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Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Progeria Research Foundation
Address:	2 Bourbon, Suite 208 Post Office Box 3453
	Peabody, MA 01961-3453
Phone:	978-535-2594
Web Address:	www.progeriaresearch.org

Progeria Research Foundation (PRF) does not meet the following Standard for Charity Accountability.

Standard 5: Conflict of Interest - No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing. PRF does not meet this Standard because ($147,941) 19% of PRF's total 2009 program expenses is provided to a research related project at a hospital that is carried out by the spouse of the chair of the board of directors.  The funding arrangement for this project has been in place for several years.

Progeria Research Foundation (PRF) meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

PRF sponsors clinical drug trials for treatments that may help improve disease symptoms and extend the lives of children with Progeria. PRF’s International Progeria Registry maintains centralized information on the children and families from over 30 countries, assuring distribution of information that may benefit the children. PRF’s Cell & Tissue Bank provides medical researchers with genetic and biological material from Progeria patients and their families, so that research on Progeria and other aging-related diseases can be performed, with the hope of being brought closer to a cure. PRF’s medical and research database is an archive of medical records of Progeria patients, which are analyzed to determine the best course of treatments to improve the patient’s quality of life. PRF developed a diagnostic test for Progeria so that children, their families, and medical caretakers can be given a definitive, scientific diagnosis. The organization has organized four scientific conferences, and awards grants through peer review.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, PRF's program expenses were:

Programs	830,159
Total Program Expenses:	$830,159

Chief Executive : Audrey Gordon, Executive Director

Compensation*:

$66,597

Chair of the Board: Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Vice-President, March of Dimes

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 5

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, grant proposals, and Internet appeals.

Fund raising costs were 3% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,528,396, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

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 PRF's IRS Form 990 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds
Contributions	1,131,357
Special events (net)	397,039
Interest	41,115
Total Income	$1,569,511

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 83%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 12%

Total income				$1,569,511
	Program expenses			$830,159
	Fund raising expenses			45,913
	Administrative expenses			118,266
Total expenses				$994,338
Income in Excess of Expenses				575,173
Beginning net assets				1,756,906
Ending net assets				2,332,079
Total liabilities				79,459
Total assets				$2,411,538