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Steadman Philippon Research Institute

EIN 88-0245022 · Vail, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUILDING ON OUR LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE IN ORTHOPAEDIC SPORTS MEDICINE, SPRI IS UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF HEALING, FINDING CURES AND ENHANCING LIVES THROUGH GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND EDUCATION.

Income
$14.2 million
Spending
$16.2 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
79
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$661,826, chief scientific officer

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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 28 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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. $5.2 million spent. CENTER FOR REGENERATIVE AND PERSONALIZED MEDICINE (CRPM) - CRPM IS COMMITTED TO CONDUCTING THE HIGHEST IMPACT TEAM SCIENCE, LEVERAGING THE EXPERTISE OF THE INSTITUTE'S OTHER SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENTS. CRPM'S KEY AREA OF FOCUS IS TO ACCELERATE CLINICAL TRANSLATION AND HELP SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES AND PROVEN TREATMENTS GET TO PATIENTS FASTER. CRPM'S SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS INVESTIGATE CELLULAR SCIENCE AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE TECHNIQUES AND THERAPIES. THESE PROGRAMS ARE: FRACTURE REPAIR AND REGENERATIVE THERAPEUTICS MUSCLE REPAIR AND STEM CELL BIOLOGY BONE AND CARTILAGE REPAIR AND STEM CELL BIOLOGY GENETIC AND CELLULAR ENGINEERING STEM CELL ENGINEERING AND CARTILAGE REGENERATION HEALTH AGING DIAGNOSTICS
  2. $2.2 million spent. BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING (BME) IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY LABORATORY WHICH APPLIES QUANTITATIVE, ANALYTICAL, AND INTEGRATIVE METHODS TO THE FIELD OF ORTHOPAEDIC MEDICINE. THE MULTITALENTED RESEARCH STAFF INTEGRATES CLINICAL CARE, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION WITH THE RESOURCES OF WORLD-RENOWNED MEDICAL DOCTORS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE TREATMENT OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASES. THIS FOCUSED APPROACH IS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL, SEMI-PROFESSIONAL, COLLEGIATE, HIGH SCHOOL AND THE RECREATIONALLY ACTIVE INDIVIDUAL THROUGH AN EMPHASIS ON BENCH-TO-BEDSIDE RESEARCH. SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O. THE PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ARE UNIQUE AND DIVERSE AND THEY ENCOMPASS A COMPLETE RANGE OF SERVICES FOR THE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE OR THOSE WISHING TO RETURN TO AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AFTER INJURY.
  3. $1.5 million spent. THE CENTER FOR OUTCOMES-BASED ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH (COOR) PURSUES PATIENT-CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH, WHICH HAS BEEN DEFINED AS THE STUDY OF THE END RESULTS OF MEDICAL TREATMENT, WHICH IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT PATIENT AND PHYSICIAN DECISIONS REGARDING MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE INSTITUTE'S OUTCOMES RESEARCH IS BASED ON PHYSICIAN/PATIENT ASSESSMENT OF IMPROVEMENT IN FUNCTION, QUALITY OF LIFE AND PATIENT SATISFACTION. OUTCOMES RESEARCH PROVIDES A TOOL TO LINK THE PATIENT'S PERSPECTIVE TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HEALTH TREATMENT. THIS ALLOWS FOR INCREASED PARTICIPATION BY PATIENTS IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS REGARDING THE KIND OF CARE THEY DESIRE. OUR GOAL IN COOR IS TO LEARN FROM PATIENTS AND VALIDATE TREATMENT PROTOCOLS IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE FOR EVERY PATIENT.
  4. $2.9 million spent. SURGICAL SKILLS LABORATORY; EDUCATION AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM; DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, AND IMAGING RESEARCH

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 November 6, 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 December 1989.

    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 November 4, 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.