Openbiome Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $3.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 26.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 81%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $278,771, chief executive officer
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 54% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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 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 (3)
- $2.4 million spent. OPENBIOME REMAINED COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT ALL PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM C. DIFFICILE INFECTION CONTINUED TO HAVE SAFE, CONVENIENT, AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO FECAL MICROBIOTA TRANSPLANTATION (FMT) THROUGH THEIR PHYSICIAN. IN OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (UMN), UNDER AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG (IND), WE CONTINUED TO DISTRIBUTE FMT TO OUR CLINICAL NETWORK. HOWEVER, IN MID-YEAR, REGULATORY CHANGES NECESSITATED THAT WE CEASE PROVIDING THESE TREATMENTS. AFTER 12 YEARS AND OVER 72,000 TREATMENTS, WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DISCONTINUE THIS PROGRAM.
- $49,407 spent. CLINICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM: OPENBIOME SEEKS TO ENABLE TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH ON THE HUMAN MICROBIOME. TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE OFFER A SUITE OF SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP INVESTIGATORS UNCOVER THE ROLE OF THE GUT MICROBIOME IN HUMAN HEALTH AND EXPLORE HOW ENGINEERING IT CAN LEAD TO IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE STUDY DESIGN AND REGULATORY SUPPORT FOR CLINICAL TRIALS, AND BIOINFORMATICS AND ANALYTICAL SERVICES. OPENBIOME ALSO SPONSORS ITS OWN STUDIES INVESTIGATING CRITICAL MICROBIOME-RELATED HEALTH CONDITIONS.
- $299,986 spent. THE GLOBAL MICROBIOME CONSERVANCY (GMBC) PARTNERS WITH SCIENTISTS WORLDWIDE TO CONSERVE, STUDY, AND SHARE THE UNDERREPRESENTED AND AT-RISK DIVERSITY OF HUMAN MICROBIOMES. THE GMBC HAS ESTABLISHED A NETWORK OF 80+ RESEARCHERS IN OVER THREE DOZEN COUNTRIES AND BUILT A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF SAMPLES AND BACTERIAL ISOLATES TO SPARK SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY AND ENABLE NEW SOLUTIONS TO MICROBIOME-ASSOCIATED DISEASE. IN 2024, OPENBIOME SUPPORTED THIS PROGRAM BY PROVIDING GRANTS TO AID IN THE COLLECTION OF SAMPLES AND ISOLATES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES.
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
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 December 2024.
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 November 2013.
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.
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.