENTER: KESSLER FOUNDATION RESEARCHERS IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES THROUGH REHABILITATION RESEARCH IN ITS TEN (10) SPECIALIZED CENTERS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF NOTED RESEARCH DIRECTORS: MOBILITY AND REHABILITATION ENGINEERING RESEARCH; NEUROPSYCHOLOGY & NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH; EMPLOYMENT AND DISABILITY RESEARCH; SPINAL CORD INJURY RESEARCH; STROKE REHABILITATION RESEARCH; TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY RESEARCH; OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT RESEARCH; AUTISM RESEARCH; TIM & CAROLINE REYNOLDS CENTER FOR SPINAL STIMULATION AND ROCCO ORTENZIO NEUROIMAGING CENTER. WHILE THE STAFF OF EACH CENTER HAS EXPERTISE IN PARTICULAR AREAS, COLLABORATION AMONG FOUNDATION RESEARCHERS AS WELL AS WITH COLLABORATORS FROM AROUND THE US AND THE WORLD, ENHANCES PROGRESS TOWARD FINDING WAYS TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES FACED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAUSED BY BRAIN INJURY, SPINAL CORD INJURY, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, ARTHRITIS, AND OTHER CHRONIC NEUROLOGICAL AND ORTHOPEDIC CONDITIONS. THE FOUNDATION HAS THE DISTINCTION OF HAVING THE ONLY 3T MRI SCANNER with BioMatrix technology SOLELY DEVOTED TO REHABILITATION RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES. SINCE 1998, THE FOUNDATION HAS INVESTED $181 MILLION IN RESEARCH, IN ADDITION TO $166 MILLION FOR RESEARCH FUNDED BY FEDERAL, STATE AND PRIVATE SOURCES. IN 2024, THE FOUNDATION RECEIVED OVER $28 MILLION IN NEW FEDERAL, STATE, AND PRIVATE GRANTS AND CONTRACTS. TWO FEDERAL MODEL SYSTEM GRANTS ESTABLISH KESSLER FOUNDATION AS A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR BOTH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) AND SPINAL CORD INJURY (SCI) RESEARCH. MODEL SYSTEMS ARE COMPREHENSIVE NETWORKS THAT PROMOTE INDEPENDENT AND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH THAT WILL IMPROVE THE NATIONAL STANDARD OF CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH THESE DEVASTATING INJURIES. MODEL SYSTEMS ARE FUNDED BY LARGE, MULTI-YEAR GRANTS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY, INDEPENDENT LIVING AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH. KESSLER FOUNDATION IS ONE OF ONLY SIX CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES TO HAVE DUAL MODEL SYSTEMS: NORTHERN NEW JERSEY SCI SYSTEM AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY TBI SYSTEM. THESE MODEL SYSTEMS ARE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH RUTGERS UNIVERSITY-NJ MEDICAL SCHOOL AND KESSLER INSTITUTE FOR REHABILITATION. IN 2018, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVED A STRATEGIC AREA OF RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF TRANSCUTANEOUS AND EPIDURAL STIMULATION TO IMPROVE FUNCTION FOR PEOPLE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES. IN 2024, THE Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation in partnership with Overlook Medical Center, completed its first epidural stimulation implant, marking a significant advancement in spinal cord injury treatment and rehabilitation.

    Expenses $27,065,166 · Revenue $379,371

  • Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.

    Expenses $1,001,732 · Grants $685,946

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.

Listed in Part VII

  • Rodger L Derose

    PRESIDENT AND CEO

    Total calculated
    $868,446
    From this org
    $815,846
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $52,600
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $815,846
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $27,600
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,000
    Filer's total
    $868,446

  • John Deluca

    VICE PRESIDENT - RESEARCH

    Total calculated
    $514,829
    From this org
    $462,229
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $52,600
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $462,229
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $27,600
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,000
    Filer's total
    $514,829

  • Nancy Chiaravalloti

    LAB DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $373,478
    From this org
    $322,675
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,803
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $322,675
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $25,803
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,000
    Filer's total
    $373,478

  • Guang Yue

    LAB DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $328,770
    From this org
    $281,364
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $47,406
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $281,364
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $22,406
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,000
    Filer's total
    $328,770

  • Michele Pignatello

    DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $315,345
    From this org
    $268,313
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $47,032
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $268,313
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $22,032
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,000
    Filer's total
    $315,345

  • John O'Neill

    LAB DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $314,474
    From this org
    $267,963
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $46,511
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $267,963
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $21,511
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,000
    Filer's total
    $314,474

  • Trevor Dyson-Hudson

    LAB DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $279,399
    From this org
    $235,330
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $44,069
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $235,330
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $19,069
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,000
    Filer's total
    $279,399

  • Elaine Katz

    GRANTS DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $272,625
    From this org
    $228,965
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $43,660
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $228,965
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $18,660
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,000
    Filer's total
    $272,625

  • Anne Ammons

    ADVISOR TO PRESEIDENT

    Total calculated
    $268,602
    From this org
    $225,557
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $43,045
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $225,557
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $18,045
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,000
    Filer's total
    $268,602

  • Michael A Saffer

    CHAIR - TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • C William Weisser

    VICE CHAIR - TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Lisa Peterson

    SECRETARY - Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Michael P Davis

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • M John Germain

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Alyce Halchak

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Guy Tufo

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Diane Zezza

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Mary Rose Migliazza

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Saul Simon

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • William Gilman

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • David Margolis

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Ellen Salsburg

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Michael Herz

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Thomas M Venino Jr

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Brian Crawford

    TRUSTEE - AD HOC NON VOTING

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • George H Jacobs

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • David Schonbraun

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Larry Gelberg

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Terri Goldberg

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Neil Greenstein

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Mike Haydinger

    TRUSTEE - AD HOC NON VOTING

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Dara Sblendorio

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Helen Mazarakis

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

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 · Written employment contract
  • 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

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.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
17 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202542899349300039

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

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