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John Paul II Medical Research Institute

EIN 20-5239366 · Coralville, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceFair66 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.
  • Only 45% 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

THE JOHN PAUL II MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (JP2MRI) IS SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS FOLLOWING CATHOLIC MORAL TEACHINGS ADVANCING THE GREATER GOOD IN THE FIELDS OF ETHICAL MEDICAL RESEARCH AND HEALTHCARE THAT UPHOLDS THE SANCTITY OF ALL HUMAN LIFE.

Income
$83,901
Spending
$108,491
Spent on programs
45%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
3
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$20,831, president & secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (medical research, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    45% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (medical research, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 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. $48,612 spent. JP2MRI 1)GIVES GRANTS TO SUPPORT RESEARCHERS WORKING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CATHOLIC MEDICAL ETHICS WHICH INCLUDES NOT WORKING WITH EMBRYONIC, FETAL OR ABORTED TISSUES, INCLUDING STEM CELLS DERIVED FROM THESE SOURCES. THE GRANTS DO NOT SPECIFICALLY HAVE TO GO TO RESEARCHERS DOING STEM CELL RESEARCH. 2) GIVES GRANTS TO MEDICAL CLINICS THAT ALSO ARE FUNCTIONING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CATHOLIC MEDICAL ETHICS AND 3) SUPPORTS PREGNANCY CENTERS WORKING TO ASSIST WOMEN IN CRISIS PREGNANCY. IT IS PREFERRED THERE ALSO BE A MEDICAL ASPECT - FOR EXAMPLE THE CENTER PROVIDES PRE AND POST NATAL CARE, PROVIDES ULTRASOUNDS BY TRAINED STAFF AND ASSISTS IN ANY OTHER PHYSICAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THESE WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES MAY NEED. IN 2025 A GRANT WAS PROVIDED TO ST. THERES'A MEDICAL CLINIC IN ESWATINI AFRICA; WHICH ASSISTS EXPECTANT MOTHERS AND PROVIDES MATERNITY CARE. THE GRANT WENT TOWARDS STAFF, INCUBATORS AND TO REPLACE A BROKEN RESUSCITATION CENTER. A GRANT WAS ALSO PROVIDED TO THE PROVIDENCE PREGNANCY CENTER IN SCRANTON, PA WHICH PROVIDES MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING FOR WOMEN IN CRISIS PREGNANCY AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN 2025 JP2MRI PURCHASED AND TRAINED STAFF ON NEW NON-PROFIT SOFTWARE, MOVED OUR OFFICE, HIRED NEW STAFF, AND CREATED A NEW WEBSITE; MUCH OF WHICH SLOWED DOWN OUR MISSION. POSSIBLE GRANT RECIPIENTS WERE VETTED TO BE CERTAIN THEY MEET OUR CRITERIA FOR GRANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2008.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Gates Medical Research Institute (Cambridge, MA), EIN 82-1808476. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.