2026-08-03T11:42:16-04:00 2026-03-31 381977929 ANDERSON TACKMAN & COMPANY PLC 102 W WASHINGTON ST SUITE 109 MARQUETTE MI 49855 990 2025-04-01 462458916 RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOUNDATION INC RELA 9062251166 202 W WASHINGTON ST MARQUETTE MI 498556018 DAVID BAMMERT PRESIDENT 9062251166 2026-07-22 true WILLIAM C SHELTROW CPA P00281691 9062251166 2026-07-22 2025 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS FOUNDATION DAVID BAMMERT 202 W WASHINGTON ST STE 453 MARQUETTE MI 49855 693706 false X WWW.POLYCHONDRITIS.ORG X 2014 MN THE RP FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO: (A) INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS; (B) PROVIDE SUPPORT (PRIMARILY THROUGH THE USE OF THE INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PATIENT ADVOCACY PROGRAMS) FOR THOSE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS, SUPPORT RESEARCH TO ADVANCE A CURE FOR RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS; (C) PROMOTE QUALITY CARE FOR RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS PATIENTS; AND (D) ENGAGE IN SUCH OTHER ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY AUTHORIZE, IN ALL CASES SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENU CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, OR THE CORRESPONDING PROVISIONS OF ANY SUBSEQUENT FEDERAL TAX LAW (THE "CODE"). 6 6 2 0 1331631 677322 0 10408 16384 0 1342039 693706 125319 153138 0 118863 135011 0 27002 742578 402954 986760 691103 355279 2603 742497 744617 3336 2853 739161 741764 X THE RP FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO: (A) INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS; (B) PROVIDE SUPPORT (PRIMARILY THROUGH THE USE OF THE INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PATIENT ADVOCACY PROGRAMS) FOR THOSE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS, SUPPORT RESEARCH TO ADVANCE A CURE FOR RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS; (C) PROMOTE QUALITY CARE FOR RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS PATIENTS; AND (D) ENGAGE IN SUCH OTHER ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY AUTHORIZE, IN ALL CASES SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENU CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, OR THE CORRESPONDING PROVISIONS OF ANY SUBSEQUENT FEDERAL TAX LAW (THE "CODE"). false false 54766 AWARENESS: THE RP FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA DURING THE 2025- 2026 RACING SEASON TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR RP RESEARCH. RACE FOR RP BRANDING APPEARED ON EVERY MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA RACE CAR THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, WHILE ON-SITE ACTIVATIONS AND PADDOCK ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES CONNECTED THOUSANDS OF FANS WITH THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. THE PARTNERSHIP ALSO INTRODUCED THE "WIN A HOT LAP" FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, WHICH ENCOURAGED FAN PARTICIPATION THROUGH DONATIONS AND HELPED ATTRACT NEW SUPPORTERS. THE COLLABORATION GENERATED BOTH FUNDRAISING SUCCESS AND INCREASED VISIBILITY THROUGH CHARITY AUCTIONS HELD AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND THE MCLAREN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE IN WOKING, UNITED KINGDOM. TOGETHER, THESE EFFORTS BROADENED AWARENESS OF RP AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE RESEARCH, ENGAGED NEW AUDIENCES WITHIN THE MOTORSPORTS COMMUNITY, AND CONTRIBUTED TO ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL YEARS IN RACE FOR RP'S HISTORY. THE PARTNERSHIP HAS CONTINUED INTO THE 2026 SEASON, WITH NEW AWARENESS INITIATIVES LAUNCHING AT SONOMA RACEWAY. THE 2025 WARRIOR WALK WAS A RECORD-BREAKING AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, RAISING MORE THAN 25,000 IN JUST TWO WEEKS AND ATTRACTING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME DONORS IN THE