International Essential Tremor Foundation

What it reported doing in 2025

Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological condition that mostly causes a rhythmic trembling of the hands while performing a task such as eating, writing, dressing, or drinking. (1) Each March the International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF) hosts a special campaign to raise awareness about essential tremor during National Essential Tremor Awareness Month (NETA). Our goal is to achieve a greater understanding and acceptance of essential tremor. (2) Essential Tremor Research James Parkinson first distinguished essential tremor from other tremor disorders (including the disease that carries his namesake) in 1817. More than 200 years later, there are still many unanswered questions about essential tremor. However, researchers are moving our knowledge forward. It is vital to understand what causes ET in order to develop tailored treatment options and a cure for this life-altering condition. IETF Funded Research Essential tremor (ET) has no cure. If only we understood the cause of ET, then new, tailored treatments could be developed. Each year researchers with an interest in studying the various aspects of essential tremor are encouraged to submit scientific proposals for grant funding from the IETF. To date, your research donations have provided more than $1,350,000 to fund numerous promising studies. (3) Educational Programs The IETF facilitates and shares information on a variety of educational programs to educate patients, caregivers, healthcare providers and the general public about essential tremor (ET). Programs may cover the following topics: the diagnosis of ET, current treatment options, research, support groups, assistive technology, and more.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 72.6%; rating input score 73
• Program expense ratio: 79.5%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $28.41 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 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: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 31%; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 10.34; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 13.8%; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.6% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.7% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings