Salk Institute For Biological Studies
83% goes to programs $5 to raise $100 Strong reserves Declining revenue
Salk Institute For Biological Studies is a 501(c)(3) organization based in La Jolla, California, registered in 1961, with $161,166,470 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 83% of spending to programs.
10010 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA, 92037 EIN 95-2160097 Since 1961
Revenue (FY2023)
$161.2M
▼ 7.2% vs prior year
Science & Tech median: $288K
Expenses (FY2023)
$177.2M
Net assets
$649.4M
Employees
1,144
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating83% to programs · $5 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Salk Institute For Biological Studies: 83% to programs · $5 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating44 mo reserves · -10% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Salk Institute For Biological Studies: 44 mo reserves · -10% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Salk Institute For Biological Studies: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Salk Institute For Biological Studies: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Basic research in the following: molecular biology & genetics, neuroscience, and plant biology.
Contact & location
- Address
- 10010 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA, 92037
- City
- La Jolla
- State
- California
- Category
- Science & Technology
- Subcategory
- Biological & Life Sciences
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue declined from $169.6M (FY2013) to $161.2M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $173.4MNet assets $649.4M
Operating margin
-10.0%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$822.8M
Total liabilities
$173.4M
Net assets
$649.4M
Salaries & benefits
$93.4M
53% of expenses
Board members
28
24 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $161,166,470▼7.2% | $177,229,236▲5.9% | $649,406,730▲2.7% | $822,778,011▲2.2% | 990 |
| 2022 | $173,652,362▲7.0% | $167,406,834▲3.7% | $632,289,075▲2.7% | $805,255,578▲6.0% | 990 |
| 2021 | $162,334,440▼23.2% | $161,391,671▲8.8% | $615,448,943▼8.1% | $759,827,038▼5.4% | 990 |
| 2020 | $211,248,117▲25.7% | $148,350,987▲2.3% | $669,549,631▲33.0% | $802,933,823▲28.1% | 990 |
| 2019 | $168,102,957▼11.2% | $144,985,911▲5.8% | $503,419,908▲10.1% | $626,803,906▲8.5% | 990 |
| 2018 | $189,316,467▲32.8% | $136,990,693▲9.1% | $457,416,452▲13.4% | $577,444,867▲10.8% | 990 |
| 2017 | $142,581,739▲8.1% | $125,610,218▲5.2% | $403,429,158▲4.8% | $521,318,368▲4.1% | 990 |
| 2016 | $131,859,790▲2.8% | $119,364,264▲2.1% | $385,066,568▲10.7% | $500,598,954▲9.7% | 990 |
| 2015 | $128,210,019▲2.4% | $116,872,697▲0.8% | $347,980,726▼7.7% | $456,410,477▼5.8% | 990 |
| 2014 | $125,265,687▼26.1% | $115,989,517▼3.2% | $377,018,995▼0.5% | $484,480,296▲1.3% | 990 |
| 2013 | $169,621,302 | $119,766,536▲1.9% | $378,956,779▲22.1% | $478,180,718▲15.4% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $117,559,426▼2.1% | $310,470,927▲21.0% | $414,387,336▲15.8% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $120,052,020▲8.2% | $256,534,477▲8.9% | $357,920,584▲3.8% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $110,985,352▲7.0% | $235,651,818▲22.1% | $344,678,120▲22.1% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $103,751,626 | $192,931,477 | $282,360,647 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Gerald Joyce Md Phd — $761,791 (0.43% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Joyce Md Phd | President / Professor | 50 | $761,791 |
| Fred Gage Phd | Professor | 50 | $585,895 |
| Kim E Witmer | Treasurer/svp Finance & Admn | 50 | $523,931 |
| Bryan Robinson | Vp, External Relations | 50 | $500,110 |
| Ronald Evans Phd | Professor | 50 | $435,269 |
| Julia A Miller Jd | Secretary/general Counsel | 50 | $414,822 |
| Reuben Shaw Phd | Trustee/professor | 50 | $408,448 |
| Samuel Pfaff Phd | Professor | 50 | $379,480 |
| Wolfgang Busch Phd | Trustee/professor | 50 | $349,121 |
| Kimberly Castillo | Chief Financial Officer | 50 | $325,608 |
| Janelle Ayres Phd | Trustee/professor | 50 | $269,237 |
| Tatyana Sharpee Phd | Trustee/professor (outgoing Mar 2024) | 50 | $259,119 |
| Alan D Gold | Trustee (outgoing Nov 2023) | 0.5 | — |
| Amy Jacobs | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Benjamin H Lewis | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Carol Gallagher Pharmd | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Corinne Mentzelopoulos | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Daniel C Lewis | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Daniel Tierney | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| David Dolby | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Rudolph & Sletten Inc | Construction Service | $2,266,704 |
| East End Advisors LLC | Investment Advisor | $1,926,342 |
| University of California San Diego | Trng Program/subcont | $1,339,024 |
| Ao Reed & Co | Construction Service | $976,361 |
| Show Imaging Inc | Entertainment Service | $742,603 |
Grants received · $174.0M total
298 grants to Salk Institute For Biological Studies totaling $174.0M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The V Foundation | Cancer research | 2024 | $1,005,000 |
| The Mark Foundation For Cancer Research Us Ltd | Research | 2024 | $1,000,000 |
| American Cancer Society Inc | Extramural research | 2024 | $804,766 |
| Pew Charitable Trusts | Policy | 2024 | $225,000 |
| Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders Association Inc | Program support | 2024 | $200,000 |
| Brightfocus Foundation | Alzheimer's disease research by joseph herdy, phd entitled: a2025010f | 2024 | $200,000 |
| Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation | Research | 2024 | $150,000 |
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation | Health | 2024 | $112,454 |
| Jewish Communal Fund | In furtherance of grantee's tax-exempt purpose | 2024 | $101,000 |
| La Jolla Institute For Immunology | Subrecipient award | 2024 | $40,540 |
| American Gift Fund | Operations | 2024 | $30,000 |
| Minneapolis Foundation | Donor advised, health | 2024 | $25,000 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Medical / public services | 2024 | $21,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $19,630 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $15,000 |
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Compare Salk Institute For Biological Studies
Frequently asked questions
- Is Salk Institute For Biological Studies a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Salk Institute For Biological Studies is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 95-2160097, based in La Jolla, California. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Salk Institute For Biological Studies's EIN?
- Salk Institute For Biological Studies's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 95-2160097.
- How much revenue does Salk Institute For Biological Studies report?
- Salk Institute For Biological Studies reported $161,166,470 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Salk Institute For Biological Studies's spending goes to programs?
- Salk Institute For Biological Studies spends about 83% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Salk Institute For Biological Studies have?
- CharityIndex grades Salk Institute For Biological Studies A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Salk Institute For Biological Studies's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Salk Institute For Biological Studies's latest Form 990 is $761,791, paid to Gerald Joyce Md Phd (President / Professor).
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Explore more
Data for Salk Institute For Biological Studies (EIN 95-2160097) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.