Igem Foundation INC FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Cambridge, MA501(c)(3)Since 2011Science & TechnologyEIN 45-2313408Revenue $5.1M in FY2021

On file with the IRSigem.org45 Prospect St, 02139-2402 · Cambridge, MATax-exempt since Sep 2013Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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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.
67¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$332K 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

FY2021 · 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
67%
of spending
Fine: 67% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$332K
to officers and key staff · 11% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 11% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
13 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 12.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
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
$263K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
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
$5.1M
+53% vs prior year
Spent
$3.1M
To programs
67%
Net assets
$4.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$5.1M
FY2021▲ +53%
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
$3.1M
FY2021▲ +17%
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
$4.0M
FY2021▲ +100%
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 FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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 Sep 2013.

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

Where the money goes

67 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 67% · $2.1M Management & general 33% · $1.0M

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

8 people listed on the 990; $332K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
CEO/President/Director
$188,933Pt VII · Sec A
Clerk/COO/Vice President
$142,800Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer/Director
$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.

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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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

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

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.1M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

- fosters scientific research and education through organizing and operating the igem competition, the premier student synthetic biology competition;- fosters scientific research and education by establishing and operating the registry of standard biological parts, a community collection of biological components- promotes the advancement…

$2.1Mprogram 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 FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.1M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.0M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Money outPt IX
$3.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.1M
Managementcol C$1.0M
Owns and owesPt X
$4.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.3M
Total assetsLn 16$4.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$263K
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$109K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Total revenueLn 12$5.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$19K
Other assetsLn 15$91K
Total assetsLn 16$4.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$263K
Net assetsLn 32$4.0M
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.2M$3.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$28K$19K
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M$4.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$319K$263K
Net assetsLn 32$2.0M$4.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$332K$180K$152K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$513K$388K$125K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$24K$19K$4K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$109K$65K$44K
Payroll taxesLn 10$37K$30K$7K
Legal feesLn 11b$61K$61K
Accounting feesLn 11c$56K$17K$40K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.1M$951K$107K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$79K$79K
Office expensesLn 13$43K$43K
Information technologyLn 14$144K$144K
OccupancyLn 16$54K$32K$22K
TravelLn 17$63K$63K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$4K$4K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$12K$10K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$16K$16K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$483K$398K$85K
All other expensesLn 24e$10K$10K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.1M$2.1M$1.0M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $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 Viewing $5.1M$3.1M$2.0M$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.3M$2.6M$688K$2.0M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,084,700 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $940,000$2,050,948
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,383,905$3,022,736
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,528$7,260
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$3,756
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,326,433$5,084,700
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $16,500$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $786,623$1,013,797
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,834,811$2,084,252
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,637,934$3,098,049
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $688,499$1,986,651
Part VI · Governance 6 of 7 board members independent, 2 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-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $5,084,700 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$108,762
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,942,186
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,050,948
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $3,022,736$3,022,736
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $7,260$7,260
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $3,756$3,756
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $3,026,492 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $7,260$5,084,700
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,098,049 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $180,147 · Management $151,586$331,733
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $388,188 · Management $124,685$512,873
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $19,416 · Management $4,209$23,625
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $65,397 · Management $43,565$108,962
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $30,083 · Management $6,521$36,604
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $60,966$60,966
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $16,647 · Management $39,564$56,211
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $951,212 · Management $106,841$1,058,053
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $79,334$79,334
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $43,490$43,490
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $144,041$144,041
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $32,096 · Management $22,246$54,342
IX-17 TravelManagement $63,233$63,233
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $3,735$3,735
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $9,647 · Management $2,091$11,738
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $15,923$15,923
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $397,780 · Management $85,427$483,207
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $9,979$9,979
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,090,613 · Management $1,007,436 · Fundraising $0$3,098,049
Part X · Balance sheet $4,229,953 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,195,960$3,313,939
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$750,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $15,500$35,045
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $16,028$21,044
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $27,627$19,232
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $44,206$90,693
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,299,321$4,229,953
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $108,101$164,309
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $6,500$12,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $204,267$86,540
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $318,868$262,849
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,041,181$1,606,200
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $939,272$2,360,904
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,980,453$3,967,104
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,299,321$4,229,953
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,967,104 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,084,700
XI-2 Total expenses$3,098,049
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,986,651
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,980,453
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,967,104

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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