PROGRAM'S HISTORY. PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WALKED, RAN, AND ENGAGED THEIR COMMUNITIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS (RP) AND SUPPORT CRITICAL RESEARCH EFFORTS. A HIGHLIGHT OF THE CAMPAIGN TOOK PLACE AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, WHERE DRIVERS, CREW MEMBERS, AND FANS ATTENDING A MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA EVENT JOINED TOGETHER TO WALK A LAP AROUND THE ICONIC TRACK. THIS UNIQUE EVENT INTRODUCED RP AWARENESS TO A NEW AUDIENCE AND DEMONSTRATED THE GROWING REACH AND ENGAGEMENT OF THE FOUNDATION'S AWARENESS INITIATIVES. 479342 153138 RESEARCH: THE RP FOUNDATION'S INVESTMENTS IN RP AND RELATED AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE RESEARCH ACCELERATED SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN FY26, ADVANCING UNDERSTANDING OF DISEASE BIOLOGY, CLINICAL OUTCOMES, AND TREATMENT WHILE EXPANDING ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED CARE. THROUGH FOUNDATION SUPPORT, THE PENN RP PROGRAM, NOW AMONG THE LARGEST CENTERS IN THE WORLD DEDICATED TO RP RESEARCH AND CARE, SERVED MORE THAN 150 PATIENTS AND ENROLLED NEARLY ALL ELIGIBLE PATIENTS INTO THE VASCULITIS CLINICAL RESEARCH CONSORTIUM (VCRC) LONGITUDINAL STUDY, CREATING AN UNPARALLELED CLINICAL AND BIOSPECIMEN REPOSITORY FOR ONGOING SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. A MAJOR MILESTONE WAS THE LAUNCH OF PROSPECT-RP, THE FIRST-EVER CLINICAL TRIAL FOR RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS. THE STUDY EVALUATES TWO PROMISING IMMUNOMODULATORY THERAPIES IDENTIFIED THROUGH LONGITUDINAL COHORT RESEARCH AND IS GENERATING CRITICAL DATA ON TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS WHILE HELPING ESTABLISH CLINICAL TRIAL METHODOLOGIES FOR FUTURE RP STUDIES. RESEARCHERS ARE ALSO COMPARING MULTIPLE DISEASE ACTIVITY MEASUREMENT TOOLS, INCLUDING THE RP DISEASE ACTIVITY INDEX (RPDAI), TO DETERMINE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ASSESS DISEASE ACTIVITY IN FUTURE THERAPEUTIC TRIALS. THE PROGRAM FURTHER EXPANDED THE RADAR IMMUNE-PROFILING STUDY TO MORE THAN 400 PATIENT SAMPLES COLLECTED ACROSS MULTIPLE TIME POINTS, CREATING A UNIQUE RESOURCE FOR IDENTIFYING DISEASE BIOMARKERS AND THERAPEUTIC TARGETS THAT MAY ULTIMATELY SUPPORT PRECISION MEDICINE APPROACHES FOR RP. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HELPED STRENGTHEN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS, INCLUDING ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND NEW COLLABORATIONS WITH LEADING RHEUMATOLOGY RESEARCHERS IN BEIJING, CHINA, TO EXPAND PARTICIPATION IN BOTH THE LONGITUDINAL STUDY AND PROSPECT-RP. IN ADDITION, SUPPORT FOR EMERGING INVESTIGATORS HELPED BUILD FUTURE RP RESEARCH CAPACITY. SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS FROM FOUNDATION-SUPPORTED RESEARCH CONTINUED TO GAIN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION, INCLUDING STUDIES PRESENTED AT A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL VASCULITIS CONFERENCE EXAMINING OCULAR INVOLVEMENT AS A PREDICTOR OF DISEASE PROGRESSION AND EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE RP DISEASE ACTIVITY INDEX IN MEASURING PATIENT DISEASE ACTIVITY. THE YEAR ALSO MARKED THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF THE FIRST PENN RP CENTER PATIENT EDUCATION MEETING, WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN 150 PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND CLINICIANS TO ADVANCE EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. THE PURPOSE BIOBANK AND DATA REPOSITORY AT THE ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK AUTOIMMUNITY INSTITUTE CONTINUED TO GROW IN AY26, ENROLLING A TOTAL OF 120 PARTICIPANTS FROM 24 STATES AND PUERTO RICO, INCLUDING 73 PATIENTS WITH RP. SINCE IT LAUNCHED IN 2024, THE AHN PURPOSE BIOBANK HAS BANKED 99 BLOOD SPECIMENS, WHICH ARE BEING STORED FOR FUTURE RP AND RELATED AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE RESEARCH. 