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Brainfutures Incorporated

EIN 52-0701916 · Lutherville, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BRAINFUTURES PROVIDES RIGOROUS AND UNBIASED INFORMATION ABOUT BRAIN HEALTH ADVANCES RESULTING FROM BREAKTHROUGHS IN UNDERSTANDING OF BRAIN NEUROPLASTICITY, AND LEADS POLICY, REGULATORY AND REIMBURSEMENT WORK TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TREATMENT ADVANCES.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$255,315, chief executive director

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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 69% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
  1. $1.2 million spent. PSYCHEDELICSDEVELOPED PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES AND A CODING GUIDE FOR A NEW THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO TREAT VARIOUS BRAIN-BASED CONDITIONS INCLUDING DEPRESSION AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. EDUCATED THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE RELEASE OF PRINT MATERIALS, DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA, CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS TO PROFESSIONAL AUDIENCES, AND AUTHORING ARTICLES FOR SELECT NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS. INTERVIEWED A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM BACKGROUNDS SUCH AS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH, ACADEMIA, AND PHILANTHROPY TO UNDERSTAND POTENTIAL BARRIERS TO EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PSYCHEDELIC-ASSISTED THERAPY FOR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OFTEN UNDERSERVED BY THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, SUCH AS BIPOC, LGBTQ+, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. LAID FOUNDATIONS OF A LARGER INITIATIVE TO SPARK COLLABORATION AND AMPLIFY EQUITY AND ACCESS EFFORTS IN THE PSYCHEDELIC-ASSISTED THERAPY FIELD.
  2. $836,943 spent. YOUTH EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONBRAINFUTURES IMPLEMENTS AN EVIDENCE-BASED, DIGITAL EXECUTIVE COGNITIVE FUNCTION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, AS A TIER 1 INTERVENTION FOR HIGH-RISK STUDENTS WITHIN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS. THIS IS A COGNITIVE TRAINING PROGRAM THAT USES COMPUTER-BASED ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS OF ATTENTION AND MEMORY AND, AS A RESULT, STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE CONTRIBUTES TO HIGHER RATES OF SCHOOL CONNECTEDNESS, WHICH HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH FEWER NEGATIVE MENTAL HEALTH EXPERIENCES. COMPROMISED EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ADHD, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDE ATTEMPTS; STRENGTHENING EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS CAN HELP TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. COMPROMISED EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS LIMIT STUDENTS' ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN AND BENEFIT FROM NUMEROUS OTHER MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS; BY IMPROVING EXECUTIVE FUNCTION, BRAINFUTURES CAN EQUIP STUDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM OTHER MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS

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 December 1975.

    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.

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