Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Gates Medical Research Institute

EIN 82-1808476 · Cambridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GATES MRI ENGAGES DIRECTLY IN THE CONDUCT OF MEDICAL RESEARCH IN CONJUNCTION WITH ONE OR MORE HOSPITALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADDRESSING MAJOR CAUSES OF ILLNESS AND DEATH IN LOW-AND LOWER-MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES.

Income
$132.8 million
Spending
$341.1 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
18.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
175
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$1.5 million, director, board chair

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 157% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 84% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 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 (2)
  1. $118.9 million spent. GATES MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE ("GATES MRI") IS ALIGNED WITH THE PURPOSE OF THE GATES FOUNDATION AND GUIDED BY THE VISION THAT EVERY PERSON DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE. THE GATES MRI IS DEDICATED TO THE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND EFFECTIVE USE OF NOVEL BIOMEDICAL INTERVENTIONS ADDRESSING SUBSTANTIAL GLOBAL HEALTH CONCERNS FOR WHICH THE REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT BY TRADITIONAL BIOPHARMACEUTICAL ORGANIZATIONS IS LACKING. THE GATES MRI WORKS WITH COLLABORATING PARTNERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, COORDINATING AND DRIVING BIOPHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING PRE-CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT AND CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE TUBERCULOSIS WORK NOTED IN 4(B) THE MRI FOCUSES ON PROGRAMS AIMED AT REDUCING THE BURDEN OF MALARIA, DIARRHEAL DISEASES, AND MATERNAL, NEWBORN, AND CHILD ILLNESSES WORLDWIDE.
  2. $204.4 million spent. THE GATES MRI'S LARGEST PROGRAM AREA FOCUSES ON REDUCING THE BURDEN OF TUBERCULOSIS THROUGH THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL THERAPEUTICS AND VACCINE CANDIDATES, INCLUDING THROUGH THE CONDUCT OF CLINICAL TRIALS.

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 August 2018.

    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.

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.