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Alternatives for Research and Development Foundation

EIN 23-2740843 · Jenkintown, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ARDF IS TO FUND AND PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT, VALIDATION AND ADOPTION OF NON-ANIMAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH, PRODUCT TESTING, AND EDUCATION.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$947,409
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 94%
Employees
2
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$126,016, president (after 10/7/25)

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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. $751,037 spent. THE "ANNUAL OPEN" GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS INNOVATIVE NON-ANIMAL METHODS TO REDUCE OR REPLACE ANIMAL USE IN RESEARCH AND TESTINGIN 2025, ARDF FUNDED THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: 1) ENGINEERED HUMAN HEART MODELS FOR ADVANCING DRUG CARDIAC SAFETY ASSESSMENT; 2) IN VITRO MODELLING OF BUBBLE-ASSISTED FOCUSED ULTRASOUND BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER OPENING; 3) AN ADVANCED EX VIVO MODEL FOR IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS; 4) REPLACING ANIMAL-DERIVED PRODUCTS IN DRUG DEVELOPMENT IN VITRO MODELS; 5) IMMUNE DISRUPTORS AND THE DEVELOPING BRAIN: UNRAVELING HOW IMMUNOTOXICANTS SHAPE NEURODEVELOPMENT; 6) ADVANCING ORGANOID INTELLIGENCE WITH A HIPPOCAMPAL-CORTICAL SYSTEM; 7) GENERATION OF THE OLFACTORY EPITHELIUM FROM HUMAN PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS TO STUDY NEURODEGENERATION; AND 8) A HUMAN-RELEVANT MODEL FOR REAL-TIME MONITORING OF MYCN-DRIVEN NEUROBLASTOMA SPREADING AND DRUG TESTING. THESE PROJECTS REFLECT ARDF'S CONTINUED EMPHASIS ON SUPPORTING HUMAN-RELEVANT, ANIMAL-FREE APPROACHES FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING CELL- AND TISSUE-BASED SYSTEMS, ORGANOID AND STEM CELL TECHNOLOGIES, COMPUTATIONALLY INFORMED MODELS, AND OTHER ADVANCED IN VITRO AND EX VIVO METHODS. BY SUPPORTING RESEARCH TO DEVELOP AND ADVANCE ALTERNATIVE, ANIMAL-FREE MODELS, ARDF CONTINUES TO PROMOTE BOTH ANIMAL WELFARE AND HUMAN HEALTH. ARDF ALSO CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF ITS ALTERNATIVES IN RESEARCH CHALLENGE, A DISEASE-FOCUSED GRANT INITIATIVE SUPPORTING NON-ANIMAL APPROACHES TO CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH. ARDF ALSO CONTRIBUTES ITS EXPERTISE TO SCIENTIFIC AND POLICY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING THE ADVANCEMENT, VALIDATION, AND ADOPTION OF NON-ANIMAL METHODS. IN 2025, ARDF SUPPORTED EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGE TO ACCELERATE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN-RELEVANT APPROACHES AND TO FOSTER COLLABORATION AMONG RESEARCHERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 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 April 1994.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Citrus Research and Development Foundation Inc (Lake Alfred, FL), EIN 26-4825142. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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