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Muscular Dystrophy Association
Muscular Dystrophy Association reported $64.2 million in revenue and $61.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $70.95 went to program services, $5.15 to management and general costs and $23.90 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 84.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $679,842 (OUTGOING PRESIDENT & CEO). 56 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 36% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $62MFor context, the median across 314 covered diseases, disorders & medical disciplines charities: $88.73 programs, $10.89 management, $0.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $64MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 70.9% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.1% | 10.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 23.9% | 0.4% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.27 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 84.7% | 24.7% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 59.5% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $679,842 | $391,657 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.10% | 1.45% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 56 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 1.9 | 7.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 18 of 18 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseHealth care and community services: mda is committed to empowering people living with Muscular Dystrophy, als and related neuromuscular diseases through research, care, and advocacy. As the largest source of funding for neuromuscular disease research outside of the federal government mda has committed more than $1 billion to accelerate the discovery of therapies and cures. We support the largest network of multidisciplinary clinics at more than 150 top medical institutions, serve the community with one-on-one specialized support, and offer educational conferences, events, and materials for…
Research: mda is the largest non-governmental funder of neuromuscular disease research in the country, supporting strategic research for Muscular Dystrophy, als, and related neuromuscular diseases. Since its inception in 1950, mda has invested more than $1 billion in neuromuscular disease research to uncover new treatments. A single breakthrough can lead to a cure. Our funding research across many neuromuscular diseases means findings from one disease often enable progress in others, maximizing the speed at which we can make progress. Support for mda's research enables mda to fund leading…
Professional and public health education:mda offers a broad and expanding array of resources and events expertly developed to respond to the rapidly changing treatment landscape. Our resources for providing relevant medical education to professionals are unparalleled and our services and initiatives reflect our leadership in this area. We provide both accredited continuing medical education (cme) and non-cme programs. As the most comprehensive neuromuscular disease meeting in the world, our annual mda clinical & scientific conference provides a unique opportunity to learn from, be inspired…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OUTGOING PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $662,437 | $0 | $17,405 | $679,842 |
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $421,661 | $0 | $70,765 | $492,426 |
| COO & CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $380,303 | $0 | $56,441 | $436,744 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $304,413 | $0 | $29,955 | $334,368 |
| CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $259,355 | $0 | $54,791 | $314,146 |
| INTERIM CFO & CONTROLLER Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $213,151 | $0 | $48,058 | $261,209 |
| EVP, HEALTHCARE SERVICES Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $227,925 | $0 | $24,094 | $252,019 |
| OUTGOING EVP, HR & VOLUNTEERS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $235,864 | $0 | $15,493 | $251,357 |
56 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Muscular Dystrophy Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b18 · 18 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5272
- Volunteers Part I, line 6934
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| YES & HOLDINGS LLC Marketing services | $995,973 |
| MOORE A SERIES LLC Direct mail marketing | $756,396 |
| BACK POCKET AGENCY LLC Content marketing agency | $601,287 |
| CADENT MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC Management and logistical suppport | $552,008 |
| MWW GROUP LLC Marketing services | $404,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 12 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
188 private foundations reported grants to Muscular Dystrophy Association totaling $3.9M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Muscular Dystrophy Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Muscular Dystrophy Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Muscular Dystrophy Association spent in 2025, $70.95 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Brightfocus FoundationClarksburg, MD · revenue $63M · programs 65.3% · FY2025
- United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater SuffolkHauppauge, NY · revenue $65M · programs 91.4% · 2025
- Whitman-Walker ClinicWashington, DC · revenue $62M · programs 71.1% · 2024
- HonorbridgeGreenville, NC · revenue $66M · programs 79.7% · 2025
- The Oak ClinicUniontown, OH · revenue $62M · programs 99.0% · 2024
All diseases, disorders & medical disciplines charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of Muscular Dystrophy Association's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Muscular Dystrophy Association reported that 70.9% of its $61.7 million in expenses went to program services, 5.1% to management and general and 23.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Muscular Dystrophy Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Muscular Dystrophy Association reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $679,842, for the role of OUTGOING PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Muscular Dystrophy Association get its money?
Of $64.2 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 84.7% came from contributions and grants (including 0.3% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Muscular Dystrophy Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-1665552 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202611349349301201 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202541159349301319 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202411229349302006 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202341459349300649 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202202149349300110 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202112989349300036 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202002659349300340 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-1665552: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.