Retina Foundation of the Southwest
Retina Foundation of the Southwest reported $11.5 million in revenue and $8.6 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.29 went to program services, $12.30 to management and general costs and $8.41 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $549,921 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND MEDICAL OFFICER). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 102% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $8.6MFor context, the median across 171 covered medical research charities: $87.10 programs, $12.79 management, $0.11 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 $11M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$92.72 $11M
- Government grants$4.85 $557K
- Investment income$2.43 $279K
Other revenue was negative: −$12,688. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.3% | 83.8% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.4% | 0.1% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.7% | 75.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 4.9% | 0.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 5.5% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $549,921 | $623,564 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 6.42% | 1.99% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 18 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 21.8 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 19 | 92.9% |
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 expenseStudies to optimize visual outcomes for children with congenital and early-onset eye conditions and ultimately develop more successful and effective methods for early screening, treatments, and adherence. Research into innovative new treatments for inherited retinal degenerative diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa. Collecting and maintaining clinical and genetic data for individuals with inherited eye diseases. Conduct various types of research to better understand age-related macular degeneration, develop ways to slow the progression, and discover better treatment options
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND MEDICAL OFFICER Officer, 29.00 hrs/week | $532,184 | $0 | $17,737 | $549,921 |
| LAB DIRECTOR Key employee, 30.00 hrs/week | $429,824 | $0 | $28,765 | $458,589 |
| PEDIATRIC DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $327,144 | $0 | $27,612 | $354,756 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $197,337 | $0 | $21,125 | $218,462 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $179,783 | $0 | $20,254 | $200,037 |
| SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 30.00 hrs/week | $164,986 | $0 | $19,504 | $184,490 |
| LAB DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 36.00 hrs/week | $144,049 | $0 | $17,967 | $162,016 |
| FINANCE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 39.00 hrs/week | $140,987 | $0 | $18,314 | $159,301 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Retina Foundation of the Southwest (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.6M (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–1b19 · 19 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 11aNo
- 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 543
- Volunteers Part I, line 660
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SUNWEST COMMUNICATIONS INC Public relations/marketing | $233,806 |
| TEXAS RETINA ASSOCIATES Medical services | $220,420 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
17 private foundations reported grants to Retina Foundation of the Southwest totaling $682K 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 Retina Foundation of the Southwest's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Retina Foundation of the Southwest, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Retina Foundation of the Southwest spent in 2025, $79.29 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Immune Deficiency FoundationHanover, MD · revenue $11M · programs 70.1% · 2025
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute FoundationPhoenix, AZ · revenue $12M · programs 83.7% · FY2025
- Cancer Research and BiostatisticsSeattle, WA · revenue $11M · programs 68.6% · 2024
- Count Me inCambridge, MA · revenue $12M · programs 62.8% · FY2023
- FH Enterprise Services HoldingsMilwaukee, WI · revenue $11M · programs 55.3% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Retina Foundation of the Southwest's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Retina Foundation of the Southwest reported that 79.3% of its $8.6 million in expenses went to program services, 12.3% to management and general and 8.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Retina Foundation of the Southwest pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Retina Foundation of the Southwest reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $549,921, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND MEDICAL OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Retina Foundation of the Southwest get its money?
Of $11.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 97.7% came from contributions and grants (including 4.9% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Retina Foundation of the Southwest a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 51-0151514 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 202622519349301107 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523009349300617 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412759349300476 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303219349300405 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233199349316888 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142569349300419 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202041829349300809 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 51-0151514: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.