Founded in 2002, Cortex mission is the creation of the midwest's premier innovation hub of bioscience and technology research, development and commercialization, serving as the anchor of st. Louis' growing ecosystem for innovative startup programs and established companies through urban revitalization.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.0M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $5.3M a year · 36% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
87%
of spending
Looks good: 87% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.0M
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $45K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$50.4M
59% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 59% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
28
of 29 voting members
Looks good: 28 of 29 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.5M
Spent
$7.4M
To programs
87%
Net assets
$35.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$3.5M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.5M
FY2021$5.3M
FY2022$34.9M
FY2023$17.2M
FY2024$12.3M
Expenses
$7.4M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.4M
FY2021$7.5M
FY2022$8.5M
FY2023$10.4M
FY2024$12.8M
Net assets
$35.4M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$35.4M
FY2021$33.1M
FY2022$59.1M
FY2023$65.9M
FY2024$65.4M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jun 2002.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

87 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 87% · $6.5M Management & general 12% · $903K Fundraising 0% · $37K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

33 people listed on the 990; $1.0M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President & CEO
$323,269Pt VII · Sec A
President & CEO (former)
$194,264Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Secretary & COO
$189,479Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Treasurer & CFO
$156,000Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$114,400Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Secretary & Office Manager
$66,304Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Sam Fiorello’s $509K as President & CEO is at the 78th percentile of top reported officer pay among 572 $10–100M community development nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Sam Fiorello$509,174$456,500$415,000$415,000$323,269
Mike Bozovich$316,023$271,103$195,361$170,481$156,000
Natalie Self$230,584$210,977$191,923——
Margaret Crane$201,670$177,819———
Dennis Lower————$194,264
Michael Sullivan———$189,479$189,479
Brian Russell$183,617$174,125$172,125$106,731—
Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano$137,897$129,542$127,994$101,115—

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II1 listed

Programs and updates

Fosters bioscience and tech innovation, research, and commercialization, revitalizing urban areas.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $6.5M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

In addition to cortex's ACQUISITION/DEVELOPMENT of real estate and the promotion of development activities of the cortex innovation district, cortex serves as the manager of ST. Louis land company, L.L.C.

$6.2Mprogram expense
02

Entrepreneurial development program- start-up connection

$259Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$45K
Grants paid · 13 grants · $2.2M · 2020–2023
Per Scholas INCNY · FY2023$1,206,735
The Launchcode FoundationMO · FY2023$475,000
CyberupMO · FY2023$150,000
Propel KitchensMO · FY2023$150,000
Npower INCNY · FY2023$110,290
Unitemized GrantFY2023$49,257
Tech StlMO · FY2023$37,500
Venture Cafe FoundationMO · FY2020$9,665
Venture for America INCMI · FY2020$7,000

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.5M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.9M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$451K
Other incomeLn 4–11$76K
Money outPt IX
$7.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.5M
Managementcol C$903K
Fundraisingcol D$37K
Owns and owesPt X
$35.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.0M
Total assetsLn 16$85.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$50.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
33
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a29
IndependentVI 1b28
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$451K
Government grantsLn 1e$37K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$221K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$6K
Other incomeLn 4–11$76K
Total revenueLn 12$3.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$486K
SavingsLn 2$555K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$47.2M
Other assetsLn 15$37.2M
Total assetsLn 16$85.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$50.4M
Net assetsLn 32$35.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 515
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M$1.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$48.8M$47.2M
Total assetsLn 16$88.5M$85.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$49.1M$50.4M
Net assetsLn 32$39.4M$35.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$17K$17K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$929K$790K$136K$3K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$159K$109K$34K$16K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$98K$81K$15K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$257K$212K$40K$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$4K$3K$593$66
Management feesLn 11a$115K$115K
Legal feesLn 11b$153K$76K$76K
Accounting feesLn 11c$44K$22K$22K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$556K$507K$49K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$115K$104K$12K
Office expensesLn 13$9K$9K
Information technologyLn 14$73K$33K$40K
OccupancyLn 16$896K$813K$84K
TravelLn 17$2K$1K$341
InterestLn 20$1.2M$1.2M
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.7M$1.4M$346K
InsuranceLn 23$83K$66K$17K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$957K$914K$43K
All other expensesLn 24e$43K$43K
Total functional expensesLn 25$7.4M$6.5M$903K$37K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $12.3M$12.8M−$564K$65.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $17.2M$10.4M$6.8M$65.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $34.9M$8.5M$26.4M$59.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $5.3M$7.5M−$2.2M$33.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $3.5M$7.4M−$4.0M$35.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,475,450 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $603,176$451,309
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $3,135,347$2,942,160
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $8,621$5,561
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $148,600$76,420
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,895,744$3,475,450
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $139,701$16,665
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,158,417$1,447,167
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,962,327$5,971,810
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,260,445$7,435,642
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,364,701−$3,960,192
Part VI · Governance 28 of 29 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body29
VI-1b Independent voting members28
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,475,450 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$37,184
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$414,125
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$221,350
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$451,309
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,942,160$2,942,160
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $5,561$5,561
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $76,420$76,420
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $3,018,580 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $5,561$3,475,450
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $7,435,642 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $16,665$16,665
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $789,850 · Management $136,151 · Fundraising $3,315$929,316
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $109,430 · Management $33,940 · Fundraising $15,615$158,985
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $81,360 · Management $15,388 · Fundraising $1,713$98,461
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $212,040 · Management $40,105 · Fundraising $4,464$256,609
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $3,137 · Management $593 · Fundraising $66$3,796
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $115,331$115,331
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $76,498 · Management $76,498$152,996
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $22,108 · Management $22,108$44,216
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $506,669 · Management $48,932$555,601
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $103,820 · Fundraising $11,535$115,355
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $8,525$8,525
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $32,731 · Management $40,007$72,738
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $812,814 · Management $83,678$896,492
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,360 · Management $341$1,701
IX-20 InterestPrograms $1,196,417$1,196,417
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,383,562 · Management $345,890$1,729,452
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $66,455 · Management $16,614$83,069
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $913,552 · Management $43,254$956,806
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $43,111$43,111
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,495,435 · Management $903,499 · Fundraising $36,708$7,435,642
Part X · Balance sheet $85,853,341 assets, 13 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $103,468; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $507,221$485,815
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $664,165$555,497
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $340,996$349,013
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $39,279$20,027
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $48,752,662$47,162,542
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $38,083,159$37,176,979
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $88,499,005$85,853,341
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,717,108$675,635
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $23,390,094$24,550,265
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $49,094,174$50,408,877
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $39,404,831$35,444,464
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $39,404,831$35,444,464
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $88,499,005$85,853,341
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $35,444,464 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,475,450
XI-2 Total expenses$7,435,642
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$3,960,192
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$39,404,831
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$35,444,464

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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