Alternatives Research and Development Foundation

What it reported doing in 2025

The "annual open" grant program funds innovative non-animal methods to reduce or replace animal use in research and testingin 2025, ardf funded the following projects for scientific research: 1) engineered human heart models for advancing drug cardiac safety assessment; 2) in vitro modelling of bubble-assisted focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier opening; 3) an advanced ex vivo model for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; 4) replacing animal-derived products in drug development in vitro models; 5) immune disruptors and the developing brain: unraveling how immunotoxicants shape neurodevelopment; 6) advancing organoid intelligence with a hippocampal-cortical system; 7) generation of the olfactory epithelium from human pluripotent stem cells to study neurodegeneration; and 8) a human-relevant model for real-time monitoring of mycn-driven neuroblastoma spreading and drug testing. These projects reflect ardf's continued emphasis on supporting human-relevant, animal-free approaches for biomedical research and drug development, including cell- and tissue-based systems, organoid and stem cell technologies, computationally informed models, and other advanced in vitro and ex vivo methods. By supporting research to develop and advance alternative, animal-free models, ardf continues to promote both animal welfare and human health. Ardf also continued development of its alternatives in research challenge, a disease-focused grant initiative supporting non-animal approaches to childhood cancer research. Ardf also contributes its expertise to scientific and policy discussions concerning the advancement, validation, and adoption of non-animal methods. In 2025, ardf supported education, outreach, and scientific exchange to accelerate understanding of human-relevant approaches and to foster collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 79.3%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $10.73 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Pass
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.9%; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 75%; rating input score 75; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 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: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 31.9%; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 18.07; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4%; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.1% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8.2% per year; rating input score 100; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.1% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings