Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 1979.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
55 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
11 people listed on the 990; $30K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms Christina Defranisco | $84,101 | $77,390 | — |
| Ms Melissa Voigt | — | — | $29,594 |
Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.
See Ear Research Foundation INC executive salaries →Questions the 990 asks
The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.
- Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
Programs and updates
Provides education, research, and treatment for hearing and balance disorders.
Questions for Ear Research Foundation INC
Your first name shows with your question. Ear Research Foundation INC answers here, for everyone.
Research on treatment of ear and related diseases
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 59-1862386) · Dispute this lineClinic & Outreach
Hearing screening tests, treatment of hearing related problems
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 59-1862386) · Dispute this lineEducational seminars, workshops & symposiums on treatment of ear and related diseases.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 59-1862386) · Dispute this lineFunders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2020 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY20 | End FY20 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $193K | $249K |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $298K | $313K |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $16K | $18K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $1.3M | $1.2M |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $9K | $48K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $1.2M | $1.2M |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $30K | $30K | ||
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $285K | $218K | $67K | |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $5K | $3K | $3K | |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $13K | $6K | $7K | |
| Management feesLn 11a | $11K | $335 | $10K | |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $65 | $65 | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $3K | $3K | ||
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $10K | $3K | $6K | $935 |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $4K | $2K | $3K | $39 |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $79K | $79K | ||
| TravelLn 17 | $5K | $5K | ||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $4K | $1K | $3K | |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $8K | $8K | ||
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $83K | $65K | $15K | $4K |
| All other expensesLn 24e | $8K | $1K | $2K | $5K |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $548K | $304K | $235K | $10K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 14, 2025 | $346K | $552K | −$206K | $1.3M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Dec 12, 2024 | $638K | $833K | −$196K | $1.5M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Feb 13, 2024 | $1.2M | $717K | $528K | $1.7M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS Dec 1, 2022 | $514K | $565K | −$51K | $1.1M | 990 PDF |
| FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 5, 2021 | $479K | $548K | −$69K | $1.2M | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2020 990
Part I · Summary $479,054 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 7 of 10 board members independent, no flags
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $479,054 across 10 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $548,268 across 15 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $1,222,386 assets, 12 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,174,243 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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