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HEARTS FOR RUSS INC
SOUTH SALEM, NY · EIN 474953423 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE H43 · Medical Research · Micro (<$100K) · heartsforruss.org
revenue
$88K
expenses
$81K
net assets
$79K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

Our mission is to raise funds and awareness to advance research, education, treatment, and support for heart and other organ transplant patients, while empowering the patients, families, and communities affected by these life-changing conditions.

profile · synthesized from sources

Hearts for Russ Inc. raises funds and awareness to support heart and organ transplant patients through research, education, treatment, and community empowerment. The organization honors individuals in the transplant community annually, including recipients, living donors, donor families, and physicians. It partners with nonprofits and health organizations to advance transplant-related causes and support patients and families in need.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Donor Family Award
Honors families who have donated the organs of a deceased loved one, celebrating their generosity and legacy.
Hearts for Russ Award
Special recognition for individuals who have provided long-term support to the organization and the transplant community.
Hearts for Russ Transplant Recipient Award
Annual award recognizing transplant recipients for their advocacy, resilience, and contributions to the transplant community.
Living Donor Award
Recognizes individuals who have donated organs while living, highlighting their courage and impact on recipients' lives.
Physician Award
Honors physicians who have made significant contributions to transplant medicine, research, and patient care.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Living Donor Transplant Support 3 activities
    • Building capacity in hospital organ procurement support
      Partnered with Northwell Health Hospital to create a pilot program training hospital employees in supporting families during the organ procurement process.
    • Sponsoring patient education and storytelling initiatives
      Sponsors the national Patient Ambassador Webinar Series to share patient stories and expert insights on organ donation, increasing public understanding and engagement.
    • Supporting organ donor registration and public awareness campaigns
      Partners with Donate Life NY and supported a statewide DMV campaign during Donate Life Month 2020 to increase organ donor registrations in New York. Also contributes to organ donor registration efforts at scale through education and outreach.
  • Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
    • Funding organ transplant support programs and nonprofit partners
      Awared over 60 grants to transplant families and nonprofit partners, distributing funding to support organ transplant-related programs and services. In 2022, funded initiatives such as the Telehealth Tablet Program at NY Presbyterian-Cornell and supported capital needs for recovery housing through Heartfelt Help Foundation.
  • Charity Golf Tournament Fundraiser 1 activity
    • Hosting annual fundraising events for transplant community programs
      Organizes an annual charity golf tournament and dinner event that has raised over $500,000 to support nonprofit partners in the organ transplant community and fund patient support initiatives.
  • Documentary Film Production 1 activity
    • Producing educational media on transplant experiences
      Produced a short film with Emmy-nominated director Michael Drucker and LI TRIO highlighting success stories of young adult transplant recipients, and collaborated on the award-winning documentary “Gifts of Life: Profiles in Courage from the Transplant Community” to honor transplant recipients and donors.
  • Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
    • Recognizing contributions to the transplant community
      Hosts an annual award program honoring individuals who contribute to the transplant community, including the Hearts for Russ Award, first presented in 2014.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$88K
Contributions & grants$83K95%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$81K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$70K
balance sheet
Total assets$80K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$79K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +19.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 1
  • JEN BENSON — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 27

Who they work with

  • Chris Klug Foundation Partner — Named sponsor supporting Hearts for Russ Inc.
  • Chris Klug Foundation Partner — Sponsors their national Patient Ambassador Webinar Series
  • Donate Life NY Partner — Partnered to promote education and awareness about organ donation and transplantation.
  • Donate Life New York Partner — Partnered with Lauren Shields and family on lobbying efforts leading to the passage of Lauren's Law.
  • Donate Life New York Partner — Sponsored a statewide DMV campaign during Donate Life Month 2020
  • Harboring Hearts Partner — Funded their Telehealth Tablet Program at NY Presbyterian-Cornell in 2022
  • Harboring Hearts Partner — Identified as an important organization providing support to transplant patients and caregivers.
  • Harboring Hearts Partner — Volunteered with by Russ Tisman, indicating a partnership connection.
  • Heartfelt Help Foundation Partner — Supports their capital needs to help disadvantaged patients access recovery housing
  • Islanders Partner — Co-hosts the Hearts for Russ Hockey Outing at UBS Arena
  • LA Kings Partner — Participates in the Hearts for Russ Hockey Outing at UBS Arena
  • LI TRIO Partner — John Redican serves as board liaison to LI TRIO, attending and speaking at events and advocating for causes important to Hearts for Russ.
  • LI TRIO (Long Island Transplant Recipients International Organization) Partner — Longest-standing partner; collaborated on multiple projects including the documentary “Gifts of Life”
  • LiveOn New York Partner — Volunteered with by Russ Tisman, indicating a partnership connection.
  • LiveOnNY Partner — Collaborated with Lauren Shields and family on organ donation advocacy and legislation.
  • Long Island TRIO Partner — Supported by Dr. Robert Montgomery, an awardee of Hearts for Russ.
  • Long Island TRIO Partner — Supported by Hearts for Russ since 2014; collaborates on events and meetings.
  • NPower Partner — Supported by Brian Vaske, a key supporter of Hearts for Russ.
  • Northwell Health Hospital Partner — Collaborated to create a pilot program for training hospital employees in supporting families during organ procurement.
  • ODAC (Organ Donation Awareness Corporation) Partner — Supports their outreach and social media efforts to educate youth about organ donation
  • Off The List Partner — Supports their mission to increase awareness and save lives through living kidney donation
  • Only Make Believe Partner — Supported by Brian Vaske, a key supporter of Hearts for Russ.
  • SODA (Student Organ Donation Advocates) Partner — Supports their expansion into HBCUs through scholarships and student-led advocacy
  • TRIO Partner — Volunteered with by Russ Tisman, indicating a partnership connection.
  • The Organ Trail Partner — Supports their mission to educate, inspire, and spotlight individuals in need of a transplant
  • University of Nebraska Partner — Supported by Brian Vaske, a key supporter of Hearts for Russ.
  • non-profit partners Partner — Supports nonprofit partners that assist families undergoing the transplant process through fundraising.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Advocacy-Education-Support Model
    methodology: advocacy-education-support model
    By combining advocacy, education, and direct support, the organization increases organ donation rates and improves outcomes for transplant patients, because integrated approaches address both systemic and personal barriers to donation and care.
  • Equity-Focused Youth Engagement
    methodology: equity-focused youth engagement
    By funding student-led advocacy and scholarship programs at HBCUs, the organization increases organ donor registration among underrepresented communities, because targeted, culturally relevant engagement reduces disparities in participation.
  • Event-Based Fundraising with Advocacy Integration
    methodology: celebratory-fundraising-and-advocacy
    By using celebratory fundraising events to generate financial support, the organization sustains programs while simultaneously promoting organ donation awareness, because combining celebration with education creates high-engagement platforms for advocacy and giving.
  • Lived-Experience-Driven Program Design
    methodology: lived-experience-driven design
    By designing programs and partnerships based on lived experience, the organization identifies and addresses unmet needs in the transplant journey, because personal insight reveals gaps that traditional systems overlook.
  • Story-Driven Advocacy and Commemoration
    methodology: story-driven advocacy
    By centering recipient stories in public recognition and award events, the organization amplifies awareness and inspires action around organ donation, because personal narratives create emotional resonance that drives behavioral and social change.