Research Triangle Institute FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Durham, NC501(c)(3)Since 1958Science & TechnologyEIN 56-0686338Revenue $1.1B in FY2021

On file with the IRSrti.org3040 Cornwallis Rd, 27713-2852 · Durham, NCTax-exempt since Apr 1960Supporting organization — 509(a)(3)

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Research Triangle Institute is one of the world's leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. Our staff of more than 3,700 provides research and technical (continued on Schedule O, Part III, Line 1) expertise to governments and businesses in approximately 70 countries in the areas of health, education and workforce development, energy and environment, food security and agriculture, international development and innovation.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
89¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$11.6M 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $24.3M a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
89%
of spending
Looks good: 89% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$11.6M
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.7 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
48
named funders · $38.1M
Looks good: 48 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$365.8M
42% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 42% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 17 voting members
Worth a look: 8 of 17 voting members are independent, under half.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.1B
+18% vs prior year
Spent
$1.1B
To programs
89%
Net assets
$497.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.1B
FY2021▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$917.9M
FY2021$1.1B
FY2022$1.2B
FY2023$1.2B
FY2024$1.4B
FY2025$1.3B
Expenses
$1.1B
FY2021▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$903.8M
FY2021$1.1B
FY2022$1.2B
FY2023$1.2B
FY2024$1.4B
FY2025$1.2B
Net assets
$497.9M
FY2021▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$435.0M
FY2021$497.9M
FY2022$476.2M
FY2023$494.4M
FY2024$529.2M
FY2025$539.0M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending September 2021) · 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 (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 1960.

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

Where the money goes

89 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 89% · $946.4M Management & general 11% · $121.2M

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

37 people listed on the 990; $11.6M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
President
$1,590,642Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$876,141Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$761,281Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President & CFO
$757,636Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$753,629Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$747,537Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$693,090Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$629,484Pt VII · Sec A

T Gabel’s $1.5M as President is at the 77th percentile of top reported officer pay among 43 $100M+ 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
E Holden Separated 212022———$1,728,173——
E Holden————$1,590,642$1,321,983
T Gabel$1,541,384$1,312,245$1,238,271$829,037$753,629$615,159
M Kaelin JR$1,045,470$957,409$900,687$842,961$757,636$634,707
J Gibson Separated 212022———$972,413——
P Weisenfeld$939,496$858,543$813,321$783,265$747,537$595,641
G Story$930,341$837,034$805,918$757,354$693,090$579,484
J Gibson————$876,141$740,132

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

Programs and updates

Conducts global research and provides technical expertise to governments and businesses, translating knowledge into practice to improve health, education, and economic development.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $946.4M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Research

Multidisciplinary research & development and the application of science & technology in the areas of Health Research; Drug Discovery & Development; Education & Training Research; Survey Research Services; Statistics Research; Economic & Social Research; Advanced Technology Research & Development; Energy Research; Environmental Research…

$727.9Mprogram expense
02

International Development

See Schedule O for description of program services, Part III Line 4b.

$218.5Mprogram 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
See all 48 funders →
Grants paid · 99 grants · $5.2M · 2019–2024
See all 99 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1B
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.1B
Investment incomeLn 3$4.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$155K
Money outPt IX
$1.1B
Ln 25
Programscol B$946.4M
Managementcol C$121.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$497.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$58.0M
Total assetsLn 16$863.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$365.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
37
listed · VII A
PaidVII A32
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.1B
Investment incomeLn 3$4.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$155K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$238K
Total revenueLn 12$1.1B
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$58.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$58.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$296.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$158.0M
Other assetsLn 15$50.7M
Total assetsLn 16$863.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$365.8M
Net assetsLn 32$497.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 55,109
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$63.4M$58.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$249.2M$296.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$167.7M$158.0M
Total assetsLn 16$734.6M$863.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$299.5M$365.8M
Net assetsLn 32$435.0M$497.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$751K$751K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$20K$20K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$14.7M$14.7M
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$355.4M$310.9M$44.5M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$25.9M$20.0M$5.8M
Other employee benefitsLn 9$108.8M$84.2M$24.6M
Payroll taxesLn 10$25.5M$19.8M$5.8M
Legal feesLn 11b$1.9M$103K$1.8M
Accounting feesLn 11c$615K$116K$499K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$268K$268K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$434.6M$418.8M$15.8M
Advertising and promotionLn 12$102K$102K
Office expensesLn 13$14.3M$11.5M$2.8M
Information technologyLn 14$22.3M$20.0M$2.2M
RoyaltiesLn 15$628K$628K
OccupancyLn 16$17.3M$36.5M−$19.2M
TravelLn 17$6.0M$5.9M$86K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$11.4M$10.8M$567K
InterestLn 20$2.6M$4K$2.6M
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$16.2M$1.6M$14.5M
InsuranceLn 23$2.2M$735K$1.5M
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$6.2M$3.9M$2.3M
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.07B$946.4M$121.2M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.3B$1.2B$10.2M$539.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.4B$1.4B$34.0M$529.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.2B$1.2B$17.2M$494.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.2B$1.2B$55.6M$476.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $1.1B$1.1B$14.6M$497.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $917.9M$903.8M$14.1M$435.0M 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 $1,082,254,745 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $0$0
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $912,083,268$1,077,948,495
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $6,281,283$4,150,885
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$470,000$155,365
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $917,894,551$1,082,254,745
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $810,637$770,888
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $511,716,112$530,288,137
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $391,276,114$536,548,895
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $903,802,863$1,067,607,920
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $14,091,688$14,646,825
Part VI · Governance 8 of 17 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members8
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 $1,082,254,745 across 5 lines filed
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,065,227,072 · Unrelated business $12,721,423$1,077,948,495
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $4,388,716$4,388,716
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$237,831−$237,831
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $155,365$155,365
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,065,382,437 · Unrelated business $12,721,423 · Excluded from tax $4,150,885$1,082,254,745
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,067,607,920 across 22 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $751,001$751,001
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $19,887$19,887
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $14,664,211$14,664,211
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $310,917,613 · Management $44,478,899$355,396,512
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $20,027,996 · Management $5,841,420$25,869,416
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $84,244,338 · Management $24,570,935$108,815,273
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $19,775,073 · Management $5,767,652$25,542,725
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $102,582 · Management $1,827,846$1,930,428
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $116,004 · Management $498,620$614,624
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $268,177$268,177
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $418,798,298 · Management $15,827,257$434,625,555
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $101,740$101,740
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $11,512,367 · Management $2,805,265$14,317,632
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $20,026,513 · Management $2,233,779$22,260,292
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $628,033$628,033
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $36,526,883 · Management −$19,197,938$17,328,945
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,872,295 · Management $85,905$5,958,200
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $10,830,624 · Management $567,082$11,397,706
IX-20 InterestPrograms $3,735 · Management $2,593,059$2,596,794
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,609,754 · Management $14,544,201$16,153,955
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $734,603 · Management $1,450,883$2,185,486
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,869,557 · Management $2,311,771$6,181,328
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $946,367,156 · Management $121,240,764 · Fundraising $0$1,067,607,920
Part X · Balance sheet $863,720,584 assets, 18 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $63,379,745$57,959,763
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $188,966,728$256,676,150
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $16,764,366$17,748,614
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $167,690,044$158,035,860
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $176,752,439$208,683,584
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $72,405,542$87,686,085
X-14 Intangible assets$26,251,349
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $48,630,818$50,679,179
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $734,589,682$863,720,584
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $166,557,706$215,689,848
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $45,851,344$57,337,639
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $55,996,557$50,111,461
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $31,141,269$42,660,120
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $299,546,876$365,799,068
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $432,664,407$495,452,892
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,378,399$2,468,624
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $435,042,806$497,921,516
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $734,589,682$863,720,584
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $497,921,516 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,082,254,745
XI-2 Total expenses$1,067,607,920
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$14,646,825
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$435,042,806
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$51,976,694
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$3,744,809
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$497,921,516

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

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