26656 EDUCATION: IN FY26, FOUNDATION-SUPPORTED RESEARCH GAINED INTERNATIONAL VISIBILITY THROUGH PRESENTATIONS AT A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL VASCULITIS CONFERENCE. STUDIES PRESENTED BY PENN INVESTIGATORS EXPLORED THE IMPLICATIONS OF OCULAR INVOLVEMENT FOR DISEASE PROGRESSION IN RP AND EVALUATED THE RP DISEASE ACTIVITY INDEX AS A TOOL FOR MEASURING PATIENT DISEASE ACTIVITY. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PRODUCED TESTIMONIAL VIDEOS FEATURING NEWLY DIAGNOSED PATIENTS, HELPING EDUCATE THE RP COMMUNITY AND RAISE AWARENESS OF THE CHALLENGES AND EXPERIENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISEASE. FUNDRAISING IN FY26, THE RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS (RP) FOUNDATION, A GUIDESTAR PLATINUM SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, FURTHERED ITS COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING RP AND RELATED AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE RESEARCH THROUGH A SERIES OF INNOVATIVE FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES. FUNDS RAISED THROUGH THESE EFFORTS DIRECTLY SUPPORT RESEARCH PROGRAMS THAT ARE EXPANDING SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF RP, ACCELERATING THERAPEUTIC DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS. HIGHLIGHTS OF FY26 FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: "GIVING TUESDAY AND YEAR-END GIVING CAMPAIGNS: ANNUAL FUNDRAISING APPEALS THAT HELPED GROW ENGAGEMENT, CONNECT SUPPORTERS, AND GENERATE CRITICAL FUNDING FOR RP RESEARCH. "RP WARRIOR 5K WALK: A GLOBAL, PATIENT-CENTERED AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISING EVENT THAT MOBILIZED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO SUPPORT VITAL RP RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS. "CARB NIGHT HAPPY HOUR WITH JAMES HINCHCLIFFE AND FRIENDS: HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH INDIANAPOLIS RACE FESTIVITIES, THIS UNIQUE EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER MOTORSPORTS DRIVERS, SUPPORTERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR AN EVENING FEATURING EXCLUSIVE AUCTION ITEMS AND SELECTIONS FROM ROOT & BONE'S AWARD-WINNING MENU. PROCEEDS BENEFITED BOTH THE RP FOUNDATION AND THE STOP & GO FOUNDATION. "RACE FOR RP "HOT LAP" FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN: OFFERED AT EACH MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA EVENT, THIS INITIATIVE INVITED FANS TO DONATE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN UNFORGETTABLE HOT-LAP EXPERIENCE IN MCLAREN RACE CARS, EXPANDING AWARENESS WHILE ENGAGING NEW SUPPORTERS. "END-OF-SEASON RACING FUNDRAISERS: SPECIAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS HELD AT THE MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA SEASON FINALE AND AT MCLAREN'S HEADQUARTERS IN WOKING, UNITED KINGDOM, RAISED FUNDS FOR RP RESEARCH AND INCREASED INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS OF THE DISEASE. "PRAGUE FOR PROGRESS: RUNNING FOR JANE AND RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS RESEARCH: ORGANIZED BY A SON WHOSE MOTHER PASSED AWAY FROM RP, THIS GRASSROOTS FUNDRAISING EFFORT BROUGHT TOGETHER NINE RUNNERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE RUNCZECH PRAGUE MARATHON TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE RP FOUNDATION AND THE WREN PROJECT, HELPING ADVANCE RP RESEARCH AND AWARENESS. "MEDAWAR FINE JEWELERS' "SIP, SHOP & SUPPORT" EVENT: THIS FUNDRAISING EVENT FEATURED GOURMET APPETIZERS AND FINE JEWELRY, WITH A PORTION OF PROCEEDS BENEFITING THE RP FOUNDATION'S EFFORTS TO ADVANCE RESEARCH AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF RP. 560764 true true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 5 0 2 true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false X 6 6 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true false false true true false MN X X X X DAVID BAMMERT 