Machine Intelligence Research Institute INC

Tax-deductible

Berkeley, CA501(c)(3)Science & TechnologyEIN 58-2565917Revenue $1.5M in FY2024

On file with the IRSintelligence.org2150 Shattuck Ave Ste 800, 94704-1352 · Berkeley, CATax-exempt since Apr 2001Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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To ensure that the creation of smarter-than-human Intelligence has a positive impact.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 3 volunteers and 31 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
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.1M a year · 14% 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
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.7M
to officers and key staff · 42% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 98% of similar orgs
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 42% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $22K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.3M
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.5M
-18% vs prior year
Spent
$6.5M
To programs
77%
Net assets
$15.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.5M
FY2024▼ -18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.8M
FY2021$25.6M
FY2022$1.9M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$1.5M
Expenses
$6.5M
FY2024▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.7M
FY2021$6.8M
FY2022$5.3M
FY2023$6.9M
FY2024$6.5M
Net assets
$15.2M
FY2024▼ -22%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$9.6M
FY2021$29.6M
FY2022$23.8M
FY2023$19.7M
FY2024$15.2M

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

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Apr 2001.

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

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $5.0M Management & general 23% · $1.5M Fundraising 0% · $22K

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

15 people listed on the 990; $2.7M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chair, Head Researcher
$599,970Pt VII · Sec A
$296,735Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Executive Officer
$241,531Pt VII · Sec A
Research Fellow
$239,947Pt VII · Sec A
President
$236,614Pt VII · Sec A
$219,947Pt VII · Sec A
$199,959Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Chief Executive, COO
$195,717Pt VII · Sec A

Eliezer Yudkowsky’s $600K as Chair, Head Researcher is at the 98th percentile of top reported officer pay among 363 $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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Eliezer Yudkowsky$599,970$573,477$188,233$166,490$149,829
Edward Kmett———$599,902$399,839
Scott Garrabrant$296,735$179,782———
Scott Worley——$277,830$208,149$277,538
Jason Gross—$233,628$249,841$207,569—
Malo Bourgon$241,531$149,883$146,510$108,186$99,896
Benya Fallenstein$239,947$239,954$207,903$143,881—
Nate Soares$236,614$206,615$166,575$129,916$129,935

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

Safeguarding humanity's future by guiding the development of superintelligent AI.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $5.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Research Program Activities

Our research team conducts technical research and analysis in service of ai governance goals to avoid catastrophic and extinction risks. Technical governance research explores the technical questions that bear on regulatory and policy goals, identifying and communicating policy solutions to risks from artificial superintelligence.

$3.2Mprogram expense
02

Outreach

Our communications team creates compelling content that explains ai existential risks to newcomers, policymakers, and the general public. They also engage with ongoing public discussion via media appearances, media inquiries, and online discourse. 2024 media appearances included IAI.TV, PBS news hour, and machine learning street talk.

$1.8Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$22K
Grants paid · 7 grants · $754K · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$161,478
Unitemized GrantFY2024$119,058
Center for Ai PolicyDC · FY2023$200,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$118,000
Unitemized GrantFY2022$10,000
Unitemized GrantFY2021$100,000
Unitemized GrantFY2020$45,000

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.5M
Ln 12
Investment incomeLn 3$894K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$596K
Other incomeLn 4–11$45K
Money outPt IX
$6.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.0M
Managementcol C$1.5M
Fundraisingcol D$22K
Owns and owesPt X
$15.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.2M
Total assetsLn 16$16.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$596K
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$10K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Investment incomeLn 3$894K
Other incomeLn 4–11$45K
Gains on assetsLn 7$275K
Total revenueLn 12$1.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$943K
SavingsLn 2$1.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$12.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$334K
Other assetsLn 15$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$16.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$15.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 531
VolunteersI 63
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.3M$2.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11.5M$12.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$27K$334K
Total assetsLn 16$19.8M$16.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$188K$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$19.7M$15.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$281K$281K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$3.1M$2.7M$419K$14K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$1.0M$157K$5K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$311K$249K$60K$977
Payroll taxesLn 10$278K$238K$39K$1K
Legal feesLn 11b$19K$19K
Accounting feesLn 11c$79K$79K
Investment management feesLn 11f$28K$28K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$493K$421K$71K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$250$250
Office expensesLn 13$107K$2K$105K
Information technologyLn 14$71K$8K$62K$706
OccupancyLn 16$405K$38K$367K
TravelLn 17$36K$26K$10K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$38K$34K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$32K$32K
InsuranceLn 23$21K$21K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$6K$0$6K$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.5M$5.0M$1.5M$22K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $1.5M$6.5M−$5.0M$15.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.9M$6.9M−$5.0M$19.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.9M$5.3M−$3.4M$23.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $25.6M$6.8M$18.8M$29.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $7.8M$7.7M$124K$9.6M 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,534,913 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,200,992$595,907
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $651,525$894,015
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $10,527$44,991
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,863,044$1,534,913
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $318,000$280,536
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,760,716$4,895,175
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,804,094$1,332,990
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,882,810$6,508,701
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$5,019,766−$4,973,788
Part VI · Governance 3 of 5 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members3
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
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 $1,534,913 across 13 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $11,469 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$595,907
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$9,998
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$595,907
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $619,340$619,340
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $274,675 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$274,675
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $33,522 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$33,522
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $319,666 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $619,340$1,534,913
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,508,701 across 18 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $280,536$280,536
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $2,699,169 · Management $419,488 · Fundraising $14,169$3,132,826
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,011,040 · Management $157,130 · Fundraising $5,308$1,173,478
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $249,335 · Management $60,312 · Fundraising $977$310,624
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $238,286 · Management $38,691 · Fundraising $1,270$278,247
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $18,911$18,911
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $79,129$79,129
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $27,580$27,580
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $421,349 · Management $71,422$492,771
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $250$250
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,157 · Management $104,651$106,808
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $8,206 · Management $61,641 · Fundraising $706$70,553
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $37,849 · Management $366,993$404,842
IX-17 TravelPrograms $25,598 · Management $10,302$35,900
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $34,092 · Management $3,411$37,503
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $32,332$32,332
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $20,737$20,737
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $0 · Management $5,674 · Fundraising $0$5,674
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,007,867 · Management $1,478,404 · Fundraising $22,430$6,508,701
Part X · Balance sheet $16,493,789 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $8,268,954$942,883
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$1,251,441
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $14,816$58,359
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $14,479$17,557
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $26,530$334,354
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $11,376,520$12,582,578
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $126,085$136,084
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $18,179$1,170,533
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $19,845,563$16,493,789
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $187,661$110,574
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$712,926
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$428,074
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $187,661$1,251,574
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $10,650,335$8,990,523
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $9,007,567$6,251,692
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $19,657,902$15,242,215
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $19,845,563$16,493,789
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $15,242,215 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,534,913
XI-2 Total expenses$6,508,701
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$4,973,788
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$19,657,902
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$558,101
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$15,242,215

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

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