- Revenue 2025
- $51,354,803
- Expenses 2025
- $14,057,217
Program services were 92.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
As filed
- Subsection
- 03
- NTEE code
- E99
- Classification
- 1000
- Street
- 451 HILLS STREET SUITE B
These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).
Mission and programs · 2025
Mission
SIGN PARTNERS WITH OVERSEAS SURGEONS TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE ORTHOPAEDIC CAPACITY BY DONATING EDUCATION, INSTRUMENTS, AND IMPLANTS. BY WORKING WITH TEACHING HOSPITALS AND HOSTING EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES WORLDWIDE, SIGN EQUIPS SURGEONS TO HEAL PATIENTS WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
Activities or mission (Part I)
GIVE PATIENTS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE ORTHOPAEDIC CARE IN LMIC.
-
NEARLY HALF OF THE WORLD LIVES ON LESS THAN $8.30 PER DAY. PATIENTS ARE TOO POOR TO BUY THE IMPLANTS NEEDED, AND MOST HOSPITALS DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PURCHASE THE IMPLANTS. WHEN A PERSON LIVING IN A LOW- OR MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRY (LMIC) BREAKS AN ARM OR LEG AND CANNOT AFFORD APPROPRIATE CARE, IT CAN EASILY SEND THEIR WHOLE FAMILY SPIRALING INTO POVERTY. WE DEVELOPED AN INNOVATIVE IMPLANT SYSTEM FOR TREATING PATIENTS IN LOW-RESOURCE HOSPITALS. THIS SYSTEM CAN BE USED WITHOUT EXPENSIVE X-RAY IMAGING OR ELECTRICITY. SIGN SURGERY TYPICALLY ENABLES A PATIENT WITH A FRACTURED BONE TO WALK IN 1 DAY, LEAVE THE HOSPITAL IN 1 WEEK, AND BE BACK AT WORK IN 1 MONTH. THE PATIENT AVOIDS POSSIBLE PERMANENT DISABILITY AND IS RETURNED TO MOBILITY. SEE SCHEDULE O ON HOW WE DISTRIBUTE APPROPRIATE ORTHOPAEDIC TECHNOLOGY.DISTRIBUTE APPROPRIATE ORTHOPAEDIC TECHNOLOGY:THE SIGN IM NAIL AND INTERLOCKING SCREW SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR USE IN HOSPITALS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHERE C-ARMS AND RELIABLE POWER ARE NOT AVAILABLE. SIGN ENGINEERS CONTINUALLY DEVELOP NEW ORTHOPAEDIC INSTRUMENTS AND IMPLANTS IN RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS DESCRIBED BY THE LOCAL SURGEONS. WE SUPPLY NEW SIGN PROGRAMS WITH THE SIGN IM NAIL SYSTEM, WHICH SURGEONS USE TO REPAIR SEVERE FRACTURES IN THE FEMUR, TIBIA, AND HUMERUS. ONCE A PROGRAM HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS ABILITY TO REPORT THEIR CASES, INCLUDING ADEQUATE FOLLOW-UP THAT CONFIRMS THEIR RESULTS COMPLY WITH OUR EXPECTATIONS, THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL SIGN PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS IN-KIND DONATIONS RECEIVED FROM FOR-PROFIT ORTHOPAEDIC IMPLANT COMPANIES.IN 2025, WE DISTRIBUTED 28,356 SIGN NAILS TO 52 COUNTRIES. OUR AIM IS TO ENABLE THE POOR TO GAIN ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY, WHICH MEANS THE MAJORITY OF OUR IMPLANTS ARE DONATED FREE OF CHARGE TO THE PATIENT.WE STARTED 22 NEW SIGN PROGRAMS IN 2025. THE BREAKDOWN WAS AS FOLLOWS: AFRICA: 16 PROGRAMS ASIA: 6 PROGRAMS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025, THE WORLD BANK INCOME CLASSIFICATIONS BY GNI FOR THE COUNTRIES WITH NEW SIGN PROGRAMS WERE AS FOLLOWS: LOW INCOME: 48% LOWER