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Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Arthritis Foundation
Address:	1330 West Peachtree Street, Suite 100
	Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone:	404-872-7100
Web Address:	www.arthritis.org

Arthritis Foundation (the Foundation) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

The Foundation produces a variety of resource guides and brochures on topics involving arthritis, ranging from tips for confronting common problems faced by persons with arthritis to symptoms associated with more than one hundred forms of the disease. In addition to articles on matters such as fitness, travel, and financial planning, "Arthritis Today", the Foundation's bi-monthly magazine, offers reports on breaking developments in research and conveys announcements of new treatments. The Foundation also extends grants for investigators at universities and medical centers across the country to undertake studies into the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis. In 2008, the Foundation made important progress toward elevating awareness and expanding programs and services. The organization reports funding about 200 grants totaling $16.1 million in 2008 to research professionals that dedicate their careers to finding a cure for different types of arthritis. Some ($8,731,464 or 9%) of the Foundation’s programs are conducted in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Foundation's program expenses were:

Public health education	46,917,264
Patient & community services	24,358,567
Research	20,419,329
Professional education & training	4,488,484
Total Program Expenses:	$96,183,644

Chief Executive : John H. Klippel, M.D., President and CEO

Compensation*:

$432,083

Chair of the Board: David E. Shuey
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Executive VP & Life Science Practice Leader, North America - Willis Group

Board Size: 51

Paid Staff Size: 625

*2008 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Drect mail, telemarketing, special events, print advertisements, television, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.

Fund raising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $101,533,217, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

The Foundation incurred joint costs of $12,364,279 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $8,731,464 was allocated to program expenses and $3,632,815 was allocated to fund raising expenses.

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on the Foundation's audited financial statements (consolidated with chapters) for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds
Bequests	26,763,812
Special events, net	19,816,690
Corporate contributions	18,568,305
Direct response marketing	17,837,827
Conferences, sales and other revenues	12,622,092
Investment and royalty income	6,231,461
Personal contributions	4,392,094
Contributed goods and services	3,890,602
Foundations	3,007,251
Government grants	2,547,112
United Way	2,106,684
Realized gains on investments	1,693,030
Other gifts	1,017,994
Federated campaigns	1,002,246
Memorials	582,600
Change in valuation split interest agreement	-589,507
Change valuation of beneficial interest in perpetual trusts	-5,865,800
Unrealized losses on investments	-24,675,470
Total Income	$90,949,023

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 78%  Fund Raising: 12%  Administrative: 10%

Total income				$90,949,023
	Program expenses			$96,183,644
	Fund raising expenses			15,158,372
	Administrative expenses			12,089,149
Total expenses				$123,431,165
Expenses in Excess of Income				(32,482,142)
Beginning net assets				183,130,413
Other Changes in Net Assets				(268,196)
Ending net assets				150,380,075
Total liabilities				37,855,296
Total assets				$188,235,371

Note: In the above financial summary, "other changes in net assets" represents defined benefit plan related changes other than net periodic pension cost.