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North Carolina Biotechnology Center

EIN 56-1434024 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NORTH CAROLINA BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER AIDS THE BIOTECHNOLOGY-RELATED EFFORTS OF RESEARCHERS, BUSINESSES, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, AND OTHER AGENCIES PRIMARILY THROUGH AWARDS OF GRANTS AND LOANS RELATED TO SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND OTHER SERVICES TO GROW [OR ADVANCE] THE INDUSTRY IN NORTH CAROLINA.

Income
$21.0 million
Spending
$22.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
18.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 81%
Employees
95
Volunteers
39
Highest pay
$446,727, assistant secretary

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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    39 of 40 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

    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 (4)
  1. $8.9 million spent. OUR COMMERCIALIZATION PROGRAM COMBINES THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND THE EMERGING COMPANY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INTO ONE. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROGRAM OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO STRENGTHEN THE STATE'S INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH WHICH IS AN ESSENTIAL PREREQUISITE FOR SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES LEADING TO NEW PRODUCTS AND APPLICATIONS. TO MEET THIS GOAL, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO STATE UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, AND NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO LIFE SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH RESEARCH, TEACHING, AND PUBLIC SERVICE. SUPPORT IS PRIMARILY PROVIDED IN THE FORM OF GRANTS. SINCE 1984, THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED OVER $145 MILLION TO ENHANCE THE RESEARCH AND INTELLECTUAL CAPABILITIES OF THE STATE'S ACADEMIC AND NONPROFIT RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS. THE EMERGING COMPANIES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS THE SECOND LARGEST PROGRAM OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT NORTH CAROLINA LIFE SCIENCE COMPANIES WITH FUNDING; TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT; STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS; BUSINESS PLAN ADVICE; NETWORKING AND CAREER TRANSITION SUPPORT; INFORMATION ON VENTURE CAPITAL AND AVAILABLE LABORATORY SPACE; AND PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS. THE LOAN PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR PROVIDES LOANS TO EARLY STAGE COMPANIES. THESE LOANS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT LIFE SCIENCE COMPANY INCEPTION, RESEARCH, AND GROWTH.
  2. $5.7 million spent. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM NOW INCLUDES STATEWIDE DEVELOPMENT, AG SECTOR AND LIFE SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER FOCUSED ON THE LARGEST INDUSTRY SECTOR IN THE STATE - AGRICULTURE. THE CORE FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM IS TO SUPPORT THE LARGEST GLOBAL ECONOMIC CLUSTER OF AGRICULTURE BIOTECHNOLOGY IN ITS CONTINUED GROWTH AND CONTRIBUTION. THE AGRICULTURE BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOSTERS A DYNAMIC AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY, IMPROVES TECHNOLOGY AND VALUE, AND ATTRACTS AND SUSTAINS JOBS IN AGRICULTURE TO THE STATE. SINCE 2010, MANY COMPANIES SUPPORTING THOUSANDS OF JOBS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND ENGAGED BY THE PROGRAM.
  3. $4.2 million spent. THE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES THE EMERGING SECTOR DEVELOPMENT, CONFERENCE CENTER AT NC BIOTECH AND LIFE SCIENCE INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS. THE CONFERENCE CENTER IS AN EVENT AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTION FOR NUMEROUS LIFE SCIENCE COMPANIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. IT INCLUDES MEETING AND CATERING SERVICES AND CO-WORKING SPACES. IN ADDITION TO MARKET INTELLIGENCE, THE LSI TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NETWORK SECURITY AND IT SUPPORT, TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE CENTER'S WEBSITE, CORPORATE RECORD RETENTION AND HISTORICAL ARCHIVES, MANAGEMENT OF THE CENTER'S CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, CENTER-WIDE IMPACT MEASUREMENTS, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
  4. $68,612 spent. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE GRANTS, LOANS AND CONTRIBUTIONS.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1985.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.