MIDDLE INCOME: 44% UPPER MIDDLE INCOME: 8%DISASTER AND CONFLICT RESPONSE:WE BELIEVE IN EQUALITY OF FRACTURE CARE FOR ALL, REGARDLESS OF GENDER, RELIGION, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, OR ANY OTHER IDENTITY. IN LATE JANUARY, ARMED REBELS SEIZED GOMA, THE LARGEST CITY IN EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. WE HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION-IN BETWEEN INTERNET ROLLING BLACKOUTS-WITH THE TWO PROGRAM MANAGERS IN GOMA. TO ASSIST WITH THE INCREASED NUMBER OF TRAUMA PATIENTS, WE SENT AN ADDITIONAL SIGN SET AND 100 SIGN NAILS TO DRS. JOHN MUSUBAO AND ALFRED CHASUMBA.A SERIES OF TWO INTENSE EARTHQUAKES STRUCK THE MANDALAY REGION IN MYANMAR ON MARCH 28TH. TWO DAYS AFTER THE EARTHQUAKES, THE MYANMAR GOVERNMENT REPORTED 1644 DEATHS AND 3408 INJURIES. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE TWO HOSPITALS NEAR THE EPICENTERS WERE NOT ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE EARTHQUAKES AND WERE ABLE TO START TREATING INJURED PATIENTS WITH SIGN NAILS IMMEDIATELY. TO HELP SUPPORT THE SIGN PROGRAMS' EFFORTS IN TREATING INJURED PATIENTS, WE SENT 2 SIGN SETS, 200 SIGN NAILS, AND 3 LARGE EXTERNAL FIXATOR KITS. ON AUGUST 31ST, AFGHANISTAN EXPERIENCED A 6.0 EARTHQUAKE IN NURGAL DISTRICT, A REGION 102 MILES OUTSIDE OF KABUL. THE INITIAL EARTHQUAKE AND SUBSEQUENT AFTERSHOCKS INJURED 4,000 PEOPLE AND DAMAGED MULTIPLE HEALTH CENTERS IN THE AREA. TO ASSIST WITH THE PATIENT LOAD, WE SENT TWO NEW SIGN SETS, 373 SIGN NAILS, 8 LARGE EXTERNAL FIXATOR KITS, AND A LARGE FRAGMENT INSTRUMENT SET.
Expenses $11,297,605 · Revenue $473,674
-
Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.
Expenses $1,394,593 · Grants $246,866 · Revenue $21,015
-
PEOPLE LIVING IN LMICS CANNOT ACCESS SPINE CARE WHEN IT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THE INCIDENCE OF TRAUMATIC SPINAL INJURIES IN LMICS IS ESTIMATED TO BE 13.7 CASES PER 100,000 PERSONS. SIGN HAS IMPLEMENTED A SIGN SPINE PROGRAM AT TWO HOSPITALS IN TWO COUNTIES. WE HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND INTO THREE MORE COUNTRIES WITH A TOTAL OF 10 SITES. WE HAVE THREE GOALS: 1. IMPROVE ACCESS TO SAFE SPINE SURGERY WORLDWIDE. 2. IMPROVE ACCESS TO SPINE SURGICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING. 3. IMPROVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE SPINE IMPLANTS. SIGN IS PARTNERING WITH TEACHING HOSPITALS IN CANADA TO PROVIDE YEAR-LONG FELLOWSHIPS FOR SURGEONS FROM LMIC HOSPITALS. THE GRADUATES WILL RETURN TO THEIR HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE SAFE, EFFECTIVE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH SPINE INJURIES, AS WELL AS PROVIDE TRAINING TO OTHER SURGEONS.WE HAVE ALSO BEGUN DEVELOPING A NEW KIND OF PROGRAM, FOCUSED ON PROVIDING EDUCATION AND IMPLANTS RELATING TO TREATING SPINE FRACTURES. THIS NEW PROGRAM IS REFERRED TO AS SIGN SPINE. AS OF 2025, WE HAVE ACTIVE SPINE PROGRAMS IN KENYA, TANZANIA, MALAWI, ETHIOPIA, AND PAKISTAN.
Expenses $238,471
As filed on the 2025 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.
Officers and directors · 2025
As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.
