Masonic Medical Research Laboratory
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MASONIC MEDICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY, DOING BUSINESS AS MASONIC MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTE DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL. THE INSTITUTE'S PRIMARY MISSION IS TO CONDUCT HIGH QUALITY BASIC AND CLINICAL RESEARCH AIMED AT GENERATING KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEDICAL CURES AND TREATMENTS OF TOMORROW. THE INSTITUTE IS ALSO COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO BASIC SCIENTISTS, CLINICAL RESEARCHERS AND STUDENTS WHO WILL PERPETUATE AND EXTEND THE FIGHT AGAINST DISEASE.
- Income
- $10.1 million
- Spending
- $11.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 9.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 50%
- Employees
- 91
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $659,772, executive director
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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 45% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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)
- $7.4 million spent. THE MASONIC MEDICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY, DOING BUSINESS AS MASONIC MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (MMRI), IS A WORLD RENOWNED MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER KNOWN FOR ITS SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELD OF EXPERIMENTAL CARDIOLOGY. CURRENT RESEARCH EFFORTS ENCOMPASS ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE, CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH. MMRI IS A LEADING CENTER FOR GENETIC SCREENING OF CARDIAC DISEASE AS WELL AS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE PHARMACOLOGIC TREATMENT FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION. THE STEM CELL CENTER IS FOCUSED ON REGENERATING MEDICINE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN MODELS OF DISEASE. OUR SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS ARE PUBLISHED IN THE FINEST MEDICAL JOURNALS IN THE WORLD.
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 September 1949.
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.
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.