Biodesign Challenge Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BIODESIGN CHALLENGE IS AN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT INTRODUCES STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO EMERGING BIOTECHNOLOGIES AND ASKS THEM TO EXPLORE, THROUGH THE LENSES OF ART AND DESIGN, HOW THESE TECHNOLOGIES MIGHT BE USED TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE FUTURE.
- Income
- $296,222
- Spending
- $345,895
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 13 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 35%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 33
- Highest pay
- $95,968, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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)
- $277,726 spent. THROUGHOUT THE SPRING, OUR ORGANIZERS WORK WITH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE TEACHERS TO DESIGN CURRICULA; PARTNER PARTICIPATING CLASSROOMS WITH EXPERT MENTORS IN STEM, ART, AND DESIGN; AND SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH RESOURCES AND MENTORSHIP AS THEY DEVELOP THEIR PROJECTS. EACH JUNE, PARTICIPANTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC GATHER AT OUR ANNUAL SUMMIT WHERE STUDENTS SHOWCASE THEIR RESEARCH AND PROTOTYPES IN FRONT OF AN ESTEEMED JURY MADE UP OF INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA PROFESSIONALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ALUMNI OF THE PROGRAM ENTER THE WORKFORCE WITH A DEEP ETHOS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION, ENVIRONMENTALLY-FOCUSED DESIGN, AND EQUITY-CENTERED SYSTEMS DESIGN. TEAMS PROTOTYPE NEW IDEAS IN MEDICINE, TEXTILES, BEAUTY, FOOD, MANUFACTURING, AND MORE. BIODESIGN CHALLENGE BRIDGES ART, DESIGN, AND BIOTECH TO HELP DEVELOP THE FIRST GENERATION OF PROFESSIONALS THAT CROSS DISCIPLINES, ANTICIPATE PROMISES AND PITFALLS, AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN DIALOGUE ABOUT THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS OF EMERGING BIOTECH.AS PART OF OUR SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPANTS, WE CONNECT TEAMS WITH OPPORTUNITIES WITH MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, INVESTORS, AND ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS. THROUGH THESE CONNECTIONS PROJECTS HAVE BOTH EVOLVED INTO STARTUP COMPANIES AND EXHIBITS AT VENUES AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL, MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, DUTCH DESIGN WEEK, NYCXDESIGN, MIT MEDIA LAB, TECH MUSEUM OF INNOVATION, RISD BIODESIGN EXHIBITION, FIT MUSEUM, THE GREGG, AMONG OTHERS. TEAMS HAVE ALSO GONE ON TO WIN PRESTIGIOUS PRIZES LIKE THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHASING GENIUS AWARD AND INTERNATIONAL BIOART AND DESIGN AWARD.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 February 2019.
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.