POLARIS RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

POLARIS RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC

EIN 82-1136248 · Research Institutes & Public Policy Analysis (U05)

What they do

The Institutes Primary Purpose is to Undertake and Contribute to Research to Improve The Quality of Life of As Many Sentient Beings As Extensively As Possible and to Otherwise Engage In Activities In Furtherance of This Objective. As A Think Tank, It Contributes to The Development and Discussion of Fundamental Conceptions and Understandings of Effective Ethical Behavior and Action. In Particular It is Committed to An Evidence-based Approach to Poverty Reduction, The Reducton of Animal Suffering, The Improvement of International Cooperation and Stability, and The Development and Promotion of Responsible Approaches to Future Technologies, It Promotes The Philosphy and Social Movement Referred to As Effective Altruism.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $61.80 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders6 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

93.02%of revenue went to mission work61.8% of expenses · Program services

15.79%of revenue went to fundraising10.5% of expenses

$150.49spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

41.69%of revenue went to management and office costs27.7% of expenses

$0.48in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

100.0%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $227,342 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $241,632 for RUAIRI DONNELLY (EXECUTIVE DIR.). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$450,235

Mission workProgram services$418,79193.02% of revenue61.8% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$187,68841.69% of revenue27.7% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$71,09815.79% of revenue10.5% of expenses

Total expenses$677,577150.49% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 61.8% mission · 27.7% management · 10.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 150.49% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 58.7% mission · 33.3% management · 8.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 111.93% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 97.8% mission · 1.6% management · 0.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 105.04% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 97.4% mission · 2.6% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 142.73% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 100.0% mission · 0.0% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 57.19% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 91.5% mission · 8.5% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 63.37% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$450,235

Expenses$677,577

Annual shortfall $227,342 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$418,791 · 61.8% of expenses

Management and office costs$187,688 · 27.7% of expenses

Fundraising$71,098 · 10.5% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$450,235

Expenses$677,577

Assets$324,777

Income$450,235

Contributions$450,235

Mission work (program services)$418,791

Fundraising$71,098

Management and general$187,688

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

RUAIRI DONNELLYEXECUTIVE DIR. · 40 hrs/week $241,632Base $223,019 · Other $18,613

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (6)

RUAIRI DONNELLYEXECUTIVE DIR.

AMRIT SIDHU-BRAR - END 08-2024TREASURER

DANIEL KESTENHOLZ - TREAS BEG 08-20SECRETARY

JONAS VOLLMER - END 06-2024VICE PRESIDENT

STEFAN TORGESPRESIDENT

TOBIAS PULVERDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2019
Location: 2930 DOMINGO AVE UNIT 351, BERKELEY, CA 94705-2454
County: Alameda
In care of: Daniel Kestenholz
Primary officer: Daniel Kestenholz, Treasurer

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(707) 396-8230

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: TOVELLA DOWLING PC
NTEE classification: Research Institutes & Public Policy Analysis (U05)
IRS tax category: Research Institutes & Public Policy Analysis