Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation reported $35.3 million in revenue and $35.2 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.34 went to program services, $18.10 to management and general costs and $2.56 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 54.8% of the total. Government grants made up 33.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $906,267 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 47 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 23% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $35MFor context, the median across 3,614 covered human services charities: $88.27 programs, $11.52 management, $0.21 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 $35MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.3% | 87.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.6% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 54.8% | 20.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 33.3% | 2.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.6% | 70.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $906,267 | $274,992 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.58% | 1.18% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 47 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 101.9 | 6.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 of 23 | 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 expenseKessler Foundation conducts interdisciplinary rehabilitation research to improve function, independence, and quality of life for people with disabilities. The Foundation designs and evaluates interventions, technologies, and evidence-based approaches that address challenges associated with neurological, physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities. Research findings are translated into practical solutions and disseminated to clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and the public to improve outcomes and advance evidence-based practice. Through collaboration with healthcare organizations…
Kessler Foundation conducts applied rehabilitation research focused on spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, aging, and other neurological and developmental disabilities. Through clinical studies, technology development, and community-based research, the Foundation advances interventions and strategies that improve mobility, cognition, function, independence, and participation in daily life. Research findings are disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations, professional education, and public outreach to accelerate the…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $839,267 | $0 | $67,000 | $906,267 |
| SVP - RESEARCH Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $473,531 | $0 | $67,000 | $540,531 |
| LAB DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $336,286 | $0 | $65,329 | $401,615 |
| DIRECTOR CONSORTIUM GROWTH Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $297,167 | $0 | $54,772 | $351,939 |
| LAB DIRECTOR Key employee, 32.0 hrs/week | $291,860 | $0 | $59,828 | $351,688 |
| VP & chief devel. officer Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $277,702 | $0 | $59,363 | $337,065 |
| LAB DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $274,835 | $0 | $58,428 | $333,263 |
| LAB DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $244,928 | $0 | $54,726 | $299,654 |
47 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Kessler Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.1M (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–1b23 · 22 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5208
- Volunteers Part I, line 622
Private foundation grants it received
13 private foundations reported grants to Kessler Foundation totaling $1.1M 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 Kessler Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Kessler Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Kessler Foundation spent in 2025, $79.34 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All human services charities · Largest charities in New Jersey
Questions people ask
How much of Kessler Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Kessler Foundation reported that 79.3% of its $35.2 million in expenses went to program services, 18.1% to management and general and 2.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Kessler Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Kessler Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $906,267, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Kessler Foundation get its money?
Of $35.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 54.8% came from contributions and grants (including 33.3% from government grants) and 0.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Kessler Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 31-1562134 as a 501(c)(3) organization (hospital or medical research organization), 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 202622659349301312 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202542899349300039 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202432649349301328 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302869349300400 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213159349301641 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202112949349300611 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202002839349300405 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 31-1562134: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.