WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
Saving Lives One Grant at a Time
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Medical treatments for morbid obesity are considered elective by most health insurance policies, leaving many people with no access to bariatric surgery and other medical treatments of obesity. Our mission is to save the lives of people with no access to care by funding grants to pay for medical treatments of obesity, and thus save lives . . . one grant at a time.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Full Grant Program
The full grant program allows qualified bariatric & plastic surgeons to refer patients in financial need to apply for a grant to cover their medical treatment of obesity and related reconstructive surgery. The grant cycle begins June 1 of each year. Patients are refered and are then invited to apply to prove financial need.
Partial Grant Program
The partial grant program is on going. Surgeons who have participated in the WLSFA Full Grant Program are allowed to refer patients with smaller finacial needs such as co-pays, deductables or other fees less than $4,000 not covered by insurance policies for treatment of obesity.
Weight Loss Surgery Conference
The WLSFA hosts an annual conference that offers support, education, motivation and inspiration for people affected by obesity. The event is also host to the WLSFA's national fubdraiser to support our grant programs.
Stomp Out Obesity Virtual 5K & Walk Program
This program allows people from across the united states to participate in a healthy activity while raising awarness and funds for the WLSFA.ORG Grant Programs.
Take The Oath Program
The "Take The Oath" program gives people a tool to raise awarness for the Stigam and Bias associated to people effected by obeisty. People are provided educational materials and tools to help the public understand the negative effect of this stigma.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Full Grant Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Grants funded each year since the WLSFA was founded. The grants are awarded across the United States by a selection comittee that vets applications in a blinded manner to allow all who apply access.
Number of conference attendees
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Weight Loss Surgery Conference
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
WLSFA events are attended by bariatric patients from the US and Canada. The events provide education, support and inspiration while raising funds for our grant program. Rescheduled due to COVID.
Number of public events held to further mission
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Full Grant Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of grants and research funding awarded to the institution
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Health, Social and economic status
Related Program
Full Grant Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of donors retained
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Health, Social and economic status
Related Program
Full Grant Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We consider funding grants our number one goal and best accomplishment. Supporting the community we serve with educational conferences and sporting events that also raise funds for our grant programs. We are comitted to remaining a 100% volunteer organization to allow maximum funds raised to go towards are mission of "Saving Lives One Grant at a Time"
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Leverage social media to raise awareness for the mission of the WLSFA and build the weight loss surgery patient community into a cohesive and effective force for good. Educate people about the lack of accessibility to the medical treatments for obesity. Work towards ending obesity stigma and bias that hurts the community we serve.
Host Fundraiser and patient conferences at a local and national level.
Develop and grow our Chapter Program to fund regional grants.
Host Virtual 5K Walks and Runs that support our grant programs and offers healthy outlets for our community.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have established a dedicated active volunteer board of directors and large volunteer pool that allows us to accomplish our goals. This active team allows us to host world class educational and fundraising events, attended by hundreds of weight loss surgery patents yearly. We have funded twenty three surgeries since we began, funding hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical fees. We have a perfect track record offering and delivering on all finacial commitments we enter into. We are a 100% volunteer charity that gives all surplus dollars to the mission we serve. We have built a community of donors and supporters that include weight loss surgery patients, industry partners and medical professionals.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Thirty-two lives saved and surgeries funded.
Hosted seven national conferences across the country.
Raised awareness for the lack of access to treatments of obesity on a local and national level for many years.
Bring hope to people who have none by providing a place for surgeons to ask for financial help for their patients in need. Future accomplishments include the launching of our 10th National Conference and Fundraiser to be held March 11-13, 2022. The 10th Grant Cycle will open, and we will be accepting referrals through the end of 2022. Those applicants will be considered for grants in 2023.
Presently, we are vetting the applications we received before December 31, 2021.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
Board of directorsas of 03/13/2024
Mrs. Laura Van Tuyl
Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of AMerica
Term: 2019 -
Sandi Henderson
Banded Living
Laura Van Tuyl
Retired
Cleo Savala
Bill Streetman
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data