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Society for the Neurobiology of Language

EIN 27-3547171 · Novato, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FOSTER PROGRESS IN UNDERSTANDING THE NEUROBIOLOGICAL BASIS FOR LANGUAGE VIA THE INTERDISCIPLINARY EXCHANGE OF IDEAS. A MAJOR GOALS OF THE SOCIETY IS TO BRING TOGETHER SCIENTISTS WITH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF LANGUAGE AND RELATED SYSTEMS.

Income
$217,553
Spending
$262,488
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
0
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$675, executive director

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    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 (1)
  1. $182,391 spent. SNL HOLDS AN ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING THAT HIGHLIGHTS RECENT RESEARCH AND HOSTS LIVELY DEBATES ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING NEURAL MECHANISMS UNDERLYING PERCEPTUAL, COGNITIVE, MOTOR, AND LINGUISTIC PROCESSES USED TO PRODUCE AND TO UNDERSTAND LANGUAGE IN BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND DRAWING ON A RANGE OF METHODS FROM PURELY BEHAVIORAL TO NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND NEUROANATOMICAL MEASURES, AND FROM NEURO-STIMULATION AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO ANIMAL MODELS. KEYNOTE LECTURES FROM LEADING SCIENTISTS WORKING OUTSIDE THE FIELD, BUT IN AREAS HIGHLY RELEVANT TO THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF LANGUAGE, AUGMENT THE SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND FURTHER PROMOTE CROSS-DISCIPLINARY INTERACTION. IN ADDITION, SNL DISTRIBUTES NEWS AND INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR VIA A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER AND PROMOTES CAREER DEVELOPMENT VIA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO OUTSTANDING JUNIOR SCIENTISTS.

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 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 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 January 2011.

    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.