-
Carla Smith MD PhDCARLA SMITH MD PHD
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Daniele Sciuto MDDANIELE SCIUTO MD
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 9.5
-
Lewis G Zirkle MDLEWIS G ZIRKLE MD
PRESIDENT/FOUNDER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 50
-
Randall HuebnerRANDALL HUEBNER
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 20
-
Stephen SchwartzSTEPHEN SCHWARTZ
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Richard Gellman MDRICHARD GELLMAN MD
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4
-
David Shearer MDDAVID SHEARER MD
VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 5
-
Ann PennerANN PENNER
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 10
-
Ben RiveraBEN RIVERA
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1.5
-
Jeanne DillnerJEANNE DILLNER
SECRETARY/CEO
- Total calculated
- $196,232
- From this org
- $180,416
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $15,816
- Hours/week
- 60
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $180,416
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $6,819
- Nontaxable benefits
- $8,997
- Filer's total
- $196,232
-
Sariah Khormaee MD PhDSARIAH KHORMAEE MD PHD
SECRETARY/CEO
- Total calculated
- $80,798
- From this org
- $71,848
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $8,950
- Hours/week
- 60
-
Robert SchmittROBERT SCHMITT
REGULATORY AFFAIRS MANAGER
- Total calculated
- $164,939
- From this org
- $149,260
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $15,679
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $149,260
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $6,048
- Nontaxable benefits
- $9,631
- Filer's total
- $164,939
-
Terry SmithTERRY SMITH
ENGINEERING MANAGER
- Total calculated
- $175,361
- From this org
- $168,359
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $7,002
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $168,359
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $6,739
- Nontaxable benefits
- $263
- Filer's total
- $175,361
-
Brian BarnesBRIAN BARNES
IT MANAGER
- Total calculated
- $154,140
- From this org
- $139,783
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $14,357
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $139,783
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $5,798
- Nontaxable benefits
- $8,559
- Filer's total
- $154,140
-
Joel GillardJOEL GILLARD
SENIOR R&D ENGINEER
- Total calculated
- $141,807
- From this org
- $125,191
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $16,616
- Hours/week
- 40
-
Franklyn FaultersackFRANKLYN FAULTERSACK
QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER
- Total calculated
- $151,635
- From this org
- $120,104
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $31,531
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $120,104
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $5,622
- Nontaxable benefits
- $25,909
- Filer's total
- $151,635
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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.
Filings
-
2025
- Revenue
- $51,354,803
- Expenses
- $14,057,217
- Contributions
- $50,406,422
- Grants paid
- $246,866
-
2024
- Revenue
- $7,005,562
- Expenses
- $6,624,843
- Contributions
- $6,175,920
- Grants paid
- $189,825
-
2023
- Revenue
- $6,205,211
- Expenses
- $7,246,960
- Contributions
- $5,466,734
- Grants paid
- $90,738
-
2022
- Revenue
- $7,573,337
- Expenses
- $7,157,471
- Contributions
- $6,595,978
- Grants paid
- $147,621
The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.
Other returns filed
-
2021 · 990
- Revenue
- $9,574,636
- Expenses
- $6,263,450
- Assets (EOY)
- $16,004,301
-
2020 · 990
- Revenue
- $6,412,435
- Expenses
- $6,709,456
- Assets (EOY)
- $12,430,004
-
2019 · 990
- Revenue
- $9,580,060
- Expenses
- $7,773,865
- Assets (EOY)
- $11,949,446
-
2018 · 990
- Revenue
- $4,971,197
- Expenses
- $6,333,965
- Assets (EOY)
- $9,652,006
-
2017 · 990
- Revenue
- $4,712,963
- Expenses
- $5,661,218
- Assets (EOY)
- $11,692,188
-
2016 · 990
- Revenue
- $5,521,131
- Expenses
- $4,788,660
- Assets (EOY)
- $12,275,026
-
2015 · 990
- Revenue
- $13,320,994
- Expenses
- $12,462,315
- Assets (EOY)
- $11,248,740
-
2014 · 990
- Revenue
- $8,978,886
- Expenses
- $4,808,887
- Assets (EOY)
- $10,692,929
-
2013 · 990
- Revenue
- $5,421,378
- Expenses
- $5,029,912
- Assets (EOY)
- $6,555,273
Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.
Grants made
No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.
Grants received
-
$1,000,000
2024 TO PROVIDE GENERAL SUPPORT
-
$900,000
2023 TO PROVIDE GENERAL SUPPORT.
-
$880,000
2024 TO PROVIDE GENERAL SUPPORT
-
$800,000
2022 TO PROVIDE GENERAL SUPPORT
-
$250,000
2022 COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT
-
2022 For grant recipient's exempt purposes
-
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING
$45,150
2023 HEALTH
-
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING
$40,900
2024 HEALTH
-
2024 For grant recipient's exempt purposes
-
2023 For grant recipient's exempt purposes
The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.
Other IRS files
Auto-Revocation List
Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.
Publication 78
Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.
These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.
What this page reflects
The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 1 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2025, the newest we have parsed for this organization.