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Biocom Institute

EIN 26-1852884 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BIOCOM CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 2008 BY BIOCOM CALIFORNIA, THE LARGEST AND MOST EXPERIENCED ADVOCATE FOR CALIFORNIA'S LIFE SCIENCE SECTOR. OUR MISSION IS TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE A SKILLED AND DIVERSE PIPELINE OF TALENT TO ACCELERATE THE GROWTH OF CALIFORNIA'S LIFE SCIENCE ECOSYSTEM.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
6
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$1.3 million, 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 73% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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, 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)
  1. $17,577 spent. NOVAWORKS: THIS AGREEMENT ESTABLISHES A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF SUNNYVALE'S NOVA WORKFORCE BOARDAND BIOCOM CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE TO DELIVER LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICESUNDER THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT. THE PARTNERSHIP FOCUSES ON THREE KEYCOMPONENTS: (1) SUPPORTING LIFE SCIENCE COMPANIES ADJUSTING THEIR WORKFORCE SIZE THROUGH WORKERADJUSTMENT AND RETRAINING NOTIFICATION (WARN) ASSISTANCE, (2) FACILITATING BUSINESS AND JOB SEEKERENGAGEMENT THROUGH INDUSTRY EVENTS AND WEBINARS, AND (3) IMPLEMENTING A CAREER EXPLORATIONFELLOWSHIP PROGRAM CONNECTING JOB SEEKERS WITH MENTORS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. THE TOTALFUNDING FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP IS $150,000 FOR THE PERIOD FROM JULY 31, 2024, THROUGH JULY 30, 2025. THEAGREEMENT REPRESENTS A CONTINUATION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EORTS AIMED AT ENHANCING NOVAWORKFORCE SERVICES' CONNECTIONS TO LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS AND IMPROVING EMPLOYMENTOUTCOMES FOR JOB SEEKERS.
  2. $87,664 spent. THIS AGREEMENT ESTABLISHES A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE VERDUGO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD(VWDB) AND BIOCOM CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE TO DELIVER LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTSERVICES. THE PARTNERSHIP FOCUSES ON TWO KEY COMPONENTS: (1) IMPLEMENTING A CAREER EXPLORATIONFELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND (2) SUPPORTING THE GROWTH AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE BIOCOM INSTITUTETECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION (BIOTC).THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM WILL CONNECT JOB SEEKERS WITH MENTORS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHACTIVITIES INCLUDING PROGRAM PLANNING, CUSTOMIZED MARKETING MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT, APPLICATIONPROCESSING, MENTOR-FELLOW MATCHING, EVENT COORDINATION (ORIENTATION, CAREER PANELS, MEET AND GREETEVENTS), AND PROGRAM MONITORING WITH SURVEYS AND CHECK-INS.THE BIOTC PROGRAM INVOLVES COLLABORATION WITH THE VWDB, GRIFOLS BIOLOGICALS LLC, AND LOS ANGELESVALLEY COLLEGE TO EXPAND THIS INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL PROGRAM TO SUPPORT WORKFORCEDEVELOPMENT IN THE LIFE SCIENCES SECTOR. THIS INCLUDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ENHANCE THECREDENTIAL'S REACH AND IMPLEMENTATION.THE AGREEMENT REPRESENTS A STRATEGIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AIMED AT STRENGTHENINGCONNECTIONS BETWEEN JOB SEEKERS AND LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS WHILE DEVELOPING INDUSTRYRECOGNIZEDCREDENTIALS TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES.
  3. $3,241 spent. THIS AGREEMENT ESTABLISHES A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATION INMANUFACTURING BIOPHARMACEUTICALS (NIIMBL), SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY (SCU), BIOCOM CALIFORNIAINSTITUTE, MERCK SHARP & DOHME LLC, AND GENENTECH TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE "BIOCAD DATAPROGRAMMING FOR BIOMANUFACTURING SCALE-UP" PROJECT. RUNNING FROM JANUARY 1, 2025 THROUGH JUNE30, 2026, THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON FOUR KEY COMPONENTS:1. BUILDING DISSEMINATION CHANNELS BY IMPLEMENTING BIOCAD WITH COHORTS OF INDUSTRYPARTICIPANTS INCLUDING 100 GENENTECH INTERNS, 10 MERCK EMPLOYEES, 20 BIOCOM STUDENT ANDVETERAN FELLOWS, AND 20+ RETRAINING WORKERS, WHILE LAUNCHING THE BIOCAD INTERMEDIATE DATAPROGRAMMING FOR BIOMANUFACTURING CERTIFICATE NATIONALLY.2. DEVELOPING PRIMERS AND INTERMEDIATE COURSES IN DOWNSTREAM PROCESSES ANALYTICS INCLUDINGSTATISTICAL METHODS AND BIOMANUFACTURING PROCESS DATA PROGRAMMING.3. CREATING AND EVALUATING INTERMEDIATE DATA PROGRAMMING PROBLEMS AND ADVANCED CASES FORCOMPLEX END-TO-END MANUFACTURING SCENARIOS, WITH 6-8 HANDS-ON PROBLEMS AND ADVANCEDCASES FOCUSING ON EMERGING BIOPHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING MODALITIES.4. ADAPTING BIOCAD MATERIALS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE INSTRUCTORS AND RETRAINING PROGRAMSTHROUGH NEEDS ANALYSIS, COMMUNITY COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR ADAPTATION, AND PILOTIMPLEMENTATIONS.ADDITIONALLY, BIOCOM CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE HOSTS PARTICIPANTS OF THE NIIMBL EXPERIENCE PROGRAM, ANEXCLUSIVE ALL-EXPENSES-PAID IMMERSION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FIRST AND SECOND-YEAR COLLEGESTUDENTS WITH REAL-WORLD INSIGHT INTO BIOPHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY CAREERS. THE PROGRAM FEATURES AFULL-DAY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE AT BIOCOM'S OICE WITH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND DIRECT INTERACTIONSWITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE BIOPHARMACEUTICALMANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AMONG DOMESTIC STUDENTS, BROADEN TALENT PIPELINES BY CONNECTING INDUSTRYWITH TALENTED STUDENTS, AND OER EXPOSURE TO THE ENTIRE BIOPHARMA MANUFACTURING ECOSYSTEM.
  4. $971,324 spent. REMAINING OTHER - AMGEN, CONTRACOSTA, LSXP, AND LSYL

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

  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 2024.

    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 May 2008.

    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.

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.