Message From the President and CEO and the Board Chair

from The Assistance Fund (TAF) 2023 Impact Report

A Strong Heart

At The Assistance Fund (TAF), 2023 was a year of change and growth. When we took the helm in our respective positions of President and CEO and Board Chair, we knew it was critical to maintain our important work during a time of profound change in the healthcare industry. New factors like the rise of artificial intelligence and a rapidly changing healthcare policy landscape only make it more imperative for TAF to be creative and agile.

And we have remained committed to putting our patients front and center in everything we do. In 2023, TAF helped more than 40,000 children and adults access the treatment they need to stay healthy and manage a life-changing disease.

Among them are Andi, Ella, Tony, Billy, and Barbara, whose stories are featured in this report. Access to critical treatment allows Barbara to continue her travels and sightsee with her daughter. It lets Andi continue to paint masterpieces, including her winning submission to TAF’s 2023 patient art contest. And it gives Ella and her mom peace of mind as she heads back to school. With inflation and the cost of everyday goods continuing to rise, TAF financial assistance has never been more important. That’s why, through the generous support of our donors, since our founding, we’ve provided over $2 billion in financial assistance to more than 190,000 people living with a life-changing disease.

But there is more work to be done and we continue to increase the breadth of the support we provide. In 2023, we opened 10 new disease programs for people living with acid sphingomyelinase deficiency, activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta syndrome, biliary tract cancer, epidermolysis bullosa, hepatocellular carcinoma, idiopathic hypersomnia, immunoglobulin-A nephropathy, Rett syndrome, sickle cell disease, and small cell lung cancer.

Our impactful work continues to be recognized by leading charity-rating entities. In addition to awarding TAF a perfect four-star rating, Charity Navigator nominated TAF for its 2023 Community Choice Awards. With the support of the TAF family, we were named as one of three finalists in the Awards’ “super-sized” charities category. In addition, TAF:

• Was named in Forbes ’ “Top 100 Charities” list

• Was named by The NonProfit Times as in its “Top 100 Charities” and “50 Best Nonprofits to Work For” lists

• Received a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency

• Received a five-star rating from GreatNonprofits

Together, with the support of our donors, providers, caregivers, staff, and the people we serve, we are confident we will see the day when no person goes without treatment because of an inability to pay. Please enjoy the rest of this report.