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Wicell Research Institute Inc

EIN 39-1972235 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE PART I, LINE 1

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$9.1 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
50
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$395,711, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (5)
  1. $3.4 million spent. CHARACTERIZATION SERVICES WICELL ESTABLISHED A CHARACTERIZATION SERVICES PROGRAM IN 2005 TO ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY PSC LINES DISTRIBUTED BY THE WICELL STEM CELL BANK AND TO SERVE THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY IN THE ESSENTIAL ONGOING CHARACTERIZATION OF CELL LINES USED IN THEIR RESEARCH. WICELL OFFERS ITS CHARACTERIZATION SERVICES TO HELP IMPROVE THE RIGOR AND REPRODUCIBILITY OF ALL RESEARCH UTILIZING CELL LINES TO ACADEMIC AND COMMERCIAL LABS IN THE US AND WORLDWIDE.
  2. $1.4 million spent. WICELL STEM CELL BANK WICELL'S STEM CELL BANK REPOSITORY ACCEPTS DEPOSITS FROM OTHER ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS ENSURING THESE PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL (PSC) LINES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY IN PERPETUITY. WICELL BANKS, CHARACTERIZES, AND DISTRIBUTES THESE HIGH-QUALITY PSC LINES TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH LABORATORIES TO SUPPORT BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN STEM CELL SCIENCE, REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, AND APPLICATIONS TO IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, WICELL DISTRIBUTED 619 PSC LINES, BRINGING TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS TO 12,143.
  3. $421,165 spent. CORE SERVICES WICELL DEVELOPED THE CORE SERVICE PROGRAM IN 2009 TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE UW STEM CELL RESEARCHERS IN MAKING SURE THAT THEY RECEIVE QUALIFIED SUPPLIES ESSENTIAL FOR PSC CULTURE. WICELL PURCHASES BULK LOTS OF SUPPLIES (MEDIA, REAGENTS, ETC.), QUALIFIES THEM TO ENSURE THEY SUPPORT STEM CELL CULTURE, AND DELIVERS THE QUALIFIED SUPPLIES TO CAMPUS RESEARCHERS WEEKLY. THIS SAVES THE RESEARCHERS TIME, MONEY, STORAGE SPACE, AND ENSURES QUALITY MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE, ALLOWING THEM TO FOCUS MORE ON THEIR RESEARCH.
  4. $51,973 spent. UW RESEARCH SUPPORT
  5. $255,074 spent. ASSAY/TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.