Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center reported $63.8 million in revenue and $67.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $81.56 went to program services, $14.28 to management and general costs and $4.16 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 57.1% of the total. Government grants made up 33.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $881,496 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 60 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 16% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $68MFor context, the median across 192 covered science & technology charities: $84.33 programs, $15.67 management, $0.00 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 $64MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.6% | 83.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.3% | 15.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.2% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 57.1% | 51.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 33.0% | 3.2% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 9.3% | 19.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $881,496 | $513,729 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.30% | 1.72% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 60 | 27 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 108.5 | 14.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 26 of 26 | 94.3% |
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 expenseSee schedule oin 2024, Danforth Center teams made scientific advances that lay the foundation for improved agricultural traits, increased productivity of international staple crops like cassava and teff, and more sustainable farming systems. Impact in global food and agriculture was realized, for example, through delivery of improved cowpea varieties in expanded west african geographies. Impact locally was realized through startup company creation based on center technology and growth of training programs for the next-generation scientists. Our influence was evident through many incredible…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $760,086 | $0 | $121,410 | $881,496 |
| COO AND V.P. FOR FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $356,299 | $0 | $52,372 | $408,671 |
| CEO OF DTC Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $270,248 | $0 | $49,244 | $319,492 |
| PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $260,429 | $0 | $48,605 | $309,034 |
| V.P. FOR DEVELOPMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $254,125 | $0 | $51,751 | $305,876 |
| V.P. FOR RESEARCH Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $261,983 | $0 | $32,256 | $294,239 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IICI Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $276,974 | $0 | $9,293 | $286,267 |
| V.P. OF FACILITIES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $228,008 | $0 | $54,629 | $282,637 |
60 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.6M (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
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–1b26 · 26 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 4Yes
- 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 5477
- Volunteers Part I, line 6170
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| K&S ASSOCIATES INC Construction services | $2,613,969 |
| GS&S INC Construction services | $480,290 |
| POLSINELLI PC Legal services | $287,833 |
| CHRISTNER INC Architectural services | $262,891 |
| 4M BUILDING SOLUTIONS INC Janitorial services | $227,481 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 17 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
37 private foundations reported grants to Donald Danforth Plant Science Center totaling $5.1M 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 Donald Danforth Plant Science 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 Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Donald Danforth Plant Science Center spent in 2024, $81.56 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Gordon Research ConferencesEast Greenwich, RI · revenue $62M · programs 89.9% · FY2025
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All science & technology charities · Largest charities in Missouri
Questions people ask
How much of Donald Danforth Plant Science Center's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center reported that 81.6% of its $67.8 million in expenses went to program services, 14.3% to management and general and 4.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Donald Danforth Plant Science Center pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Donald Danforth Plant Science Center reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $881,496, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Donald Danforth Plant Science Center get its money?
Of $63.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 57.1% came from contributions and grants (including 33.0% from government grants) and 9.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Donald Danforth Plant Science Center a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 31-1584621 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 202523149349305257 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423179349305297 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313179349306991 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233199349320633 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123159349305657 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023189349305297 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 31-1584621: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.