Dairy Science Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DAIRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (DRI) ENGAGES IN DAIRY SCIENCE RESEARCH, STUDY AND ANALYSIS, SHARING FINDINGS AND BEST PRACTICES WITH DAIRY STAKEHOLDERS AND CONSUMERS.
- Income
- $4.6 million
- Spending
- $11.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 55%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 2
- Highest pay
- $717,658, president, chair
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
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 148% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 6 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (2)
- $11.3 million spent. THE DRI SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AIMED AT UNDERSTANDING, MEASURING AND IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DAIRY OPERATIONS. SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH FOCUSES ON GREENHOUSE GASES EMISSION REDUCTION OPPORTUNITIES, LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENTS, WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND WATER QUALITY, SUSTAINABILITY MEASUREMENT AND REPORTING, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING TO IMPROVE FARM ADVISOR ACCESS TO SCIENCE BASED TECHNICAL RESOURCES. IN 2021, WE LAUNCHED THE "DAIRY SOIL AND WATER REGENERATION" PROJECT, A RESEARCH COLLABORATION WITH DAIRY MANAGEMENT INC (DMI) AND EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SEEKS TO QUANTIFY HOW CERTAIN PRACTICES IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH, REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. ANOTHER INITIATIVE, "DAIRY SCALE FOR GOOD", ALSO WORKING WITH DMI AND EXTERNAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS, ESTABLISHES PILOT FARMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO TEST AND IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES WITHIN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. "DAIRY SCALE FOR GOOD" EMPHASIZES EDUCATION, PROVIDING THE DAIRY INDUSTRY WITH PRACTICAL AND EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS TO ACHIEVE THEIR AMBITIOUS GOAL OF NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050. THESE INITIATIVES SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROTECTING WATER RESOURCES.
- $21,872 spent. LISTERIA RESEARCH CONSORTIUM - THE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH PROGRAM IS TO PREVENT FOODBORNE ILLNESS BY IDENTIFYING NEW TOOLS TO CONTROL LISTERIA IN DAIRY FOODS AND DAIRY MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. DRI LEADS A GROUP INCLUDING DAIRY COMPANIES AND THE NATIONAL DAIRY COUNCIL WHOSE EXPERTS IDENTIFY AND FUND LONGER TERM RESEARCH IN LISTERIA FUNDAMENTALS, ANTIMICROBIALS, MICROBIOME, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS.
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 February 2011.
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.