Hastings Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $5.0 million
- Spending
- $4.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 21
- Highest pay
- $399,753, president & ceo
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
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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.
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 21 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 (4)
- $2.8 million spent. The scholars at The Hastings Center examined a wide range of ethical, legal, and social questions in biological science, medicine, and health, including dementia, community health care, housing policy for aging populations, xenotransplantation, genome editing, sociogenomics, and assistive technologies for people with disabilities. Projects led by the scholars on these topics aimed at improving scholarly and public understanding of issues at stake in them, developing recommendations for policy, and training students and early-career scholars. Research methods included work group-based analysis, literature reviews, and qualitative research. Products included one book (on living well with disability); two reports (on facing dementia and on genomics) published as supplements to the Center's journal the Hastings Center Report; 32 articles in scholarly journals, 8 commentaries or opinion pieces, and 57 talks and lectures for scholarly and nonscholarly audiences. Researchers also spoke with journalists at national and international media outlets and served on review panels, boards, and advisory committees for hospitals, private foundations, federal agencies, professional societies, and scholarly journals. The research was supported by grants and donations from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the National Institute on Aging, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Dana Foundation, the Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust, the Greenwall Foundation, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the Donaghue Foundation, and private donors. (Expenses $ 15,798 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) THE HASTINGS CENTER'S PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AND VISITING SCHOLARS OFFER A RANGE OF REMOTE, HYBRID, AND IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING, DISCUSSION, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS, WITH A FOCUS ON CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE IN THE INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF BIOETHICS. IN 2024, THE HASTINGS CENTER PRODUCED ITS THIRD ANNUAL SUMMER BIOETHICS PROGRAM, A WEEKLONG ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR UNDERGRADUATES INTERESTED IN BIOETHICS ISSUES AND CAREERS. ADMISSION TO THIS PROGRAM IS BY APPLICATION. IN 2023, THE HASTINGS CENTER'S FOURTH COHORT OF SADLER SCHOLARS WAS SELECTED AND BEGAN A ONE-YEAR PERIOD OF FOCUSED WORK WITH THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND ADVISORS. THE SADLER SCHOLARS IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED DOCTORAL STUDENTS IN BIOETHICS RESEARCH. ADMISSION TO THIS REMOTE PROGRAM IS BY APPLICATION. ALSO IN 2024, THE HASTINGS CENTER CONTINUED ITS SERIES OF INVITED MONTHLY WORK-IN-PROGRESS DISCUSSIONS BY EARLY-CAREER AND MID-CAREER SCHOLARS. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2024 THE HASTINGS CENTER LAUNCHED OUR NEW APPROACH TO OUR RESIDENTIAL VISITING SCHOLAR PROGRAM, WHICH NOW FOCUSES ON WRITING RESIDENCIES FOR EARLY-CAREER AND MID-CAREER SCHOLARS. FINALLY, IN 2024 WE RESUMED OUR VISITING SCHOLAR EXCHANGE WITH THE CENTRE FOR BIOMEDICAL ETHICS AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
- $423,737 spent. IN 2024, THE HASTINGS CENTER REPORT, A BIOETHICS JOURNAL PUBLISHED BY THE CENTER, FEATURED DISCUSSIONS OF DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION AND IDENTITY THEFT, WHAT PROSPECTIVE PARENTS OWE THEIR CHILDREN, CONSCIENTIOUS PROVISION OF CARE, POVERTY AND PHYSICIAN AID IN DYING, ORGAN STEWARDSHIP, AND MANY OTHER TOPICS IN MEDICAL CARE, HEALTH POLICY, BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH, AND BIOTECHNOLOGY. SIX ISSUES OF THE REPORT APPEARED, CONTAINING A MIXTURE OF SCHOLARLY ANALYSIS AND EXPERT COMMENTARY. THE REPORT ALSO PUBLISHED TWO SUPPLEMENTS, ON END-OF-LIFE CHOICES AND IMPROVING PRACTICES AND POLICIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA (WITH THE JANUARY-FEBRUARY ISSUE) AND ON INCREASING FAIRNESS IN GENOMICS (WITH THE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER ISSUE). THE REPORT WAS DISTRIBUTED BY JOHN T. WILEY AND SONS, PRIMARILY IN ONLINE FORM, TO LIBRARIES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, WITH 4,063 SUBSCRIBING THROUGH WILEY ONLINE LIBRARY OR HOLDING A TRADITIONAL SUBSCRIPTION, 4,260 HAVING ACCESS TO CONTENT AT LEAST A YEAR OLD THORUGH AN EBSCO ARRANGEMENT, AND 4,514 HAVING ACCESS through a philanthropic initiative. THERE WERE 568,718 FULL-TEXT VIEWS OF ITEMS IN THE JOURNAL. ETHICS & HUMAN RESEARCH, A JOURNAL DEVOTED TO ISSUES INVOLVING THE ETHICS AND REGULATION OF RESEARCH WITH HUMAN PARTICIPANTS, OFFERED SIX ISSUES IN 2024 FEATURING DISCUSSIONS OF RETURNING RELEVANT RESEARCH RESULTS TO PARTICIPANTS, CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN HUMAN CHALLENGE STUDIES, DATA MONITORING COMMITTEES, DECENTRALIZED CLINICAL TRIALS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-SUPPORTED ETHICS REVIEW, AND MANY OTHER TOPICS RELATED TO HUMAN RESEARCH ETHICS. E&HR WAS ALSO DISTRIBUTED BY WILEY AND SONS, PRIMARILY IN ONLINE FORM, WITH 3945 INSTITUTIONS AND LIBRARIES SUBSCRIBING TO E&HR. THERE WERE 50,019 FULL-TEXT VIEWS OF ITEMS IN THIS JOURNAL. HASTINGS BIOETHICS FORUM, THE HASTINGS CENTER'S STRICTLY ONLINE PUBLICATION, FEATURES SCORES OF COMMENTARIES ON BIOETHICS TOPICS IN THE NEWS.
