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Applied Research Institute

EIN 82-1443757 · Bloomington, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARI WAS FORMED TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND FOSTER REGIONAL COLLABORATION AMONG INDIANA'S RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES; LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES; AND THE PHILANTHROPIC AND CORPORATE SECTORS IN CONNECTION WITH CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER EXEMPT PROGRAMS INVOLVING MULTI-SPECTRAL SENSOR DATA FUSION AND SECURITY (CYBER), HIGH DENSITY ENERGY STORAGE AND MANAGEMENT, ADVANCED MATERIALS SCIENCE, AND MICROELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY AND SECURITY, AS WELL AS OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC AREAS THAT ALIGN WITH THE CAPABILITIES AND MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION.

Income
$76.9 million
Spending
$68.2 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 76%
Employees
69
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$502,209, president & ceo

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 66% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 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 (4)
  1. $33.7 million spent. THE ME COMMONS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT MIDWEST STRATEGY TO ONSHORE MICROELECTRONICS CAPABILITIES, GENERATE JOBS, DRIVE INNOVATION AND PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT.
  2. $9.5 million spent. THE IEDC PORTFOLIO INCLUDES PROJECTS INTENDED TO PURSUE LARGE-SCALE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE INDIANA ECOSYSTEMS IN VARIOUS TECHNICAL AREAS; A PROJECT THAT PROMOTES DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TEAMING BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES/NON-PROFITS AND THE TECH SECTOR; AND A PROJECT TO OPERATE A TRUSTED TECH ACCELERATOR, TECH DIPLOMACY FELLOWSHIP, AND TRAIN AND EDUCATE THE INDIANA TALENT AND WORKFORCE.
  3. $3.2 million spent. THE DAPRA PIA PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES BETWEEN DARPA AND SMALL BUSINESS FIRMS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SERVED BY ARI. THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY ARI ARE INTENDED TO ASSIST DARPA SUCCEED WITHIN AN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM THAT INCLUDES ACADEMIC, CORPORATE, AND GOVERNMENTAL PARTERNS, WITH A CONSTANT FOCUS ON NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES.
  4. $17.2 million spent. APPLIED RESEARCH INSTITUTE PERFORMS APPLIED RESEARCH AND SUPPORTED RELATED TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE AREAS OF TRUSTED MICROELECTRONICS, HYPERSONIC, AND CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEMS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, ARI HAS ESTABILSHED A BROAD NETWORK OF GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIC, AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THE DIFFICULT THREATS CURRENTLY IMPACTING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. OUR WORK RANGES FROM APPLIED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, "CONVENE" ACTIVITIES TO BRING TOGETHER DISPARATE GROUPS TO MEET SINGULAR GOAL RELATED TO OUR TECHNICAL MISSION, AND TO OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT OUR NATION AND ITS WARFIGHTERS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 October 2017.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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