The international genetically engineered machine (Igem) Foundation is dedicated to education and competition, advancement of synthetic biology, and the development of open community and collaboration. The Igem Foundation fosters scientific research and education through organizing and operating the Igem competition, the premier student synthetic biology competition. IT also fosters scientific research and education by establishing and operating the registry of standard biological parts, a community collection of biological components. The organization promotes the advancement of science and education by developing an open community of students and practitioners in schools, laboratories, research institutes, and industry. The Igem community has a long history of involving students and the public in the development of the new field of synthetic biology.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 6 volunteers and 5 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $165K a year · 3% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
84%
of spending
Looks good: 84% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.5 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $50K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.3M
75% of total assets
Worth a look: liabilities are 75% of assets; over 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$6.5M
+8% vs prior year
Spent
$6.3M
To programs
84%
Net assets
$431K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$6.5M
FY2024▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.3M
FY2021$5.1M
FY2022$5.0M
FY2023$6.0M
FY2024$6.5M
Expenses
$6.3M
FY2024▼ -14%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$3.1M
FY2022$7.4M
FY2023$7.3M
FY2024$6.3M
Net assets
$431K
FY2024▲ +90%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$4.0M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$227K
FY2024$431K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Sep 2013.

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

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $5.3M Management & general 16% · $1.0M

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

11 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President (thru 7/16/24)/Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (thru 11/18/24)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (thru 3/24/24)
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Meagan Lizarazo’s $168K as Former Clerk/COO/VP is at the 43rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 364 $1–10M science & technology 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Randall Rettberg—$236,554$188,933$149,773
Meagan Lizarazo$168,462$145,787$142,800$121,273

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.

See Igem Foundation INC executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

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

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Promotes synthetic biology education and research through student competitions and a shared parts registry.

Questions for Igem Foundation INC

Tap to ask. Igem Foundation INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Igem Foundation INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $5.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Igem foundation fosters scientific research and education through the organization and operation of the igem competition, the world's premier student synthetic biology competition. In 2024, igem engaged more than 400 student teams and institutions globally and over 10,000 participants from 45 countries-the highest participation in its…

$5.3Mprogram 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 1 funder$50K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $10K · 2023–2023
MaggenixFY2023$10,000

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.5M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6.3M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$150K
Investment incomeLn 3$20K
Money outPt IX
$6.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.3M
Managementcol C$1.0M
Owns and owesPt X
$431K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
11
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$150K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$20K
Total revenueLn 12$6.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$301K
SavingsLn 2$1.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$7K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$336K
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$431K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 55
VolunteersI 66
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$820K$1.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$7K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$1.0M$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$822K$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$227K$431K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$876K$700K$175K$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$4K$3K$858$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$13K$10K$3K$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$292K$234K$58K$0
Legal feesLn 11b$60K$0$60K$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$112K$0$112K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$892K$891K$1K$0
Office expensesLn 13$116K$92K$25K$0
Information technologyLn 14$127K$102K$25K$0
OccupancyLn 16$350K$0$350K$0
TravelLn 17$376K$335K$41K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$3.1M$2.9M$169K
All other expensesLn 24e$0$0$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.3M$5.3M$1.0M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $6.5M$6.3M$204K$431K 990 PDF
FY2023 $6.0M$7.3M−$1.3M$227K 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.0M$7.4M−$2.4M$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $5.1M$3.1M$2.0M$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.3M$2.6M$688K$2.0M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $6,496,323 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $150,138$150,002
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $5,870,268$6,326,667
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $9,438$19,654
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,029,844$6,496,323
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $235,000$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $945,555$1,185,175
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $6,151,696$5,107,207
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $7,332,251$6,292,382
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,302,407$203,941
Part VI · Governance 6 of 7 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $6,496,323 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$150,002
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$150,002
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $6,326,667 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$6,326,667
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $19,654$19,654
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $6,326,667 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $19,654$6,496,323
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,292,382 across 14 lines filed
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $700,432 · Management $175,108 · Fundraising $0$875,540
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $3,432 · Management $858 · Fundraising $0$4,290
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $10,362 · Management $2,590 · Fundraising $0$12,952
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $233,914 · Management $58,479 · Fundraising $0$292,393
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $60,164 · Fundraising $0$60,164
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $112,361 · Fundraising $0$112,361
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $891,039 · Management $1,407 · Fundraising $0$892,446
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $91,684 · Management $24,729 · Fundraising $0$116,413
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $101,517 · Management $25,379 · Fundraising $0$126,896
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $0 · Management $350,386 · Fundraising $0$350,386
IX-17 TravelPrograms $334,610 · Management $41,441 · Fundraising $0$376,051
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,903,590 · Management $168,900$3,072,490
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,270,580 · Management $1,021,802 · Fundraising $0$6,292,382
Part X · Balance sheet $1,716,033 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $86,901$300,735
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $732,860$1,034,247
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $221,500$38,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $550$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$6,990
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $6,990$336,061
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,048,801$1,716,033
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $492,248$1,244,936
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,900$40,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $327,497$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $821,645$1,284,936
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $227,156$431,097
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $227,156$431,097
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,048,801$1,716,033
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $431,097 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$6,496,323
XI-2 Total expenses$6,292,382
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$203,941
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$227,156
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$431,097

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.