Center for Organ Recovery and Education

What it reported doing in 2024

The center for organ recovery & education (core) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting donation, education and research for the purpose of saving and enhancing lives through organ, tissue and cornea transplantation. Core operates under the umbrella of eight values: integrity, compassion, quality, responsiveness, education, innovation, respect and life.core had many noteworthy accomplishments in 2024, including the following: core achieves its sixth consecutive record-breaking year for donation in 2024, core reached an unprecedented milestone-our sixth consecutive year of record-breaking growth in organ, tissue, and cornea donation. With a 17% increase in organ donors, a 12% increase in tissue donors, and an 8% increase in cornea donors over 2023, core's impact extended farther than ever. These donations resulted in 970 lives saved nationwide through transplant and over 125,000 people healed or given the gift of sight. This achievement was made possible by core's commitment to pursuing every opportunity for donation, expanding its clinical workforce, and strengthening partnerships with donor hospitals and transplant centers.transformative innovation in organ preservation and recovery innovation soared in 2024 as core embraced groundbreaking technologies to extend the reach and viability of donated organs. Notably, core facilitated its farthest-ever lung transport-sending organs from Pennsylvania to ucla-using the paragonix baroguard system, which ensures optimal lung preservation. Core also deepened its work in the biotech space, contributing livers and kidneys for decellularization with miromatrix to support bioengineered organ research, and recovered tissue for the national dgtex initiative to advance pediatric genomic science. These forward-thinking efforts signal core's leadership in redefining what's possible in donation and transplantation.hospital engagement reaches new heights through the 2024 challenge in 2024, hospitals across core's service area embraced the mission of donation like never before through the Pennsylvania and West Virginia hospital challenges. With participation growing 13% since 2022, more than 60 hospitals were honored for their efforts to build cultures of donation through education, clinical practice, and public outreach. Hospitals achieved recognition in bronze through titanium tiers, with standout performers like ahn allegheny general and minnie hamilton health system taking top honors in their states. From hosting donate life events to driving internal donor registrations, hospital partners proved to be true champions-saving lives not only at the bedside but across their communities.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 71.5%; rating input score 71
• Program expense ratio: 82%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $12.22 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 3.8%; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.75; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.4%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10.3% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.7% per year; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 7.4% per year; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings