Nonprofit · EIN 33-0189397
VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD
Tax-exempt · SAN DIEGO, CA 92161
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $16,030,812 | $16,560,898 | -$530,086 | $4,790,926 | $4,476,998 | $313,928 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $16,594,911 | $17,399,284 | -$804,373 | $6,698,249 | $5,854,235 | $844,014 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 | $15,912,570 | $16,424,334 | -$511,764 | $6,229,193 | $4,580,806 | $1,648,387 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $12,462,602
- of which government grants
- $12,098,730
- Program service revenue
- $3,568,210
- Investment income
- $0
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $697,326
- Other salaries and wages
- $9,506,193
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $11,259,781
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $23,111
- Accounting fees
- $48,635
- Occupancy
- $40,508
- Travel
- $6,843
- Depreciation
- $84,847
- Program services (functional)
- $11,821,650
- Management and general (functional)
- $4,739,248
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $6,698,249
- Total assets, end of year
- $4,790,926
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $4,476,998
- Net assets, end of year
- $313,928
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $475,722
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $232,982
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $80,946
- Gross receipts
- $16,030,812
- Employees
- 112
- Volunteers
- 1
- Year formed
- 1989
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARIA SITTMANN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO Officer | 40 | $385,281 | $19,997 |
| ADAM CASSIUS | CFO Officer | 40 | $223,879 | $35,763 |
| RUTH M HARBECKE | RESEARCH ASSOCIATE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $142,226 | $33,682 |
| MATTHEW DOHNER | PRE AWARD DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $132,791 | $34,215 |
| JEAN FREISER | POST AWARD DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $127,290 | $18,759 |
| MARI V BRAY | VMU DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $116,172 | $17,676 |
| JAMES F CHRISTIAN | IT MANAGER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $109,461 | $10,728 |
| PETE HEKMAN VADM USN RET | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PHILLIP L JELSMA ESQ | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL KIEFER MHA FACHE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NILOOFAR AFARI PH D | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBIN SAMIT ESQ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL PEARIGEN MD RDML USN RET | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRUCE GILLINGHAM MD RADM USN RET | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LARRY EDDINGFIELD CAPT USN RET | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
4 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRANK PEARSON DPT PA-C | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ERICA LIN MD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ADRIAN DOLLARHIDE MD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARK BIPES RDML USN RET | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 21 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SITTMANN MARIA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO Officer | 40 | $326,520 | $24,372 |
| CASSIUS ADAM | CFO Officer | 40 | $195,456 | $21,104 |
| HARBECKE RUTH M | RESEARCH ASSOCIATE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $145,785 | $21,163 |
| DOHNER MATTHEW | POST AWARD DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $127,188 | $19,729 |
| FREISER JEAN | PRE AWARD DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $119,580 | $11,602 |
| BRAY MARI V | VMU DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $112,094 | $10,977 |
| FUNK STEPHEN | RESEARCH ASSOCIATE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $112,091 | $8,931 |
| PHILLIP L JELSMA ESQ | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| PETE HEKMAN VADM USN RET | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ERICA LIN MD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DOLLARHIDE ADRIAN MD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM CARON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL PEARIGEN MD RDML USN RET | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBIN SAMIT ESQ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT B HALDER MD RADM USN RET | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BARBARA NOERENBERG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GERHARD SCHULTEIS PHD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| FRANK PEARSON DPT PA-C | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LARY EDDINGFIELD CAPT USN RET | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK BIPES RDML USN RET | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL KIEFER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 20 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARIA SITTMANN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO Officer | 40 | $326,520 | $24,222 |
| ADAM CASSIUS | CFO Officer | 40 | $195,456 | $27,098 |
| RUTH HARBECKE PHD | RESEARCH SCIENTIST Highest-paid employee | 40 | $145,785 | $30,638 |
| MATTHEW DOHNER | IT AND REVENUE CYCLE DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $127,188 | $29,204 |
| JEAN FREISER | PRE AWARD & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $119,580 | $16,784 |
| MARI BRAY DVM DACLAM | VMU DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $112,094 | $15,979 |
| STEPHEN FUNK PHARMD | RESEARCH PHARMACIST Highest-paid employee | 40 | $112,091 | $9,968 |
| PHILLIP L JELSMA ESQ | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $55,000 | $0 |
| PETE HEKMAN VADM USN RET | VICE CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KATHLEEN KIM MD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBIN SAMI ESQ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT B HALDER MD RADM USN RET | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL PEARIGEN MD RDML USN RET | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GERHARD SCHULTEIS PHD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM CARON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| FRANK PEARSON DPT PA-C | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ERICA LIN MD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BARBARA NOERENBERG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ADRIAN DOLLARHIDE MD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LEENDERT HERING RADM USN RET | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 3350 LA JOLLA VILLAGE DR NO151A, SAN DIEGO, CA 92161-0002
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- MARIA SITTMANN, 3350 LA JOLLA VILLAGE DR BLDG 13, SAN DIEGO, CA 92161
- Signed the 990
- MARIA SITTMANN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO
- Phone
- (858) 642-3070
- Website
- WWW.VMRF.ORG
- Return prepared by
- ALDRICH CPAS AND ADVISORS LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 33-0189397 or by the name VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
HONORING MILITARY SERVICE WITH SCIENCE; OUR BENCH-TO-BEDSIDE APPROACH HAS LED TO BREAKTHROUGHS IN AREAS SUCH AS SHINGLES PREVENTION, HEART DISEASE, METABOLIC DISEASES AND GROUND BREAKING WORK ON POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
Program accomplishments
- DR. NORMAN CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MASSED PRO:OVER TWENTY WELL-CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIALS HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE EFFICACY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE (PE) FOR PTSD, INCLUDING SEVERAL WITH SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS. PE IS A TIME-LIMITED (ABOUT 12 SESSION) PSYCHOTHERAPY THAT HELPS PEOPLE CHANGE TRAUMA-RELATED COGNITIONS SUCH AS "THE WORLD IS COMPLETELY DANGEROUS AND "I AM INCOMPETENT" THROUGH IN-VIVO EXPOSURE TO TRAUMA REMINDERS AND IMAGINAL EXPOSURE TO THE TRAUMA MEMORY. OVER TIME, EXPOSURE TO THESE AVOIDED BUT SAFE STIMULI HELPS PATIENTS REDUCE THEIR BELIEF IN THEIR TRAUMA-RELATED COGNITIONS WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH RECOVERY FROM PTSD. IN ONE OF THE LARGEST STUDY OF PE TO DATE, PE RESULTED IN LARGE EFFECT SIZES WITH 73% OF PATIENTS RESPONDING TO TREATMENT AND 40% LOSING THEIR PTSD DIAGNOSIS. PE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH A VARIETY OF COMPLEX AND COMORBID POPULATIONS AND ALL FIVE MAJOR U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR PTSD TREATMENT GIVE PE THEIR HIGHEST RATING. GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF THIS EVIDENCE, PE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN MULTIPLE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS OVER THE PAST DECADE, SUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD), VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA). UNFORTUNATELY, PATIENTS WITH CURRENT COMORBID SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD) HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED FROM PTSD TREATMENT TRIALS, SLOWING THEIR SPREAD INTO SUD TREATMENT SETTINGS AND LEAVING PE LARGELY UNAVAILABLE TO THOSE WITH ARGUABLY THE GREATEST NEED.Expenses $1,755,654 · revenue $1,755,654
