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Oregon Research Institute

EIN 93-0495655 · Springfield, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OREGON RESEARCH INSTITUTE IS AN INDEPENDENT BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER DEDICATED TO UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HUMAN LIFE THROUGH THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

Income
$7.8 million
Spending
$7.7 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 80%
Employees
108
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$259,729, board member, senior scientist

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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% 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 34% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    5 of 13 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. $2.7 million spent. PROMOTING HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT: RESEARCHERS IN THIS AREA EXAMINE THE ROLE THAT FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND COMMUNITIES PLAY IN PROMOTING THE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN, TEENS, AND YOUNG ADULTS. THE RESEARCH TEAMS STUDY WHAT LEADS TO SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS AS WELL AS WHAT LEADS TO PROBLEM BEHAVIORS, SUCH AS SUBSTANCE USE AND SCHOOL FAILURE. ORI SCIENTISTS WORK WITH SCHOOLS AND PARENTS TO REFINE AND ADAPT EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS SUCH AS LITERACY STRENGTHENING, SOCIAL SKILLS PROGRAMS, AND PARENT TRAINING PROGRAMS.
  2. $817,305 spent. PROMOTING PHYSICAL HEALTH: ORI RESEARCHERS ARE STUDYING WAYS TO KEEP PEOPLE OF ALL AGES PHYSICALLY HEALTHY. ORI'S WORK IN CHRONIC ILLNESS PREVENTION BEGAN IN THE 1980S WITH RESEARCH TO FIND WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DIABETES MANAGE THEIR ILLNESS. THE STUDY AND PROMOTION OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BEGAN IN THE 1990S WITH IMPORTANT LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH ON THE FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO BECOME AND REMAIN PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND WITH IMPORTANT CLINICAL TRIALS OF THE BENEFITS OF TAI CHI EXERCISE FOR THE ELDERLY.
  3. $958,197 spent. PROMOTING PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH: ORI SCIENTISTS STUDY EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS AS WELL AS NORMATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND PERSONALITY, IN ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND FACTORS THAT MAKE PEOPLE VULNERABLE TO SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AS WELL AS FACTORS THAT INCREASE RESILIENCE THAT HELPS PEOPLE COPE WITH DAILY CHALLENGES. AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF RESEARCH IN THIS AREA IS DEVELOPING AND EVALUATING INTERVENTIONS FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DISORDERS.
  4. $932,029 spent. TREATING TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND ILLEGAL DRUG USE: ORI'S WORK IN THIS AREA DATES FROM RESEARCH FUNDING OBTAINED IN THE LATE 1970S TO STUDY TOBACCO USE IN YOUNG PEOPLE. SINCE THEN, RESEARCH INTEREST HAS BROADENED TO INCLUDE RESEARCH ON THE PREVENTION OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG USE AMONG YOUTH. TWO IMPORTANT ORI LONGITUDINAL STUDIES, ONE ON PEER AND FAMILY INFLUENCES ON YOUTH DRUG USE, AND THE OTHER ON YOUNG CHILDREN'S KNOWLEDGE OF AND INTENT TO USE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS - HAVE PROVIDED VALUABLE GUIDANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.DECISION RESEARCH: ORI SCIENTISTS IN THIS AREA INVESTIGATE HUMAN JUDGMENT, DECISION MAKING, AND RISK THROUGH BASIC RESEARCH AND IN A VARIETY OF APPLIED AREAS INCLUDING AVIATION, BUSINESS, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, FINANCE, HEALTHCARE, INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS, AND TERRORISM.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1962.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.