National Multiple Sclerosis Society

What it reported doing in 2024

Client and community services (see schedule o)client and community services - the society empowers people affected by ms to solve everyday challenges. We believe that when individuals are informed, connected and supported by loved ones, communities, healthcare providers and the society, they experience an improved quality of life, increased confidence, new connections, and take positive actions toward living their best lives. We achieve this by serving as a trusted source of support, offering educational programs, reliable information, and one-on-one guidance through ms navigators. We also foster connections between people impacted by ms, providing emotional support and a sense of community. In fiscal 2025, ms navigators assisted 22,980 individuals in connecting to critical resources such as ms education and information, healthcare, financial, emotional, and personalized case management support. The society delivered over 96 virtual and in-person educational programs, reaching 1,786 attendees. Programs were made available on demand, allowing an additional 268,996 individuals to engage with the content. Topics included symptom management, treatment options, and wellness strategies. Approximately 654 active support group leaders spanned the country, helping provide connections both in-person and within virtual setting for people living with ms and their loved ones. 1,042 individuals were referred by their healthcare provider to the national ms society to receive information and support in managing ms.as a result of these client and community services, 72% of participating individuals feel more confident in addressing challenges of ms, and 78% of individuals made new connections to information, people, and other sources of support.these programs and support directly advance our mission to cure ms while enpowering people affected by ms to live their best lives.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 76.7%; rating input score 77
• Program expense ratio: 70.5%; rating input score 71
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.3 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th 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: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 96.2%; rating input score 96; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 3.9%; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.22; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.35; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.9%; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.6% per year; rating input score 100; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.9% per year; rating input score 100; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.9% per year; rating input score 100; 50th percentile among comparable filings