Cyberonics, Inc. is committed to supporting charitable endeavors that are consistent with the Company’s mission to improve the lives of people touched by epilepsy, depression and other chronic disorders that may prove to be treatable with our patented VNS Therapy™.  Cyberonics is also committed to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, as well as our Business Practice Standards and policies.  To view the Cyberonics Business Practice Standards, including the sections related to grants and donations, go to http://www.cyberonics.com/corporateprofile/corporate_governance.asp, and select “Business Practice Standards.”  The criteria governing the award of Cyberonics’ grants and donations are intended to ensure that support for activities is never tied to the past or future use of our VNS Therapy™.

A charitable contribution by Cyberonics is generally a donation of funds or goods to a charitable organization -- an IRC section 501(c)(3) entity -- for a charitable purpose.  Charitable contributions can also be made to certain government entities, such as a public university.  Cyberonics also makes “business donations” to certain nonprofit organizations that are not section 501(c)(3) entities.  Examples of entities that may be eligible for a business donation include medical societies and civic associations classified as 501(c)(6) organizations.

Charitable contributions and business donations cannot be made to an individual or to an organization on behalf of a specific individual, no matter how worthy the request. 

Examples of contributions that the Company cannot make and prohibited uses of Company support are as follows:

  1. Contributions to any organization other than a charitable organization under IRC section 501(c)(3) or a non-profit organization under IRC section 501 (c)(6);
  2. Contributions directed to a specific individual, program or department within a Charitable or Non-profit Organization;
  3. Contributions for events/activities that have already occurred;
  4. Any use that is inconsistent with the use approved by the Company during the donation request process; and
  5. Contributions, made in whole or in part, as an inducement for, conditioned upon or in any way dependent upon the prescription, purchase, lease, recommendation, use or implantation of VNS Therapy™

In order to request a charitable donation from the Company, submit the following information via email at grants@cyberonics.com, by facsimile to 281-283-5585, or by mail (Cyberonics, Inc., 100 Cyberonics Blvd., Houston, TX 77058, Attention: Grant and Donation Review Committee):

  1. A completed Cyberonics Charitable Donation Request Form;
  2. Completed IRS Form W-9 for the payee; and
  3. signed letter of request written on the proposed payee organization’s letterhead outlining
    1. Name, address and tax I.D. number of the proposed payee;
    2. Statement that the request is for a charitable donation;
    3. Proposed amount of the donation requested (NOTE: Cyberonics may elect to support the request in a limited manner and in an amount less than the requested amount. If the use of the donation is contingent upon receipt of the entire amount from Cyberonics, please state this in this letter);
    4. Description of Charitable or Non-profit Organization and its mission;
    5. Description of how the donation will be used or whether it will be used for unspecified charitable purpose; and
    6. Information on where the donation should be sent if approved by Cyberonics

Charitable Donation Request Form | W-9 Form