Blackbird Laboratories Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
BLACKBIRD LABORATORIES IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT MEDICAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION BASED IN BALTIMORE THAT IS FOCUSED ON CONDUCTING MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN CONJUNCTION WITH NONPROFIT HOSPITALS AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, SPECIFICALLY TO HELP MARYLAND'S UNIVERSITIES AND INVESTIGATORS AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF THEIR ACADEMIC RESEARCH, BUILD INNOVATIVE COMPANIES, BRING TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO LIFE, AND CREATE A THRIVING ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM IN MARYLAND.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $8.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 2
- Highest pay
- $707,880, ceo & board member, treasurer
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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 92% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 95% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% 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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 252 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
- $7.2 million spent. BLACKBIRD LABORATORIES IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT MEDICAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION BASED IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, WHICH CONDUCTS LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH IN THE PURSUIT OF NEW TREATMENTS FOR DISEASES IN COLLABORATION WITH NONPROFIT HOSPITALS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, AND OTHER MEDICAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS. SPECIFICALLY, WE AIM TO HELP MARYLAND'S UNIVERSITIES AND INVESTIGATORS AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF THEIR ACADEMIC RESEARCH BY BRINGING TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO LIFE AND SUPPORTING START-UP FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT. OUR GOAL IS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN PIONEERING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND INDUSTRY BY PROVIDING PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, STRATEGIC SCIENTIFIC AND BUSINESS COLLABORATION, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. OUR TEAM OF LIFE SCIENCES PROFESSIONALS FACILITATES THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES BY ADVANCING PROMISING TRANSLATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INTO NEW MEDICINES AND MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR PATIENTS, ATTRACTING INVESTMENT, AND NURTURING BALTIMORE'S POTENTIAL TO BE A LIFE SCIENCES LEADER ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE BLACKBIRD LABORATORIES TEAM EVALUATED OVER 200 POTENTIAL PROJECTS AND ESTABLISHED 4 NEW RESEARCH PROGRAMS FOR A TOTAL OF 9 COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS WITH NONPROFIT HOSPITAL AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS (JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND) AND OTHER MEDICAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS (THE LIEBER INSTITUTE FOR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT). THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THESE COLLABORATIONS IS TO DEVELOP PIONEERING THERAPEUTICS RESEARCH INTO SUCCESSFUL SPINOUT COMPANIES WORKING TO ADDRESS GAPS IN AVAILABLE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS. MANY BREAKTHROUGH MEDICINES AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST FAIL TO PROGRESS TO MARKET BECAUSE OF A LACK OF FUNDING OR A LACK OF TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO MANAGE THE STARTUPS LAUNCHED TO SHEPHERD THESE PRODUCTS TO MARKET. TO OVERCOME THESE BARRIERS, BLACKBIRD LABORATORIES ADVISES THESE STARTUP COMPANIES AND CONNECTS THEM WITH VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS, ULTIMATELY ENSURING THAT MEDICAL INNOVATIONS REACH PATIENTS AS QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE. ANOTHER KEY TENET OF BLACKBIRD LABORATORIES' MISSION TO CATALYZE AND MAINTAIN A THRIVING ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM IN BALTIMORE IS THE RETENTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF LOCAL LIFE SCIENCES TALENT. TWO FIFTH-YEAR PHD STUDENTS AND ONE RECENT PHD GRADUATE COMPRISED BLACKBIRD LABORATORIES SECOND VENTURE FELLOWS CLASS - A PAID FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2023 TO ENABLE DIRECT EXPOSURE TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY. FURTHER, BLACKBIRD LABORATORIES CONTINUES FOSTERING MENTORSHIP AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES BY ORGANIZING AND HOSTING VARIOUS SCIENTIFIC TALKS, PRESENTATIONS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE OPEN TO LOCAL SCIENTISTS AND STUDENTS, AS WELL AS AMPLIFYING THE ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT WORK ALREADY BEING CONDUCTED LOCALLY THROUGH SPONSORSHIP AND COLLABORATION.IN ADDITION TO NURTURING LOCAL TALENT, BLACKBIRD LABORATORIES IS CURRENTLY ESTABLISHING 42,000 SQ FT OF ADDITIONAL WET LAB CAPACITY (BLACKBIRD BIOHUB) WITHIN BALTIMORE CITY. BLACKBIRD BIOHUB WILL NOT ONLY SUPPORT BLACKBIRD LABORATORIES' OWN MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH BUT ALSO FOSTER THE SUCCESS OF FLEDGLING BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES BY FACILITATING THEIR RETENTION, IN TURN HELPING TO CREATE A THRIVING ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM FOR LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES IN BALTIMORE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2023.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.