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Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research

EIN 06-1043412 · Cambridge, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE FORGES NEW FRONTIERS IN SCIENCE, UNCOVERING INSIGHTS TODAY THAT UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF TOMORROW. OUR ADVANCES IN GENETICS AND GENOMICS ARE NOW ENABLING US TO TACKLE THE COMPLEXITIES OF LIFE WITH UNPRECEDENTED DEPTH AND BREADTH.

Income
$222.3 million
Spending
$174.3 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
47 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 54%
Employees
368
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$1.1 million, director/president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (medical research, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 47.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (medical research, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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. $152.1 million spent. WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT RESEARCH INSTITUTION LOCATED IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. THE INSTITUTE WAS INCORPORATED IN 1981 TO PROMOTE AND EXPAND HUMAN KNOWLEDGE IN THE BIOMEDICAL AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC FIELDS WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF IMPROVING HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THE RESEARCH OF THE INSTITUTE FOCUSES ON BASIC BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES INVESTIGATED MAINLY FROM A MOLECULAR OR CELLULAR PERSPECTIVE. RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL AREAS, INCLUDING CANCER, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES, REGENERATIVE BIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY AND GENETICS. THE RESEARCH OF THE INSTITUTE IS CONDUCTED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS WHO HOLD JOINT APPOINTMENTS TO THE FACULTIES OF THE INSTITUTE AND MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ("MIT") (THE "INSTITUTE FACULTY"). THE MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTE FACULTY ARE RECOGNIZED LEADERS IN THEIR FIELDS. THE INSTITUTE FACULTY INCLUDE TWO RECIPIENTS OF THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF SCIENCE, SIX HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE INVESTIGATORS, TEN MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND SIX MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE. FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE HAS MAINTAINED A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO SCIENCE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH BY OFFERING PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE SCIENCE TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WITH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS RANGING IN SCOPE FROM LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO SPECIAL EVENTS FOR NON-SCIENTISTS, WHITEHEAD OFFERS ITS PARTICIPANTS FIRST-HAND EXPOSURE TO STATE-OF-THE-ART RESEARCH. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: SEMINAR SERIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS - THIS MONTHLY PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATORS AND OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE TOPICS AT THE FOREFRONT OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SERIES BEGINS IN OCTOBER AND LECTURES ARE HELD THE FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH THROUGH JUNE. SPRING LECTURE SERIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS - THIS PROGRAM, HELD DURING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SPRING VACATION WEEK, FEATURES LECTURES FROM LEADING SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS, HANDS-ON LABORATORY DEMONSTRATIONS, VISITS TO LOCAL BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, AND INTERACTIONS WITH YOUNG WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE SCIENTISTS. SCIENCE WEEKS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS - WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE HAS DEVELOPED IMMERSIVE, WEEK-LONG PROGRAMS FOR RISING 6TH, 7TH, AND 8TH GRADERS FEATURING HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, CLASSROOM LESSONS, AND INTERACTIONS WITH SCIENTISTS. TWO SUCH SESSIONS ARE HELD IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. PUBLIC PROGRAM COLLABORATIONS - WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE ROUTINELY PARTNERS WITH VARIOUS RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS IN COORDINATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND SCIENTISTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2018.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 October 21, 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.