Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory consistently generates significant surpluses, growing assets to over $1.3 billion.
EIN: 112013303 · Cold Spg Hbr, NY · NTEE: U500 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (EIN: 112013303) is a nonprofit organization based in Cold Spg Hbr, NY, classified under NTEE code U500. The organization reported total revenue of $482.3M and total assets of $1.4B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The provided data consistently reports 0% for Officer Comp across all periods, which is unusual for an organization of this size and complexity. This either indicates that executive compensation is reported under different categories within the full 990 or that key leadership roles are filled by individuals not classified as 'officers' for compensation reporting purposes, warranting further investigation.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's IRS 990 filings:
- Unexplained 0% officer compensation across all filings, requiring deeper scrutiny.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory:
- Consistent financial surpluses, indicating strong fiscal management.
- Significant and sustained asset growth, enhancing long-term stability.
- Robust revenue generation, with recent periods showing substantial funding.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, suggesting a healthy balance sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Is Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (EIN: 112013303) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory spend its money?
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory tax-deductible?
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 112013303). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory manage to report 0% officer compensation across all filings?
The consistent reporting of 0% for Officer Comp is highly unusual for an organization with revenues exceeding $200 million. This suggests that executive compensation might be reported under different expense categories (e.g., salaries and wages for key employees not classified as 'officers' in this specific field) or that the provided summary data does not capture the full picture of executive remuneration. A review of the full IRS 990 forms, specifically Part VII, would be necessary to understand how executive compensation is structured and reported.
What is the primary source of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's substantial revenue growth, especially the jump in 2019 and 2023?
The revenue figures show significant fluctuations, with a peak of $307,604,088 in 201912 and $257,960,426 in 202312. Given the NTEE code U500 (Research Institutes), these spikes could be attributed to large grants, major donations, or successful investment returns. Without detailed breakdowns from the full 990, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact drivers, but it indicates a strong ability to attract substantial funding.
How does the organization's asset growth relate to its mission and long-term sustainability?
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's assets have grown significantly from $683,609,045 in 201512 to $1,242,678,094 in 202312. This substantial asset base provides financial stability, supports long-term research initiatives, and allows for investment in facilities and endowments, crucial for a research institution's sustainability and ability to pursue its scientific mission without constant reliance on immediate funding cycles.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's revenue has grown by 22.4%, moving from $210.8M to $258.0M. Total assets increased by 88.1% over the same period, from $660.5M to $1.2B. Total functional expenses rose by 32.6%, from $143.8M to $190.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory reported a surplus of $67.3M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $142.8M in liabilities against $1.2B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 11.5%), resulting in net assets of $1.1B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $258.0M | $190.7M | $1.2B | $142.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $207.4M | $184.0M | $1.1B | $151.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $202.3M | $170.4M | $1.2B | $184.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $184.4M | $166.0M | $1.1B | $210.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $307.6M | $184.0M | $1.1B | $210.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $212.5M | $174.5M | $889.6M | $221.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $214.1M | $155.5M | $812.6M | $148.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $170.2M | $147.6M | $719.2M | $148.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $133.8M | $144.5M | $683.6M | $148.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $133.9M | $140.9M | $704.3M | $149.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $134.4M | $141.2M | $705.6M | $132.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $158.9M | $143.5M | $684.6M | $149.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $210.8M | $143.8M | $660.5M | $152.2M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $258.0M, expenses of $190.7M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue +24.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $207.4M, expenses of $184.0M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue +2.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $202.3M, expenses of $170.4M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue +9.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $184.4M, expenses of $166.0M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue -40.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $307.6M, expenses of $184.0M, and assets of $1.1B (revenue +44.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $212.5M, expenses of $174.5M, and assets of $889.6M (revenue -0.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $214.1M, expenses of $155.5M, and assets of $812.6M (revenue +25.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $170.2M, expenses of $147.6M, and assets of $719.2M (revenue +27.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $133.8M, expenses of $144.5M, and assets of $683.6M (revenue +-0.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $133.9M, expenses of $140.9M, and assets of $704.3M (revenue -0.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $134.4M, expenses of $141.2M, and assets of $705.6M (revenue -15.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $158.9M, expenses of $143.5M, and assets of $684.6M (revenue -24.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $210.8M, expenses of $143.8M, and assets of $660.5M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.