Arkansas Childrens Hospital Research Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE VISION OF ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE IS TO BE A LEADER IN CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH THAT IMPROVES THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN SUPPORT OF THIS VISION, ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE AIMS TO (1) RECRUIT AND RETAIN HIGHLY QUALIFIED SCIENTISTS; (2) PROVIDE AN EXCEPTIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR RESEARCH; (3) SEEK AND OBTAIN APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR RESEARCH; (4) MANAGE AND LEVERAGE RESOURCES TO SUCCEED IN ITS MISSION; (5) SUPPORT TRANSFER OF DISCOVERIES TO INDUSTRY TO CREATE JOBS IN ARKANSAS; (6) FORM PRODUCTIVE COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN ARKANSAS; (7) PROMOTE A STRONG RESEARCH CAPABILITY TO SUPPORT RECRUITMENT OF THE BEST POSSIBLE PHYSICIANS FOR THE CAMPUS; AND (8) SERVE AS A KEY LEARNING LABORATORY FOR VARIOUS TRAINEES TO LEARN THE DISCIPLINES AND METHODOLOGIES OF RESEARCH.
- Income
- $71.8 million
- Spending
- $62.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 62%
- Employees
- 278
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $2.7 million, president/ceo-ar children's
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
Fair: 54 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 58% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% 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.
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 17 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 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)
- $53.3 million spent. DURING FY25, ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE (ACRI) RECEIVED ALMOST $70 MILLION IN GRANTS AND CONTRACTS FROM FEDERAL, STATE, AND PRIVATE AGENCIES, INDUSTRY SPONSORS, AND PHILANTHROPIC DONATIONS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL GUIDE THE WAY INJURY AND ILLNESS ARE PREVENTED AND TREATED IN CHILDREN. OF THE GRANTS RECEIVED, APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD WAS FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH. IN 2025, ACRI HELD THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR OPIOID RESEARCH & CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS (NCOR). NCOR WILL POSITION ARKANSAS AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS OF THE OPIOID CRISIS ON THE FETUS, NEWBORN, AND DEVELOPING CHILDREN. IN ADDITION, ACRI ESTABLISHED A NEW CRITICAL CARE LABORATORY DESIGNED AS AN ANIMAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT TO PROVIDE CLINICAL CARE JUST AS A HUMAN PATIENT WOULD RECEIVE IN THE ICU TO SUPPORT TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH, INCLUDING PROJECTS INVOLVING SEPSIS, TRAUMA, INFLAMMATION, AND ORGAN INJURY. ACRI ALSO EXPANDED EXISTING RESEARCH CORE FACILITIES INCLUDING ITS METABOLOMICS AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY CORE. OVERALL, ACRI PROVIDED THE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE TO OVER 150 RESEARCHERS WHO PUBLISHED THEIR SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS IN OVER 414 PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL ARTICLES, OF WHICH 11% OF THE PUBLICATIONS APPEARED IN THE TOP 10% RANKING JOURNALS IN 2025.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.