Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Experiment Foundation

EIN 99-0758904 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE EXPERIMENT FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO REIMAGINING HOW SCIENCE IS FUNDED AND WHO GETS TO PARTICIPATE. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PHILANTHROPIES, FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND COMPANIES, THE FOUNDATION FACILITATES INNOVATIVE GRANTMAKING MODELS-INCLUDING CHALLENGE GRANTS AND PATRONAGE PROGRAMS SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT RESEARCHERS AND NOVEL SCIENTIFIC IDEAS, THE EXPERIMENT FOUNDATION HELPS UNLOCK SCIENTIFIC CREATIVITY AND BUILDS NEW PATHWAYS FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENCE.

Income
$479,846
Spending
$9,411
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
4

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

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $9,062 spent. IN 2024, MOST FUNDING ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE EXPERIMENT FOUNDATION'S FORMER FISCAL SPONSOR. DURING THIS TRANSITION YEAR, THE FOUNDATION FOCUSED ON ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FUNDRAISING, AND ESTABLISHING ITS INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS. DESPITE OPERATING WITH A SMALL PART-TIME TEAM, WE MADE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS ACROSS OUR CORE PROGRAM AREAS.SCIENCE ANGEL PROGRAM OUR FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE, THE SCIENCE ANGEL PROGRAM, EMPOWERS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT EARLY-STAGE SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS. IN 2024, WE SUPPORTED MORE SCIENCE ANGEL CATEGORIES ACROSS DOMAINS SUCH AS CONSERVATION BIOTECH, OCEAN SENSORS, AND COMMUNITY BIOLOGY. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDED CATALYTIC GRANTS TO EARLY-STAGE RESEARCH PROJECTS.GREENHOUSE GAS REMOVAL IDEATION PRIZE A MAJOR INITIATIVE IN 2024 WAS RUNNING THE GHG REMOVAL IDEATION PRIZE. THIS PRIZE UNIQUELY FOCUSED ON ADVANCING MANY PROMISING EARLY-STAGE IDEAS. WE AWARDED OVER 60 GRANTS AND PRIZES TO INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS IN THIS PROGRAM ALONE.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE FOUNDATION ALSO BEGAN PUBLISHING INSIGHTS FROM OUR WORK TO INFORM BROADER SCIENCE FUNDING PRACTICES AND LAUNCHED A SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN THAT CULMINATED IN OUR FIRST GENERAL OPERATING GRANT, POSITIONING US FOR FURTHER IMPACT IN 2025.

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 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 December 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 February 2024.

    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.