- DR. IX - KIDNEY TUBLAR DAMAGE AND DYSFUNCTION IDENTIFY A NOVEL AXIS OF CHRONIC KIDNEY:PATHOLOGIC STUDIES DEMONSTRATE THAT KIDNEY TUBULE INJURY, ATROPHY, AND FIBROSIS ARE COMMON FEATURES OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD) AND ARE HIGHLY PREDICTIVE OF PROGRESSION TO DIALYSIS. ESTABLISHED CKD RISK FACTORS INCLUDING HYPERTENSION AND ADVANCED AGE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH TUBULAR INJURY AND FIBROSIS ON BIOPSY. HOWEVER, CURRENT CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF CKD EVALUATES ONLY GLOMERULAR FUNCTION (GFR) AND GLOMERULAR INJURY (ALBUMINURIA), BUT NOT KIDNEY TUBULAR DYSFUNCTION OR INJURY. THE OVERALL HYPOTHESIS OF THIS APPLICATION IS THAT KIDNEY TUBULAR DYSFUNCTION AND INJURY ARE MEASURABLE CONTRIBUTORS TO CKD PATHOGENESIS AND PROGNOSIS. DYSFUNCTION OF THE KIDNEY TUBULES WILL BE ASSESSED BY THREE INDICES: (1) RENAL TUBULE RESISTANCE TO HORMONE ACTIONS OF FGF23 AND PTH; (2) ACID/BASE HOMEOSTASIS; AND (3) URINE RE-ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY.WE WILL: (1) DETERMINE THE ASSOCIATION OF KIDNEY TUBULAR DYSFUNCTION AND INJURY WITH RISK OF CVD EVENTS, (2) DETERMINE THE ASSOCIATION OF KIDNEY TUBULAR DYSFUNCTION AND INJURY WITH CKD PROGRESSION, AND (3) DETERMINE WHETHER RANDOMIZATION TO INTENSIVE BLOOD PRESSURE MANAGEMENT ARM OF THE TRIAL SLOWS PROGRESSION OF KIDNEY TUBULAR DYSFUNCTION AND INJURY OVER TIME COMPARED WITH STANDARD BLOOD PRESSURE MANAGEMENT.Expenses $882,758 · revenue $694,120
- DR. LANG MULTI-SITE FEASIBILITY OF COMPASSION MEDITATION FOR VETERANS WITH PTSD HE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS APPLICATION IS TO LEVERAGE AN EXISTING COMPASSION MEDITATION (CM) PROTOCOL TO DEVELOP THE COGNITIVELY BASED COMPASSION TRAINING (CBCT-VET) FOR VETERANS WITH PTSD. SPECIFICALLY, THIS PROJECT AIMS TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF A MULTI-SITE TRIAL OF CBCT-VET COMPARED TO A RELAXATION CONTROL (VETERAN.CALM); DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR THERAPIST TRAINING AND FIDELITY MONITORING; AND, PILOT TEST MULTI-MODAL ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES. IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS PROJECT COULD INFORM THE STUDY DESIGN OF A FUTURE LARGER-SCALE RCT MULTI- SITE EFFICACY STUDY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE KNOWLEDGE BASE OF NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES FOR PTSD IN UNDERTREATED VETERANS, A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN.Expenses $676,530 · revenue $676,530
- VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO, WHERE WE HONOR SERVICE WITH SCIENCE, IS THE REGION'S ONLY MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE DEDICATED TO VETERANS. WE FACILITATE WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH AT THE VA SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES IMPROVEMENTS FOR VETERANS' HEALTHCARE. WHILE FOCUSED ON VETERANS, OUR MEDICAL ADVANCES EXTEND TO THE ENTIRE POPULATION AND RAISE THE STANDARD OF CARE FOR EVERYONE.Expenses $8,506,708 · revenue $441,906
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 16, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 17, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 18, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 33-0189397
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1987
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Medical research (H900)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $4,790,926
- Income (IRS master file)
- $16,030,812
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | $16,030,812 | $16,560,898 | $4,790,926 | XML |
| 990 | September 2024 | $16,594,911 | $17,399,284 | $6,698,249 | XML |
| 990 | September 2023 | $15,912,570 | $16,424,334 | $6,229,193 | XML |
| 990 | September 2022 | $16,367,755 | $16,172,854 | $7,321,086 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 33-0189397).
Questions about VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD
- What is the EIN of VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD is 33-0189397.
- Is VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1987.
- Are donations to VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names MARIA SITTMANN.
- Who are the officers and directors of VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 19 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $385,281 (MARIA SITTMANN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO).
- How much revenue does VETERANS MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SD have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $16,030,812, expenses of $16,560,898 and total assets of $4,790,926 at year end.
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