Brain Research Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH THAT LEADS TO ADVANCES IN UNDERSTANDING OF BRAIN FUNCTION AND TREATMENT OF BRAIN-RELATED DISORDERS.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $3.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 71.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $463,104, executive director/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 71.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 June 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)
- $2.5 million spent. THE BRAIN RESEARCH FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH BY PROVIDING START-UP MONEY FOR INNOVATIVE NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECTS ACROSS THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF THESE ILLNESSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ALS (LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE), ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER, AUTISM, BIPOLAR DISORDER, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, EPILEPSY, HEAD INJURIES, PARKINSON'S DISEASE, SCHIZOPHRENIA, AND STROKE. ADVANCING SCIENCE IN THESE AREAS WILL HELP ALL HUMANS AFFLICTED WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS.
- $146,615 spent. THE BRAIN RESEARCH FOUNDATION USES PROMOTIONS, MARKETING, AND PRINTED MATERIALS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR RESEARCH ON BRAIN-RELATED ILLNESSES AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND THE FOUNDATION ITSELF. OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ARE TO HELP THE OVER 50 MILLION AMERICANS AFFLICTED WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS.
- $133,446 spent. THE BRAIN RESEARCH FOUNDATION SUPPORTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR RESEARCHERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, PRINTED MATERIALS AND SEMINARS. BRF SPONSORS AN ANNUAL NEUROSCIENCE DAY, WHICH EDUCATES RESEARCHERS WORKING ON THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM. THE FOUNDATION EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON SUCH TOPICS AS AUTISM, STROKE AND SPORTS-RELATED BRAIN INJURIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 March 1958.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Purdue Research Foundation (West Lafayette, IN), EIN 35-1052049. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.