Metis Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Metis Foundation is an organization dedicated to advancing clinically relevant medical research, especially within the Department of Defense. We seek to foster collaboration among government, academic and industry entities by providing scientific, educational, financial and project management support during the conduct of federally and privately sponsored research, clinical trials and education.
- Income
- $14.4 million
- Spending
- $14.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 100%
- Employees
- 92
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $430,686, chair, board member
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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 80% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% 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 45% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 255 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
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 (5)
- $969,449 spent. W81XWH-19-2-0016 Development of a radiation dose response in rats. Besides survival, outcome measures include physiological parameters, coagulopathy (prothrombin time, thrombin generation, platelet aggregation, coagulation factors), endothelial damage & dysfunction (glycocalyx shedding, edema) and acute immune response.
- $854,892 spent. HU00012120090: Statement of Public PurposeMilitary Health System beneficiaries and military service members are at risk for Long Haul Covid (LHC). Importantly, this study will enroll non-MHS beneficiaries as well, extending the implications to the health of the general public. All individuals that suffer from Covid will benefit from research studies that expand the body of knowledge on reducing this negative post-viral impact.
- $862,506 spent. W81XWH-21-2-0053 We are seeking to address the following scientific questions, (1) Is hypocalcemia presentfollowing traumatic injury prior to transfusion during resuscitation? (2) Does hypocalcemia influence the amount of blood products transfused? (3) To what extent is hypocalcemia further exacerbated by transfusion? (4) What is the relationship of hypocalcemia following traumatic injury to mortality?
- $9.3 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS COMBINED FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
- ALL OTHER PROGRAMS COMBINED FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH 9324864. 3315953. 11348430.
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 November 6, 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 August 2015.
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 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.