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Citrus Research and Development Foundation Inc

EIN 26-4825142 · Lake Alfred, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CITRUS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, INC. IS A DIRECT SUPPORT ORGANIZATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. THE FOUNDATION REVIEWS, APPROVES, AND COORDINATES RESEARCH PROJECTS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING SOLUTIONS TO CITRUS DISEASES. FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS OF THE CRDF INCLUDES PROCEEDS OF RESEARCH BOX TAXES LEVIED ON FLORIDA CITRUS GROWERS. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION ALSO RECEIVES LEGISLATIVE FUNDING AND IN THE PAST HAS HAD AND CONTINUES TO SEEK PRIVATE DONATIONS. PRIVATE DONORS PROVIDE IMPORTANT RESEARCH SUPPORT FOR CRDF PROGRAMS. THE RESEARCH MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (PREVIOUSLY, THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCT DELIVERY COMMITTEE) WORKS WITH RESEARCH PARTNERS TO INSURE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED AND COMMERCIAL PARTNERS FOR MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING OF TECHNOLOGY ARE IDENTIFIED. PROGRAMS OF THE CRDF BENEFIT NOT ONLY CITRUS GROWERS, BUT ALLIED INDUSTRIES AND THE CITIZENS OF FLORIDA.

Income
$105.5 million
Spending
$105.6 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$177,763, ret chief op

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 70% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 428% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 June 30, 2026, 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 (2)
  1. $105.5 million spent. CONDUCT PEER-REVIEWED CONTRACTED DISCOVERY RESEARCH ON ELEMENTS OF CITRUS HEALTH, FOCUSING ON THE TRIPARTITE DISEASE SYSTEM INVOLVING A BACTERIAL PATHOGEN, LIBERIBACTER ASIATICUS, THE INSECT VECTOR, ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID, AND THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL CITRUS TREES IN FLORIDA. CRDF HAS MAINTAINED A ROBUST PORTFOLIO OF DISCOVERY SCIENCE IN NORTH AMERICA, CONTINUING TO SUPPORT IMPORTANT BACKGROUND AND INTERVENTION RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITIES, FEDERAL LABS, AND OTHER ENTITIES ACROSS THE US. SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN 2025-2026 IN UNDERSTANDING BIOLOGY OF THE ELEMENTS OF THIS DISEASE, AS WELL AS THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE ELEMENTS THAT LEAD TO DISEASE AND HEALTH DECLINE, AND WHICH FORM TARGETS FOR INTERVENTION.
  2. $132,385 spent. TRANSLATIONAL WORK TO MOVE RESEARCH RESULTS TO SOLUTIONS FOR FLORIDA AND US CITRUS GROWERS HAS INCREASED IN IMPORTANCE AT CRDF AS RESEARCH RESULTS ARE BEING ANALYZED AND NEXT STEPS ARE DESIGNED. CRDF HAS ENLISTED NATIONAL EXPERTS TO ASSIST IN SELECTING WHICH RESEARCH PROPOSALS TO FUND AND IN INTERPRETING THE RESULTS OF INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS AND TOPICS, LEADING TO A VISION FOR HOW FIELD DEPLOYMENT OF THE RESEARCH AND ITS ADOPTION BY GROWERS CAN INCREASE YIELD AND QUALITY. NOTABLY, CRDF IS AMONG FEW PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT AND FARMERS TO CONDUCT BOTH DISCOVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT THIS SCALE. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, A WIDE RANGE OF FIELD TRIALS WERE CONDUCTED OR FUNDED, BRINGING POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS INTO FOCUS UNDER REAL-WORLD GROWER CONDITIONS IN FLORIDA. TRANSLATIONAL WORK TO MOVE RESEARCH RESULTS TO SOLUTIONS FOR FLORIDA AND US CITRUS GROWERS HAS INCREASED IN IMPORTANCE AT CRDF AS RESEARCH RESULTS ARE BEING ANALYZED AND NEXT STEPS ARE DESIGNED. CRDF HAS ENLISTED NATIONAL EXPERTS TO ASSIST IN SELECTING WHICH RESEARCH PROPOSALS TO FUND AND IN INTERPRETING THE RESULTS OF INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS AND TOPICS, LEADING TO A VISION FOR HOW FIELD DEPLOYMENT OF THE RESEARCH AND ITS ADOPTION BY GROWERS CAN INCREASE YIELD AND QUALITY. NOTABLY, CRDF IS AMONG FEW PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT AND FARMERS TO CONDUCT BOTH DISCOVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT THIS SCALE. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, A WIDE RANGE OF FIELD TRIALS WERE CONDUCTED OR FUNDED, BRINGING POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS INTO FOCUS UNDER REAL-WORLD GROWER CONDITIONS IN FLORIDA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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 October 13, 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 June 2026.

    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 January 2012.

    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 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.