The John B Pierce Laboratory Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 32% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO CONDUCT BASIC RESEARCH ON THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND THE STRESSES IMPOSED BY THE MODERN ENVIRONMENT WITH THE GOAL OF OPTIMIZING THESE INTERACTIONS TO IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH AND COMFORT.
- Income
- $4.6 million
- Spending
- $5.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 32%
- Reserves
- -1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 36
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $234,829, director of operations
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1532% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $1.7 million spent. JOHN B. PIERCE LABORATORY, FOUNDED IN 1933, AFFORDS A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT FOR INTERACTION AND COLLABORATION AMONG SCIENTISTS WITHIN THE LABORATORY AND IN THE SURROUNDING YALE COMMUNITY. COLLABORATIONS THAT REACH ACROSS SUCH WIDE-RANGING FIELDS AS REGULATORY PHYSIOLOGY, SENSORY AND BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE, BRAIN IMAGING, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS PLACE PIERCE LABORATORY SCIENTISTS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO MAKE BREAKTHROUGHS IN BASIC RESEARCH THAT CAN BE TRANSLATED INTO IMPROVEMENTS IN HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. WE CURRENTLY HAVE SIX GRANTS ONGOING INCLUDING: THE PRINCIPLES OF OLFACTORY-GUIDED NATURAL BEHAVIOR; CARDIOMETABOLIC EFFECTS OF GENDER AFFIRMING HORMONE THERAPY; MECHANISMS AND INTERVENTIONS ADDRESSING ACCELERATED CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK IN WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS; EFFICIENT TWO-PHOTON VOLTAGE IMAGING OF NEURONAL POPULATIONS AT BEHAVIORAL TIMESCALES; MODULAR ENGINEERED BIOSENSORS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SENSING; LUDEMAN FAMILY CENTER FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH PROJECT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1940.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.