9068693962 202 W WASHINGTON ST STE 453 MARQUETTE MI 49855 DAVID BAMMERT PRESIDENT 30.00 X X 100000 0 0 FRED ANTMAN DIRECTOR 4.00 X 0 0 0 DAVID DEROSA SECRETARY/TR 4.00 X X 0 0 0 NEIL LANGBERG CHAIR 30.00 X X 0 0 0 ROY MEDAWAR DIRECTOR 4.00 X 0 0 0 DANIEL O'BRIEN TREASURER 8.00 X X 0 0 0 100000 false false false MCLAREN AUTOMOTIVE INC 1405 SOUTH BELT LINE RD STE 100 COPPELL TX 75019 PUB AWARENESS 200000 1 677322 677322 16384 16384 693706 16384 153138 153138 102500 30750 51250 20500 22917 6875 11459 4583 9594 2878 4797 1919 15311 15311 38561 38561 1672 1672 15049 15049 27386 27386 3475 3475 MOTOR SPORTS AWARENESS 225456 225456 RACE FOR RP 74981 74981 MEALS & ENTERTAINMENT 739 739 BANK FEES 324 324 691103 560764 103337 27002 742497 744617 742497 744617 3336 2853 3336 2853 X 739161 741764 739161 741764 742497 744617 2603 X true X true true false X 1004262 982259 634787 1331631 677322 4630261 1004262 982259 634787 1331631 677322 4630261 4630261 2348 5456 6584 10408 16384 41180 2348 5456 6584 10408 16384 41180 1006610 987715 641371 1342039 693706 4671441 0.99120 0.99570 0.01000 0.00000 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PA PENNSYLVANIA C/O WELLS FARGO 420 MONTGOMERY ST SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104 153138 RESEARCH FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION THE RP FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO: (A) INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS; (B) PROVIDE SUPPORT (PRIMARILY THROUGH THE USE OF THE INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PATIENT ADVOCACY PROGRAMS) FOR THOSE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS, SUPPORT RESEARCH TO ADVANCE A CURE FOR RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS; (C) PROMOTE QUALITY CARE FOR RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS PATIENTS; AND (D) ENGAGE IN SUCH OTHER ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY AUTHORIZE, IN ALL CASES SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENU CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, OR THE CORRESPONDING PROVISIONS OF ANY SUBSEQUENT FEDERAL TAX LAW (THE "CODE"). FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A AWARENESS: THE RP FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA DURING THE 2025- 2026 RACING SEASON TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR RP RESEARCH. RACE FOR RP BRANDING APPEARED ON EVERY MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA RACE CAR THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, WHILE ON-SITE ACTIVATIONS AND PADDOCK ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES CONNECTED THOUSANDS OF FANS WITH THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. THE PARTNERSHIP ALSO INTRODUCED THE "WIN A HOT LAP" FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, WHICH ENCOURAGED FAN PARTICIPATION THROUGH DONATIONS AND HELPED ATTRACT NEW SUPPORTERS. THE COLLABORATION GENERATED BOTH FUNDRAISING SUCCESS AND INCREASED VISIBILITY THROUGH CHARITY AUCTIONS HELD AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND THE MCLAREN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE IN WOKING, UNITED KINGDOM. TOGETHER, THESE EFFORTS BROADENED AWARENESS OF RP AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE RESEARCH, ENGAGED NEW AUDIENCES WITHIN THE MOTORSPORTS COMMUNITY, AND CONTRIBUTED TO ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL YEARS IN RACE FOR RP'S HISTORY. THE PARTNERSHIP HAS CONTINUED INTO THE 2026 SEASON, WITH NEW AWARENESS INITIATIVES LAUNCHING AT SONOMA RACEWAY. THE 2025 WARRIOR WALK WAS A RECORD-BREAKING AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, RAISING MORE THAN 25,000 IN JUST TWO WEEKS AND ATTRACTING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME DONORS IN THE PROGRAM'S HISTORY. PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WALKED, RAN, AND ENGAGED THEIR COMMUNITIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS (RP) AND SUPPORT CRITICAL RESEARCH EFFORTS. A HIGHLIGHT OF THE CAMPAIGN TOOK PLACE AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, WHERE DRIVERS, CREW MEMBERS, AND FANS ATTENDING A MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA EVENT JOINED TOGETHER TO WALK A LAP AROUND THE ICONIC TRACK. THIS UNIQUE EVENT INTRODUCED RP AWARENESS TO A NEW AUDIENCE AND DEMONSTRATED THE GROWING REACH AND ENGAGEMENT OF THE FOUNDATION'S AWARENESS INITIATIVES. