Monell Chemical Senses Center
Monell Chemical Senses Center reported $20.7 million in revenue and $20.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.53 went to program services, $13.58 to management and general costs and $6.89 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 88.7% of the total. Government grants made up 37.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $360,927 (Exec Dir President). 26 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 66% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $20MFor context, the median across 169 covered medical research charities: $87.02 programs, $12.87 management, $0.11 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $21MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.5% | 83.9% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.6% | 12.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.9% | 0.1% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 88.7% | 72.7% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 37.3% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 5.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $360,927 | $628,890 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.77% | 1.94% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 26 | 18 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 21.5 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 10 of 11 | 93.8% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe Monell Chemical Senses Center is a non-profit independent scientific institute dedicated to interdisciplinary basic research on the senses of taste, smell and chemosensory irritation. In addition to increasing fundamental knowledge about the chemical senses, basic research at Monell relates to significant public health and quality of life issues, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, pediatric health, occupational safety, environmental pollution, and homeland security. Our appreciation of many of lifes pleasures, such as the evocative realms of scent and flavor, also is enhanced…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exec Dir President Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $326,233 | $0 | $34,694 | $360,927 |
| Secretary Exec VP Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $256,115 | $0 | $31,912 | $288,027 |
| Scientist Member Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $234,351 | $0 | $26,390 | $260,741 |
| Chief of Staff Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $241,938 | $0 | $18,156 | $260,094 |
| Chief Sci Offcr Memb Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $200,314 | $0 | $43,949 | $244,263 |
| Scientist Member Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $197,070 | $0 | $26,133 | $223,203 |
| CFO Treasurer Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $201,487 | $0 | $12,693 | $214,180 |
| Scientist Member Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,081 | $0 | $45,318 | $205,399 |
26 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Monell Chemical Senses Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.6M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b11 · 10 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5173
- Volunteers Part I, line 636
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Rycon Construction Construction on Facilities | $1,276,764 |
| USDA Agricult Resch Ctr SubcontrctScientific Res | $709,912 |
| Aperio Philanthropy LLC Growth Plan Implementation | $185,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania SubcontrctScientific Res | $163,492 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
10 private foundations reported grants to Monell Chemical Senses Center totaling $6.6M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Monell Chemical Senses Center's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Monell Chemical Senses Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Monell Chemical Senses Center spent in FY2025, $79.53 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Mary Crowley Medical Research CenterDallas, TX · revenue $21M · programs 71.7% · 2024
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All medical research charities · Largest charities in Pennsylvania
Questions people ask
How much of Monell Chemical Senses Center's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Monell Chemical Senses Center reported that 79.5% of its $20.4 million in expenses went to program services, 13.6% to management and general and 6.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Monell Chemical Senses Center pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Monell Chemical Senses Center reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $360,927, for the role of Exec Dir President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Monell Chemical Senses Center get its money?
Of $20.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 88.7% came from contributions and grants (including 37.3% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Monell Chemical Senses Center a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-2020897 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202620509349300132 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541269349301479 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411309349300606 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311319349306151 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211319349306251 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121339349303332 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-2020897: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.