Active Site Research Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To eliminate the risks posed by pandemic threats through the advancement of science and innovation in medical countermeasure development, ensuring the health and well-being of individuals and communities worldwide.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 11
- Highest pay
- $83,495, vice president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 164% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 (4)
- $330,152 spent. The Synthetic Innate Immunity program aims to develop medicines that serve as society's first line of defense against emerging viral outbreaks by taking inspiration from natural mechanisms of innate immunity. By encoding natural or engineered pattern recognition receptors PRRs and interferon-stimulated genes ISGs in DNA delivered to the respiratory tract, the program works to persistently enhance a patient's natural sense-and-respond capacity, potentially providing prophylactic protection against a broad range of respiratory viruses for months.
- $235,675 spent. PAN-2025-001 is a single-site, two-arm, parallel-group superiority randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 1:1 allocation, designed to evaluate whether large language model (LLM) use improves the ability of novice lab participants to independently perform complex biological tasks. Participants attempt a fixed sequence of five laboratory obstacles that represent the core skills required to create a virus via reverse genetics with or without LLM assistance.
- $222,703 spent. The organization periodically provides subject-matter expertise in molecular biology and related life sciences disciplines to AI companies. Such services include responding to technical inquiries and developing advanced scientific problem sets designed to evaluate complex biological reasoning and analytical capabilities in emerging AI technologies. These activities further the organizations scientific research mission and promote the responsible development and evaluation of AI tools.
- $22,057 spent. misc program expenses
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 2025.
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 April 2024.
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.