Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 401(k) Review & Grade
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 401(k) Plan
Bethesda, MDProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services744 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$10,578Employer $ per active participant
$11,997Employee $ saved per active participant
0.07%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$175.4MNet plan assets, end of year
$156,504Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity45.9 / 5092th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost20.7 / 2583th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving11.0 / 1573th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score85 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 92th |
| Lower admin cost | 83th |
| Employee saving | 73th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $12,077 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation put in about $10,578 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,082). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $7,869,717 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $8,925,859 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,859,598 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $103,781 |
| Other admin expenses | $103,781 |
| Benefits paid out | $7,129,393 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $143.4M / $175.4M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 732 / 756 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,121 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Grant Thornton LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| The Vanguard Group, Inc. | $101,693 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250926091300NAL0003914499001, received 2025-09-26, EIN 13-1930701, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.