- $326,418 spent. THE COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INFORMING AND ENGAGING DIVERSE AUDIENCES, INCLUDING JOURNALISTS, POLICYMAKERS, CLINICIANS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, THE DEPARTMENT PRODUCES A NEWSLETTER, OVERSEES AND CONTINUOUSLY UPDATES THE HASTINGS CENTER'S WEBSITE, EDITS AND PUBLISHES HASTINGS BIOETHICS FORUM, ENGAGES AUDIENCES ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WRITES PRESS RELEASES ABOUT HASTINGS RESEARCH AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, PITCHES STORY IDEAS TO JOURNALISTS, WORKS WITH HASTINGS RESEARCH SCHOLARS TO DEVELOP AND PLACE OP-EDS AND OTHER COMMENTARIES, AND PRODUCES PUBLIC EVENTS. IN 2024, THE HASTINGS CENTER PRODUCED A WEBINAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KNIGHT SCIENCE JOURNALISM PROGRAM AT MIT ON TRUST IN SCIENCE. ALSO IN PARTNERSHIP, THE HASTINGS CENTER CO-PRESENTED A WEBINAR ON PRENATAL GENETIC SCREENING WITH THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE BOSTON AND HARVARD UNIVERSITY. WE RETURNED TO IN-PERSON EVENTS WITH A PANEL DISCUSSION IN NEW YORK CITY ON DISINFORMATION, TRUST, AND THE ROLE OF AI. ALL TOLD, HASTINGS BIOETHICS FORUM AND OUR OTHER WEBSITE CONTENT, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, AND OUR PUBLIC EVENTS REACHED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN 2024. (Expenses $ 15,798 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) THE HASTINGS CENTER'S PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AND VISITING SCHOLARS OFFER A RANGE OF REMOTE, HYBRID, AND IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING, DISCUSSION, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS, WITH A FOCUS ON CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE IN THE INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF BIOETHICS. IN 2024, THE HASTINGS CENTER PRODUCED ITS THIRD ANNUAL SUMMER BIOETHICS PROGRAM, A WEEKLONG ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR UNDERGRADUATES INTERESTED IN BIOETHICS ISSUES AND CAREERS. ADMISSION TO THIS PROGRAM IS BY APPLICATION. IN 2023, THE HASTINGS CENTER'S FOURTH COHORT OF SADLER SCHOLARS WAS SELECTED AND BEGAN A ONE-YEAR PERIOD OF FOCUSED WORK WITH THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND ADVISORS. THE SADLER SCHOLARS IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED DOCTORAL STUDENTS IN BIOETHICS RESEARCH. ADMISSION TO THIS REMOTE PROGRAM IS BY APPLICATION. ALSO IN 2024, THE HASTINGS CENTER CONTINUED ITS SERIES OF INVITED MONTHLY WORK-IN-PROGRESS DISCUSSIONS BY EARLY-CAREER AND MID-CAREER SCHOLARS. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2024 THE HASTINGS CENTER LAUNCHED OUR NEW APPROACH TO OUR RESIDENTIAL VISITING SCHOLAR PROGRAM, WHICH NOW FOCUSES ON WRITING RESIDENCIES FOR EARLY-CAREER AND MID-CAREER SCHOLARS. FINALLY, IN 2024 WE RESUMED OUR VISITING SCHOLAR EXCHANGE WITH THE CENTRE FOR BIOMEDICAL ETHICS AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
- $15,798 spent. THE HASTINGS CENTER'S PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AND VISITING SCHOLARS OFFER A RANGE OF REMOTE, HYBRID, AND IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING, DISCUSSION, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS, WITH A FOCUS ON CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE IN THE INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF BIOETHICS. IN 2024, THE HASTINGS CENTER PRODUCED ITS THIRD ANNUAL SUMMER BIOETHICS PROGRAM, A WEEKLONG ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR UNDERGRADUATES INTERESTED IN BIOETHICS ISSUES AND CAREERS. ADMISSION TO THIS PROGRAM IS BY APPLICATION. IN 2023, THE HASTINGS CENTER'S FOURTH COHORT OF SADLER SCHOLARS WAS SELECTED AND BEGAN A ONE-YEAR PERIOD OF FOCUSED WORK WITH THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND ADVISORS. THE SADLER SCHOLARS IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED DOCTORAL STUDENTS IN BIOETHICS RESEARCH. ADMISSION TO THIS REMOTE PROGRAM IS BY APPLICATION. ALSO IN 2024, THE HASTINGS CENTER CONTINUED ITS SERIES OF INVITED MONTHLY WORK-IN-PROGRESS DISCUSSIONS BY EARLY-CAREER AND MID-CAREER SCHOLARS. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2024 THE HASTINGS CENTER LAUNCHED OUR NEW APPROACH TO OUR RESIDENTIAL VISITING SCHOLAR PROGRAM, WHICH NOW FOCUSES ON WRITING RESIDENCIES FOR EARLY-CAREER AND MID-CAREER SCHOLARS. FINALLY, IN 2024 WE RESUMED OUR VISITING SCHOLAR EXCHANGE WITH THE CENTRE FOR BIOMEDICAL ETHICS AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
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 October 13, 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 November 1969.
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 October 21, 2026.
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