Behavioral Ideas Lab
Also known as IDEAS42
Behavioral Ideas Lab reported $11.0 million in revenue and $17.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $77.19 went to program services, $22.81 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 55.3% of the total. Government grants made up 9.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $295,233 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (FROM 2/24)). 32 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 33% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $17MFor context, the median across 54 covered social science charities: $84.80 programs, $13.80 management, $1.40 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $11M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$46.14 $5.1M
- Government grants$9.15 $1.0M
- Program service revenue$39.21 $4.3M
- Investment income$5.50 $603K
Other revenue was negative: −$1,135. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.2% | 81.3% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 22.8% | 13.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 1.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 55.3% | 81.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.1% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 39.2% | 4.4% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $295,233 | $467,896 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.69% | 2.13% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 32 | 19 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.0 | 16.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 of 10 | 96.5% |
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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEconomic justice: we're redefining how people think about poverty in the united states to promote effective and inclusive policies and design new solutions that put more people on a path to economic security. Working with government agencies and non-profits, we apply behavioral science to fix the systemic issues contributing to poverty in the U.S. By increasing access to the critical resources of time, money, and information, and changing how people think about the root causes of poverty, we ensure that more people in historically and intentionally excluded communities have greater control…
Financial health: we're improving financial systems by working to ensure products, services, and programs are behaviorally-informed, and designed to meet the needs of all people. We partner with a wide variety of organizations including credit unions, banks, public agencies, governments, fintech startups, and non-profits to reduce financial hardships and create opportunities for people who have been historically marginalized. Our ultimate goal is to create a financial system that reduces distress and creates opportunity for people with low-to-moderate incomes
Global development: we're creating stronger foundations for individuals in the global south by working with partners to enhance existing paths to sustainable standards of living. By changing behaviors that help people see the value of long-term solutions over short-term gains, we've redesigned programs and services focused on improving people's livelihoods, education outcomes, and workforce development. With projects in eight countries worldwide, we've developed impactful solutions that meet people where they are on their journey out of poverty - and puts them on a path to economic stability
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (FROM 2/24) Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $281,468 | $0 | $13,765 | $295,233 |
| CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $214,913 | $0 | $12,822 | $227,735 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $206,449 | $0 | $20,177 | $226,626 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $199,153 | $0 | $19,937 | $219,090 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $190,098 | $0 | $25,521 | $215,619 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $184,741 | $0 | $30,024 | $214,765 |
| DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS (UNTIL 11/24) Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $184,720 | $0 | $23,586 | $208,306 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $153,528 | $0 | $18,600 | $172,128 |
32 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Behavioral Ideas Lab (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.3M (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
2024 · 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–1b10 · 8 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 11aNo
- 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5103
- Volunteers Part I, line 69
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SIXTY SIX EAST LLC Software engineering services | $203,760 |
| GRINSTEAD DESIGN COLLECTIVE LTD Graphic design services | $123,713 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to Behavioral Ideas Lab totaling $2.9M 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 Behavioral Ideas Lab's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Behavioral Ideas Lab, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Behavioral Ideas Lab spent in 2024, $77.19 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Just Capital FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $11M · programs 75.7% · 2025
- Midwestern Higher Education CompactMinneapolis, MN · revenue $11M · programs 82.2% · FY2025
- American Academy of Arts & SciencesCambridge, MA · revenue $10M · programs 62.5% · FY2025
- Grupo NexosSan Juan, PR · revenue $11M · programs 90.1% · 2024
- American Federation for Aging ResearchNew York, NY · revenue $9.7M · programs 89.9% · 2025
All social science charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Behavioral Ideas Lab's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Behavioral Ideas Lab reported that 77.2% of its $17.5 million in expenses went to program services, 22.8% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Behavioral Ideas Lab pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Behavioral Ideas Lab reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $295,233, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (FROM 2/24) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Behavioral Ideas Lab get its money?
Of $11.0 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 55.3% came from contributions and grants (including 9.1% from government grants) and 39.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Behavioral Ideas Lab a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 27-1678009 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202543219349320399 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423199349314832 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202333179349310583 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233159349305713 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202101809349300615 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202043219349301214 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 27-1678009: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.