The Jackson Laboratory
Overview
Mission
The purposes of the laboratory are scientific, medical, charitable, and educational. Our mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the biomedical community. The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research organization that leverages a unique combination of research, education and resources to achieve our mission: We DISCOVER precise genomic solutions for disease and EMPOWER the global biomedical community in its shared quest to improve human health Founded in 1929 to uncover the genetic basis of cancer, JAX pioneered the use of laboratory mice as models for human disease and provided the basis for many modern medical treatments. Today, our team combines mouse genetics, human genomics, cell-based studies, and computational modeling to define the underlying biology of a broad spectrum of diseases. Our diverse and multidisci.
What it reported doing in 2024
Biomedical research the laboratory's researchers combine experience in mammalian genetics and human genomics to shape an integrated approach to personalized medicine. Scientists work collaboratively and cross-discipline, leveraging expertise in cancer, immunology, neurogenetics, life-cycle biology, the microbiome, and computational biology. More than 400 jax staff members hold advanced degrees and the laboratory supports nearly 60 research teams. Faculty members have 324 active sponsored research collaboration agreements with 245 academic research and clinical institutions. Multiple laboratory centers coordinate expertise around critical research areas. Since 1983 the laboratory has had a national cancer institute-designated cancer center, one of only seven such designated institutions in the united states. To date 26 nobel prizes are associated with laboratory research, education programs and resources.
Operating model
- Revenue model
- Other-operating. 75% of the money available for current operations came from other operating revenue.
- Distribution model
- Direct operator. The filing allocates 99% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
- Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 010211513
- IRS 990 coverage
- 2009–2024
- Official website data refreshed
- Jun 2026
- Forms available
- Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
- Headquarters
- Bar Harbor, ME, USA
- Phone
- 2072886000
- Rating
- 85
- Verdict
- STRONG
- Rating confidence
- Moderate
- Sector
- Biomedicine, Bioengineering Research
The verdict
STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and expenses are high relative to revenue.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: 82
- Transparency & Controls: 81
- Accountability: 98
- Sustainability: 60
- Growth: 100
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: 83.9%; rating input score 84
- Program expense ratio: 84.6%; rating input score 85
- Fundraising efficiency: $28.41 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
Transparency & Controls
- Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 30th percentile among comparable filings
- Pay-setting controls: 6 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 100
- Compensation committee: Pass
- Independent consultant: Pass
- Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
- Written employment contract: Pass
- Compensation survey or study: Pass
- Board or committee approval: Pass
- Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
- Grant itemization coverage: 95.5%; rating input score 95; 27th percentile among comparable filings
- Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
- Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100
Accountability
- Independent voting board: 96.3%; rating input score 96; 49th percentile among comparable filings
- Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
- Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
- Whistleblower policy: Pass
- Document-retention policy: Pass
- CEO compensation review process: Pass
- Other executive compensation review process: Pass
- Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
- Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
- Audit committee oversight: Pass
- Independent financial-statement audit: Pass
Sustainability
- Operating margin: 5.4%; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
- Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.52; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.32; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
- Officer compensation ratio: 2.1%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: 9.5% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
- Revenue growth: 7.9% per year; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
- Asset growth: 8.8% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
Details
- What they do: Mission, programs, and operating context captured from the official website.
- Where the money goes: 83.9% of revenue deployed · 84.6% of spending went to programs
- Governance: 26 of 27 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
- Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $522.2M in reported program spending
- Leadership: top reported pay $2.7M · 42 people listed · 6 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
- Highest-paid contractors: 5 contractors listed · $31M reported
- Consistency: 41 of 42 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
- Schedules: 11 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, grants, executive pay, and related organizations
- Filing history: 14 annual filings from 2009 to 2024
- Contacts: How to reach this organization
- Money network: 22 filed money-flow records
- Related organizations: 7 filed related-organization links
- Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
- People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
- Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.
Leadership & pay
42 people listed
Highest reported compensation
- Lon Cardon PHD FMEDSCI (PRESIDENT & CEO): $2,746,750 total reported compensation
- Mitchell Kennedy (EXECUTIVE VP & PRESIDENT, JMCRS): $1,385,901 total reported compensation
- Douglas W Abbott (SR VICE PRESIDENT & CFO): $963,417 total reported compensation
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.