International Foundation for Gastrointes

What it reported doing in 2025

Education: the foundation publishes an enewsletter, "digestive health monthly" that covers different areas of gastrointestinal health in adults and children with up-to-date information on recognizing, diagnosing, treating, and living with chronic gastrointestinal illness. The information is reliable and understandable by lay readers, while being authoritative for medical professionals. We offer a library of our publications and fact sheets that contains over 300 articles with information on a range of topics to help individuals or the families of those affected by gi disorders. Iffgd currently maintains eleven separate web sites: www.iffgd.org; www.aboutconstipation.org; www.aboutgimotility.org; www.aboutibs.org; www.aboutgastroparesis.org; www.aboutgerd.org; www.aboutincontinence.org; www.aboutkidsgi.org; www.youandconstipation.org; www.youandibs.org; and www.losninosygi.org which provide comprehensive health information free of charge. These web sites contain over 300 free articles with information on a range of topics to help individuals or the families of those affected by gi disorders. Most of the articles are written by leading international experts in the field of gi health and research. To encourage wide dissemination, articles are distributed either free of charge. Together, these web sites currently average around 700,000 page views per month. Iffgd maintains an online forum to give people affected by all chronic digestive disorders a safe and supportive place to discuss issues surrounding these sensitive topics. By openly sharing their experiences of living with a chronic digestive disorder, patients and family members can learn from others in the digestive health community and, in turn, are given the opportunity to encourage and support those who may be suffering.in 2020, iffgd launched a new project, the nancy and bill norton patient education series. This multifaceted program includes topics relating to multiple aspects of numerous gastrointestinal conditions; including information from medical professionals as well as topics on the daily experiences and self-management techniques that can be utilized to improve their day-to-day living. Provided as both an in person and virtual education program, the nancy and bill norton patient education series provides patients with educational programs that equip them with education and resources to better help them navigate life. In 2023, this program was held live in live in los angelos, ca and then virtually as a youtube premiere on the gut microbiome.in december 2022, iffgd launched an update to the animated patient's guide to constipation. This educational webpage, www.youandconstipation.org, covers the different types of constipation faced by patients and helps them to better understand how to talk to their physician about their symptoms and treatment options. Of the more than 240,000 visitors to the site, 86% are patients, 5% are health care providers, 3% are caregivers and 6% chose "other." survey results also indicate that a high percentage of patients will take new questions to their doctors, change habits in their treatments, and learned new options for testing and diagnosis. The foundation has a patient advisory committee and patient panel, which continue to work with foundation leadership to give feedback and guidance in all educational programs. Members of both the patient advisory committee and patient panel represent a diverse range of ages, geographies, diagnoses, and illness experiences. The patient panel is currently comprised of over 3,000 patients, family members, and caregivers interested in helping to guide the programs and activities of iffgd.in 2020, iffgd began screening members of the patient panel for opportunities to work with the industry council, other nonprofits and compaies on feeback and input about their illness experience as a patient with a chronic gi condition. Thus far the foundation has been able to recruite 70 patients and have connect

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 84.2%; rating input score 84
• Program expense ratio: 76.1%; rating input score 76
• Fundraising efficiency: $10.87 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: 0 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Fail
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• 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: 71.4%; rating input score 71; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • 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: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -7.8%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.94; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.07; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 30.6%; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -2.4% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.1% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -6.1% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings