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← WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.

Totals

Total revenue
$164,876,615
Total expenses
$145,733,750
Contributions and grants received
$36,282,922
Grants paid
$2,402,028
Program service revenue
$771,855
Investment income
$42,729,652
Other revenue
$85,092,186
Total assets, end of year
$903,412,304
Total liabilities, end of year
$140,485,697
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$762,926,607
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$123,250,153
Management and general expenses
$20,821,785
Fundraising expenses
$1,661,815
Program service expenses (Part III)
$123,250,153

Program services were 84.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $14,717,070

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $21,565,852

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $2,520

  • 2a · Program service revenue: SCIENTIFIC SERVICES

    total $771,855 · related or exempt $771,855

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $13,053,090 · unrelated business -$698,051 · excluded $13,751,141

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $83,761,426 · excluded $83,761,426

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $1,114,000

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $1,114,000 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $1,114,000 · excluded $1,114,000

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $74,707,155

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $45,030,593

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $29,676,562

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $29,676,562 · excluded $29,676,562

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $0

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $0

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 9a · Gaming: gross income

    $0

  • 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

    $0

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $0

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: PROCESSING FEES FOR ADMIN ROYALTIES

    total $136,095 · excluded $136,095

  • 11b · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME

    total $80,665 · excluded $80,665

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $216,760

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $2,402,028 · program services $2,402,028

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,131,958 · program services $402,408 · management and general $1,241,031 · fundraising $488,519

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $126,070 · management and general $126,070

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $26,150,556 · program services $20,616,394 · management and general $5,020,255 · fundraising $513,907

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $2,473,125 · program services $1,829,803 · management and general $556,055 · fundraising $87,267

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $6,569,856 · program services $4,094,195 · management and general $2,292,221 · fundraising $183,440

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,936,709 · program services $1,434,175 · management and general $434,365 · fundraising $68,169

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $1,809,252 · program services $1,627,017 · management and general $176,386 · fundraising $5,849

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $337,115 · management and general $337,115

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $2,842,825 · program services $151,869 · management and general $2,690,956

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $3,890,044 · program services $1,616,294 · management and general $2,092,806 · fundraising $180,945

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $847 · program services $36 · management and general $11 · fundraising $800

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $985,465 · program services $708,401 · management and general $262,935 · fundraising $14,129

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $2,043,532 · program services $26,789 · management and general $2,016,743

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $46,016,881 · program services $46,016,881

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $2,607,928 · program services $2,193,164 · management and general $414,764

  • 17 · Travel

    total $507,551 · program services $403,292 · management and general $102,319 · fundraising $1,940

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $889,466 · program services $576,706 · management and general $261,145 · fundraising $51,615

  • 20 · Interest

    total $3,659,813 · program services $3,212,218 · management and general $447,595

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $5,454,112 · program services $4,742,496 · management and general $711,616

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $415,899 · program services $365,127 · management and general $50,772

  • 24a · Other expenses: LAB SUPPLIES

    total $10,656,084 · program services $10,650,287 · management and general $5,797

  • 24b · Other expenses: FELLOWSHIPS

    total $4,764,876 · program services $4,629,792 · management and general $135,084

  • 24c · Other expenses: EQUIP PURCH/RENT REPAIR MAIN

    total $4,434,633 · program services $3,178,302 · management and general $1,215,726 · fundraising $40,605

  • 24d · Other expenses: OTHER LAB EXPENSES

    total $3,026,191 · program services $3,026,191

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $9,600,934 · program services $9,346,286 · management and general $230,018 · fundraising $24,630

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,087,033 · end of year $8,366,420

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $18,240,184 · end of year $25,116,607

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $10,237,047 · end of year $12,092,581

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $16,533,055 · end of year $26,730,448

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $1,200,000 · end of year $1,050,000

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $2,415,943 · end of year $2,253,608

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $1,945,967 · end of year $1,686,155

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $181,187,927

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $102,020,980

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $79,848,962 · end of year $79,166,947

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $8,583,802 · end of year $7,939,910

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $689,784,340 · end of year $726,509,884

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $11,540,751 · end of year $12,499,744

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $9,948,514 · end of year $15,845,366

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $5,787,909 · end of year $5,260,152

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $106,702,031 · end of year $106,767,168

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $11,091,031 · end of year $12,613,011

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $651,494,182 · end of year $697,887,290

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $57,393,417 · end of year $65,039,317

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE FORGES NEW FRONTIERS IN SCIENCE, UNCOVERING INSIGHTS TODAY THAT UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF TOMORROW. OUR ADVANCES IN GENETICS AND GENOMICS ARE NOW ENABLING US TO TACKLE THE COMPLEXITIES OF LIFE WITH UNPRECEDENTED DEPTH AND BREADTH.

Activities or mission (Part I)

WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE IS A BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE DEDICATED TO MAKING PARADIGM SHIFTING INSIGHTS INTO THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF LIFE.

  • WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT RESEARCH INSTITUTION LOCATED IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. THE INSTITUTE WAS INCORPORATED IN 1981 TO PROMOTE AND EXPAND HUMAN KNOWLEDGE IN THE BIOMEDICAL AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC FIELDS WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF IMPROVING HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THE RESEARCH OF THE INSTITUTE FOCUSES ON BASIC BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES INVESTIGATED MAINLY FROM A MOLECULAR OR CELLULAR PERSPECTIVE. RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL AREAS, INCLUDING CANCER, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES, REGENERATIVE BIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY AND GENETICS. THE RESEARCH OF THE INSTITUTE IS CONDUCTED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS WHO HOLD JOINT APPOINTMENTS TO THE FACULTIES OF THE INSTITUTE AND MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ("MIT") (THE "INSTITUTE FACULTY"). THE MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTE FACULTY ARE RECOGNIZED LEADERS IN THEIR FIELDS. THE INSTITUTE FACULTY INCLUDE TWO RECIPIENTS OF THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF SCIENCE, FIVE HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE INVESTIGATORS, NINE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND SIX MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE. FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE HAS MAINTAINED A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO SCIENCE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH BY OFFERING PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE SCIENCE TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WITH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS RANGING IN SCOPE FROM LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO SPECIAL EVENTS FOR NON-SCIENTISTS, WHITEHEAD OFFERS ITS PARTICIPANTS FIRST-HAND EXPOSURE TO STATE-OF-THE-ART RESEARCH. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: SEMINAR SERIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS - THIS MONTHLY PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATORS AND OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE TOPICS AT THE FOREFRONT OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SERIES BEGINS IN OCTOBER AND LECTURES ARE HELD THE FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH THROUGH JUNE. SPRING LECTURE SERIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS - THIS PROGRAM, HELD DURING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SPRING VACATION WEEK, FEATURES LECTURES FROM LEADING SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS, HANDS-ON LABORATORY DEMONSTRATIONS, VISITS TO LOCAL BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, AND INTERACTIONS WITH YOUNG WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE SCIENTISTS. SCIENCE WEEKS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS - WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE HAS DEVELOPED IMMERSIVE, WEEK-LONG PROGRAMS FOR RISING 6TH, 7TH, AND 8TH GRADERS FEATURING HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, CLASSROOM LESSONS, AND INTERACTIONS WITH SCIENTISTS. TWO SUCH SESSIONS ARE HELD IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. PUBLIC PROGRAM COLLABORATIONS - WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE ROUTINELY PARTNERS WITH VARIOUS RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS IN COORDINATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND SCIENTISTS.

    Expenses $123,250,153 · Grants $2,402,028 · Revenue $771,855

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Dr Ruth Lehmann

    DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $1,057,638
    From this org
    $1,007,583
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,055
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $787,994
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $219,589
    Deferred
    $37,145
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,910
    Filer's total
    $1,057,638

  • Mr Martin Mullins

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $581,732
    From this org
    $533,715
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,017
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $483,031
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $25,684
    Deferred
    $37,020
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,997
    Filer's total
    $581,732

  • Ms Sharon Stanczak

    VICE PRESIDENT & SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $487,670
    From this org
    $422,093
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $65,577
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $383,192
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $13,901
    Deferred
    $37,045
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,532
    Filer's total
    $487,670

  • Dr Rudolf Jaenisch

    MEMBER (FACULTY)

    Total calculated
    $444,139
    From this org
    $383,687
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $60,452
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $367,865
    Bonus
    $1,500
    Other
    $14,322
    Deferred
    $37,145
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,307
    Filer's total
    $444,139

  • Dr Robert Weinberg

    MEMBER (FACULTY)

    Total calculated
    $417,135
    From this org
    $357,083
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $60,052
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $344,665
    Bonus
    $1,500
    Other
    $10,918
    Deferred
    $37,145
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,907
    Filer's total
    $417,135

  • Dr Richard Young

    MEMBER (FACULTY)

    Total calculated
    $412,274
    From this org
    $352,222
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $60,052
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $329,118
    Bonus
    $1,500
    Other
    $21,604
    Deferred
    $37,145
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,907
    Filer's total
    $412,274

  • Dr Mary Gehring

    MEMBER (FACULTY)

    Total calculated
    $395,540
    From this org
    $329,293
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $66,247
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $301,905
    Bonus
    $1,500
    Other
    $25,888
    Deferred
    $34,908
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,339
    Filer's total
    $395,540

  • Dr Iain Cheeseman

    MEMBER (FACULTY)

    Total calculated
    $390,243
    From this org
    $324,315
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $65,928
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $302,226
    Bonus
    $1,500
    Other
    $20,589
    Deferred
    $34,909
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,019
    Filer's total
    $390,243

  • Ms Laura Sander

    CFO & TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $234,164
    From this org
    $193,664
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,500
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $187,817
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $5,847
    Deferred
    $20,810
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,690
    Filer's total
    $234,164

  • Ms Monica Gerber

    SECRETARY (FORMER)

    Total calculated
    $144,243
    From this org
    $121,089
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,154
    Hours/week
    20

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $119,513
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,576
    Deferred
    $11,833
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,321
    Filer's total
    $144,243

  • Ms Monique Taylor

    ASST SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $106,580
    From this org
    $88,485
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,095
    Hours/week
    40

  • Ms Susan Whitehead

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ms Brit D'Arbeloff

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Jonathan Goldstein

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Mark Lapman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Phillip Sharp

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Peter Whitehead

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Robert Satcher

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Paul Joskow

    DIRECTOR/BOARD VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Churchill Franklin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Susan Hockfield

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ms Sarah Williamson

    DIRECTOR/BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Dr Dennis Langer

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Seth Alexander

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Kevin Churchwell

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Michael Chambers

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Terrance McGuire

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mr Raja Bobbili

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Sally Kornbluth

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Deborah Dunsire

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ms Micho Spring

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · Travel for companions
  • 1a · Tax indemnification and gross-up payments
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
  • 9 · Followed the rebuttable-presumption procedure

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings

The filer's explanations (Part III)

SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINES 1A & 1B:
TRAVEL FOR COMPANIONS INCLUDED TRAVEL EXPENSES PAID FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO ATTEND AN ANNUAL BUSINESS RETREAT. THESE PAYMENTS WERE GROSSED UP FOR INDIVIDUAL TAX REPORTING PURPOSES. THE PAYMENTS AND THE GROSS UP AMOUNT WERE TREATED AS TAXABLE INCOME.
SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINE 3:
WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE HAS A BOARD LEADERSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS A CHARTER. IN ADDITION, WHITEHEAD HAS AN EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION POLICY.
SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINE 7 & PART II, COLUMN (B)(II):
BONUS PAYMENTS REPORTED IN COLUMN B(II) REPRESENT NON-FIXED PAYMENTS MADE IN RECOGNITION OF MEETING CERTAIN PERFORMANCE GOALS.
SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINE 8:
THE PRESIDENT RECEIVED PAYMENTS UNDER AN INITIAL CONTRACT WITH THE INSTITUTE.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
14 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202511359349304126

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