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The Center for Advancing Innovation Inc

EIN 38-3903952 · Bethesda, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 22% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

THE CENTER FOR ADVANCING INNOVATION (CAI) IS A GLOBAL PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP NON-PROFIT FOCUSED ON CREATING A VIRTUOUS CIRCLE OF INNOVATION AND DRIVING GROWTH BREAKTHROUGHS THROUGH NOVEL, CREATIVE PARADIGMS AND MODELS. CAI'S MISSION IS TO ACCELERATE AND INCREASE THE VOLUME OF RESEARCH COMMERCIALIZATION IN SUPPORT OF HIGH GROWTH BUSINESS IN ORDER TO IGNITE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BOLSTER THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND MAXIMIZE THE COMMERCIAL AND KNOWLEDGE-BASED POTENTIAL OF PROMISING INVENTIONS. CAI'S AWARD-WINNING CHALLENGE-BASED ACCELERATOR, RIGOROUS FACT-BASED DUE DILIGENCE AND CAPITAL EFFICIENT LEAN MANAGEMENT MODELS SERVE TO HYPER-ACCELERATE "GAZELLE" HIGH- PERFORMING STARTUPS FOR OUTSIZED INVESTOR RETURNS.

Income
$13,076
Spending
$450,997
Spent on programs
22%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$170,250, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3349% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 97% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    22% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $98,553 spent. The Global Health Innovation Challenge II (GHIC II) is orchestrated by the Center for Advancing Innovation (CAI) with support from the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) Build to Scale (B2S) Program. As with CAI's prior challenges, teams will advance promising de-risked inventions selected with rigorous due diligence by potential investors and industry experts. Teams may also enter with their own commercially-viable inventions. CAI invites anyone to submit an idea with the potential to hyper-accelerate the future of health. An expert judging panel will select winners from the pool of teams, advancing promising inventions.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 June 2014.

    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.