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Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute

EIN 94-2650833 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE SIMONS LAUFER MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE (SLMATH) IS TO: FOSTER AND COMMUNICATE MATHEMATICAL RESEARCH IN A BROAD RANGE OF FUNDAMENTAL TOPICS AND APPLICATIONS, DEVELOP MATHEMATICAL TALENT AND CULTIVATE EXCELLENCE, COMMUNITY AND ENGAGEMENT, AND INSPIRE AN APPRECIATION OF THE POWER, BEAUTY, AND JOY OF MATHEMATICS.

Income
$19.1 million
Spending
$13.4 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
29
Volunteers
64
Highest pay
$408,503, director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 31 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 July 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 (3)
  1. $8.7 million spent. SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS: SLMATH CONDUCTS BROADLY-BASED RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN THE MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES AND CLOSELY RELATED FIELDS. IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, SLMATH CONDUCTS BETWEEN TWO AND FOUR THEMATIC RESEARCH PROGRAMS, EACH LASTING EITHER 5 MONTHS OR 10 MONTHS. EACH SUCH PROGRAM HOSTS 60-120 MATHEMATICAL SCIENTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHOSE RESEARCH CENTERS ON THE PROGRAM'S THEME, DURING WHICH TIME THEY COLLABORATE ON RESEARCH, CONDUCT SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS, AND TRAIN AND MENTOR POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS IN THE DISCIPLINE. SLMATH ALSO HOSTS, EACH YEAR, SEVERAL STAND-ALONE WORKSHOPS ON SPECIAL TOPICS, EACH ONE LASTING FOR A PERIOD BETWEEN ONE DAY AND TWO WEEKS AND BRINGING TO SLMATH BETWEEN 40 AND 150 PARTICIPANTS. SLMATH ALSO COLLABORATES WITH OTHER MATHEMATICS INSTITUTES IN SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS AND IN ITS EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN MATHEMATICS RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
  2. $1.3 million spent. COMPUTING AND COMMUNICATION: SLMATH PROVIDES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO ITS RESEARCHERS AND THE BROADER MATH COMMUNITY WORLDWIDE. SLMATH MAINTAINS AN IT PLATFORM THAT FEATURES THE MOST ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL SOFTWARE AND THAT GRANTS ACCESS TO AND SUPPORTS VIRTUAL COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AMONGST MATHEMATICIANS AT THE INSTITUTE. SLMATH DEVELOPS AND MAINTAINS A VMATH WEBSITE THAT STREAMS VIDEOS OF PAST PROGRAM LECTURES FOR MATHEMATICIANS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, SLMATH PRODUCES AND DISTRIBUTES DIGITAL VERSIONS OF ITS MOST POPULAR SCIENTIFIC AND PUBLIC EVENTS.
  3. $643,797 spent. MATH AND SOCIETY PROGRAMS: SLMATH SPONSORS A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES WITH THE GOALS TO ENHANCE BOTH K-12 MATHEMATICS EDUCATION AND THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF AND APPRECIATION FOR MATHEMATICS.THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE SUPPORTING THE BAY AREA MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD (BAMO, A MATHEMATICS-RELATED EVENT FOR STUDENTS IN GRADE 12 OR UNDER), THE MATHICAL BOOK PRIZE (AN ANNUAL AWARD FOR FICTION AND NONFICTION BOOKS THAT INSPIRE CHILDREN PRE-K - 12 TO SEE MATH IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM), TWO BOOK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS (WHICH PROVIDE MATHICAL PRIZE-WINNING BOOKS TO TITLE I SCHOOLS NATIONALLY AND IN CALIFORNIA'S ALAMEDA COUNTY), AND THE CRITICAL ISSUES IN MATHEMATICS WORKSHOP (CIME, A FORUM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS BETWEEN MATHEMATICS RESEARCHERS AND EDUCATORS).IN ADDITION, A SERIES OF FILMS, PUBLIC LECTURES, AND OTHER EVENTS ARE HOSTED AT SLMATH AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FOR THE PUBLIC. THESE EVENTS AID IN UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF MATHEMATICS AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN OUR SOCIETY AND CULTURE. THESE EVENTS ALSO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SIGNIFICANT RECENT ADVANCES IN THE MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 July 2025.

    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 April 1980.

    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 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.