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Battelle Memorial Institute

EIN 31-4379427 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE ("BMI") IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES, INCLUDING THE UTILIZATION OF SCIENCE, THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND RESEARCH FOR THE BENEFIT AND EDUCATION OF MANKIND.

Income
$13.5 billion
Spending
$13.4 billion
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 87%
Employees
49,423
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$6.0 million, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).

  • 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (3)
  1. $8.4 billion spent. BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE ("BMI") AND ITS AFFILIATES OPERATE SEVEN UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ("DOE") NATIONAL LABORATORIES: BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY; IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY; LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY; NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY; OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY; PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL LABORATORY AND SAVANNAH RIVER NATIONAL LABORATORY. BMI IS AN INTEGRATED SUBCONTRACTOR AT AN EIGHTH DOE NATIONAL LABORATORY: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY. IN ADDITION, A BMI AFFILIATE HOLDS THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT WITH RESPECT TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S NATIONAL BIODEFENSE ANALYSIS AND COUNTERMEASURES CENTER. THROUGH OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL LABORATORIES, BMI AND ITS AFFILIATES ADDRESS CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF THE NATION'S SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AGENDA, PERFORM BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, CREATE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS IN KEY AREAS OF SCIENCE, INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF CLEAN AND ABUNDANT ENERGY, RESTORE AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, ENGAGE IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND CONTRIBUTE TO NATIONAL SECURITY.
  2. $429.7 million spent. BMI ALSO CONDUCTS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR OTHER FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND INDUSTRIAL SPONSORS, AND TRANSLATES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INTO PRODUCTS, SYSTEMS AND SERVICES FOR ITS SPONSORS. BMI PLACES SPECIAL EMPHASIS UPON SIGNATURE AREAS OF ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND MATERIAL SCIENCES, NATIONAL SECURITY, AND HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES.
  3. $19.1 million spent. EACH YEAR, BMI DISTRIBUTES AT LEAST TWENTY PERCENT OF ITS PRIOR YEAR CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME BEFORE ADJUSTMENTS FOR UNREALIZED GAINS AND LOSSES TO PUBLIC CHARITIES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. DISTRIBUTIONS ARE PRIMARILY FOCUSED UPON EDUCATION, HUMAN SERVICES, ARTS AND SCIENCES, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. BMI ACTIVELY SUPPORTS EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES IN OHIO, TENNESSEE AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT PROMOTE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, ASSIST WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, AND PROMOTE INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING, ESPECIALLY IN THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) DISCIPLINES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 October 2002.

    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.