Ballad Research Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Ballad is to support the early development of projects related to the treatment of human disease. These may include pilot studies, innovative high-risk/high-impact projects, or proof of concept studies. Ballad provides investigators, embarking on early development projects, with necessary laboratory facilities and infrastructure.
- Income
- $421,391
- Spending
- $421,826
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 96% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 5 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
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $416,349 spent. Type 1 DiabetesBallad scientists have identified a new immune cell type in human blood. Children who are diagnosed with rapidly progressing type 1 diabetes have very few of these cells but children with less severe diabetes have almost normal numbers. More recently Ballad scientists have found that the cells they have discovered have the capacity to actively modulate inflammation. This is important because diabetes is an inflammatory disease and this might explain why having few of these cells is associated with worse disease. The next step in their research is to understand how to make more of these cells as a way of slowing progression, or reversing this devastating disease.In a linked but separate project, these scientists are working to understand whether the same cells are related to the development of diabetes in children who are genetically at-risk for developing type 1 diabetes. Neurological DisordersScientists at Ballad are working to understand how neurological disorders in people infected with HIV persist, despite treatment with antiretroviral drugs that control the infection. It also examines how cannabis use might be helpful in preventing neurological disorders in this population by strengthening blood vessel walls to prevent harmful inflammatory cells from migrating into the brain and by improving mobilization of drugs into the brain. It is hoped that these studies will lead to novel therapies to prevent neurological damage in people with HIV, as well as in other neurological disorders linked to aging and metabolic syndrome.
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 July 2014.
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: Baylor Research Institute (Dallas, TX), EIN 75-1921898. 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.