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4B RESEARCH: THE RP FOUNDATION'S INVESTMENTS IN RP AND RELATED AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE RESEARCH ACCELERATED SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN FY26, ADVANCING UNDERSTANDING OF DISEASE BIOLOGY, CLINICAL OUTCOMES, AND TREATMENT WHILE EXPANDING ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED CARE. THROUGH FOUNDATION SUPPORT, THE PENN RP PROGRAM, NOW AMONG THE LARGEST CENTERS IN THE WORLD DEDICATED TO RP RESEARCH AND CARE, SERVED MORE THAN 150 PATIENTS AND ENROLLED NEARLY ALL ELIGIBLE PATIENTS INTO THE VASCULITIS CLINICAL RESEARCH CONSORTIUM (VCRC) LONGITUDINAL STUDY, CREATING AN UNPARALLELED CLINICAL AND BIOSPECIMEN REPOSITORY FOR ONGOING SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. A MAJOR MILESTONE WAS THE LAUNCH OF PROSPECT-RP, THE FIRST-EVER CLINICAL TRIAL FOR RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS. THE STUDY EVALUATES TWO PROMISING IMMUNOMODULATORY THERAPIES IDENTIFIED THROUGH LONGITUDINAL COHORT RESEARCH AND IS GENERATING CRITICAL DATA ON TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS WHILE HELPING ESTABLISH CLINICAL TRIAL METHODOLOGIES FOR FUTURE RP STUDIES. RESEARCHERS ARE ALSO COMPARING MULTIPLE DISEASE ACTIVITY MEASUREMENT TOOLS, INCLUDING THE RP DISEASE ACTIVITY INDEX (RPDAI), TO DETERMINE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ASSESS DISEASE ACTIVITY IN FUTURE THERAPEUTIC TRIALS. THE PROGRAM FURTHER EXPANDED THE RADAR IMMUNE-PROFILING STUDY TO MORE THAN 400 PATIENT SAMPLES COLLECTED ACROSS MULTIPLE TIME POINTS, CREATING A UNIQUE RESOURCE FOR IDENTIFYING DISEASE BIOMARKERS AND THERAPEUTIC TARGETS THAT MAY ULTIMATELY SUPPORT PRECISION MEDICINE APPROACHES FOR RP. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HELPED STRENGTHEN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS, INCLUDING ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND NEW COLLABORATIONS WITH LEADING RHEUMATOLOGY RESEARCHERS IN BEIJING, CHINA, TO EXPAND PARTICIPATION IN BOTH THE LONGITUDINAL STUDY AND PROSPECT-RP. IN ADDITION, SUPPORT FOR EMERGING INVESTIGATORS HELPED BUILD FUTURE RP RESEARCH CAPACITY. SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS FROM FOUNDATION-SUPPORTED RESEARCH CONTINUED TO GAIN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION, INCLUDING STUDIES PRESENTED AT A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL VASCULITIS CONFERENCE EXAMINING OCULAR INVOLVEMENT AS A PREDICTOR OF DISEASE PROGRESSION AND EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE RP DISEASE ACTIVITY INDEX IN MEASURING PATIENT DISEASE ACTIVITY. THE YEAR ALSO MARKED THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF THE FIRST PENN RP CENTER PATIENT EDUCATION MEETING, WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN 150 PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND CLINICIANS TO ADVANCE EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. THE PURPOSE BIOBANK AND DATA REPOSITORY AT THE ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK AUTOIMMUNITY INSTITUTE CONTINUED TO GROW IN AY26, ENROLLING A TOTAL OF 120 PARTICIPANTS FROM 24 STATES AND PUERTO RICO, INCLUDING 73 PATIENTS WITH RP. SINCE IT LAUNCHED IN 2024, THE AHN PURPOSE BIOBANK HAS BANKED 99 BLOOD SPECIMENS, WHICH ARE BEING STORED FOR FUTURE RP AND RELATED AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE RESEARCH. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4D FUNDRAISING IN FY26, THE RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS (RP) FOUNDATION, A GUIDESTAR PLATINUM SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, FURTHERED ITS COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING RP AND RELATED AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE RESEARCH THROUGH A SERIES OF INNOVATIVE FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES. FUNDS RAISED THROUGH THESE EFFORTS DIRECTLY SUPPORT RESEARCH PROGRAMS THAT ARE EXPANDING SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF RP, ACCELERATING THERAPEUTIC DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS. HIGHLIGHTS OF FY26 FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: "GIVING TUESDAY AND YEAR-END GIVING CAMPAIGNS: ANNUAL FUNDRAISING APPEALS THAT HELPED GROW ENGAGEMENT, CONNECT SUPPORTERS, AND GENERATE CRITICAL FUNDING FOR RP RESEARCH. "RP WARRIOR 5K WALK: A GLOBAL, PATIENT-CENTERED AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISING EVENT THAT MOBILIZED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO SUPPORT VITAL RP RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS. "CARB NIGHT HAPPY HOUR WITH JAMES HINCHCLIFFE AND FRIENDS: HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH INDIANAPOLIS RACE FESTIVITIES, THIS UNIQUE EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER MOTORSPORTS DRIVERS, SUPPORTERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR AN EVENING FEATURING EXCLUSIVE AUCTION ITEMS AND SELECTIONS FROM ROOT & BONE'S AWARD-WINNING MENU. PROCEEDS BENEFITED BOTH THE RP FOUNDATION AND THE STOP & GO FOUNDATION. "RACE FOR RP "HOT LAP" FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN: OFFERED AT EACH MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA EVENT, THIS INITIATIVE INVITED FANS TO DONATE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN UNFORGETTABLE HOT-LAP EXPERIENCE IN MCLAREN RACE CARS, EXPANDING AWARENESS WHILE ENGAGING NEW SUPPORTERS. "END-OF-SEASON RACING FUNDRAISERS: SPECIAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS HELD AT THE MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA SEASON FINALE AND AT MCLAREN'S HEADQUARTERS IN WOKING, UNITED KINGDOM, RAISED FUNDS FOR RP RESEARCH AND INCREASED INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS OF THE DISEASE. "PRAGUE FOR PROGRESS: RUNNING FOR JANE AND RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS RESEARCH: ORGANIZED BY A SON WHOSE MOTHER PASSED AWAY FROM RP, THIS GRASSROOTS FUNDRAISING EFFORT BROUGHT TOGETHER NINE RUNNERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE RUNCZECH PRAGUE MARATHON TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE RP FOUNDATION AND THE WREN PROJECT, HELPING ADVANCE RP RESEARCH AND AWARENESS. "MEDAWAR FINE JEWELERS' "SIP, SHOP & SUPPORT" EVENT: THIS FUNDRAISING EVENT FEATURED GOURMET APPETIZERS AND FINE JEWELRY, WITH A PORTION OF PROCEEDS BENEFITING THE RP FOUNDATION'S EFFORTS TO ADVANCE RESEARCH AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF RP. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD WHICH IS REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED AT A MEETING. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C POLICY IS EMAILED, SIGNED BY MEMBERS AND RETAINED BY TREASURER. THIS IS DONE ANNUALLY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A AN INFORMAL MARKET SURVEY REGARDING PAY RATES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EQUIVALENT DIRECTOR POSITIONS IN SIMILAR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WAS PERFORMED. THE RESPONSIBILITIES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CURRENT CONTRACTUAL DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT WAS REVIEWED. COMPENSATION WAS BASED ON THE BOARD DISCUSSION AND MARKET SURVEY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B SEE RESPONSE TO 15A. THERE ARE NO OTHER EMPLOYEES. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 18 ALSO AVAILABLE ON WWW.GUIDESTAR.ORG FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.