The Wistar Institute

What it reported doing in 2025

The wistar institute is the nation's first independent nonprofit institution devoted exclusively to foundational biomedical research and training. Through a culture and commitment to biomedical collaboration and innovation, wistar science leads to breakthrough early-stage discoveries. Wistar scientists are dedicated to solving some of the world's most challenging problems in the fields of cancer and immunology, advancing human health through early-stage discovery and training the next generation of biomedical researchers. Core centers within the wistar institute includes its internationally recognized ellen and ronald caplan cancer center, designated a national cancer institute (nci) cancer center in 1972. In 2015, the center renewed its designation and received the first of two consecutive "exceptional" ratings that it retains today, the highest possible ranking a cancer center can receive. Wistar's HIV cure and viral disease center is one of the few centers in the nation dedicated to HIV cure research. Wistar scientists as well as scientists throughout the philadelphia region benefit from the technological support and state-of-the-science instrumentation provided by the institute's shared resources.wistar's hubert j.p. Schoemaker education and training center has launched new collaborations with local and international institutions with the goal of expanding life science education in Pennsylvania and beyond. Wistar has a robust range of stem-based programs focused on life science careers for students and adult learners. Wistar's education & training programs support stem-based, biomedical research career opportunities for high school, undergraduate, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 97.5%; rating input score 97
• Program expense ratio: 79.2%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $37 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Scored; rating input score 0

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 65th 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: -16.3%; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.66; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.17; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.9%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.5% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.8% per year; rating input score 100; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.4% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings