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Southwest Research Institute

EIN 74-1070544 · San Antonio, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Southwest Reseach Institute(SwRI) exists to benefit government, industry & the public by conducting innovative applied & basic research; developing/transferring technology; establishing, maintaining & operating research facilities; & providing a challenging and rewarding work environment to fulfill its scientific, charitable, testing for public safety, literary and educational purposes.

Income
$926.4 million
Spending
$892.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
3,418
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$1.7 million, president/ceo/director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 27, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% 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 September 27, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (science, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 14 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 September 27, 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 (1)
  1. $753.3 million spent. Southwest Research Institute exists to benefit government, industry and the public by conducting innovative applied and basic research developing/transferring technology; establishing, maintaining and operating research facilities; and providing a challenging and rewarding work environment to fulfill its scientific, charitable, testing for public safety, literary and educational purposes. During fiscal year 2024, research yielded 559 papers published, 714 technical presentations, 14 technical podcasts, 22 webinars, and 9 streaming technical media presentations, as well as 35 U.S. patent awards, 54 U.S. patent applications filed, and 50 invention disclosures submitted. Areas of research and development included chemistry and chemical engineering, fire safety technology, automotive engineering, powertrain engineering, emissions, space systems, planetary science, fuels and lubricants, intelligent systems, applied power, applied physics, space science, defense and intelligence solutions, material science, structural mechanical engineering, and solar system science and exploration. The 2024 Annual Report is available at https://www.swri.org/newsroom/annual-report/2024/2024-annual-report. Additional information regarding federal government technical programs is available by searching for Southwest Research Institute's single audit at http://harvester.census.gov/facdissem/. As a nonprofit research and development organization, SwRI invests in innovation, using our robust internal research and development (IR&D) program to expand and enhance our expertise and encourage our staff's professional growth. In 2024, SwRI initiated 119 IR&D new projects, investing more than $11 million in internal research, including quick-look and focused research programs. IR&D fulfills the Institute's objective of conducting innovative activities for the benefit of industry, the government and humankind. Through internal research, we increase our technical capabilities, expand our reputation as a leader in science and technology, and invest in technology our clients may need in the future. The program also allows engineers and scientists to grow in their technical fields by providing freedom to explore innovative and unproven concepts. Internal Research Projects for 2024 are described at https://www.swri.org/newsroom/annual-report/2024/2024-annual-report.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 27, 2024, 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 September 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 March 2006.

    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.

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.