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The 990 read · EIN 51-0197108 · CA · Fiscal year FY ending Jun 2025

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute: CEO salary, finances and where donations go

In its own words

“Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute's mission is to advance the biomedical sciences by cultivating the next generation of scientific leaders, providing meaningful opportunities for researchers of all backgrounds to learn, innovate, and make breakthrough discoveries that improve human health.”

Data only Figures straight from the filing, screened by our rules. Not yet reviewed in depth by a CPA.

Methodology by Amir Arani, CPA, CA · Updated

Top pay
$994K David Brenner, 0.9% of spending
Revenue
$114.4M 88.2% from donations and grants
Spent
$116.1M 82.3% on programs, as reported
Net assets
$282.3M end of FY ending Jun 2025
Savings
29.2 months of spending, net assets ÷ spending
People
611 employees, 14 volunteers
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Parts I, VII, IX, X
01 · Red flags

1 thing to look at.

We screen every filing against twelve rules. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.

medium

Loans to or from officers, directors or key employees

Part IV line 26 answered yes.

Form 990 Part IV, line 26; Schedule L Part II
02 · Where $1 goes · FY ending Jun 2025

Of each dollar it spent, 82.3¢ went to programs, as reported.

The split the charity filed.
82.3¢
Programs, $95.6M
1.5¢
Fundraising, $1.8M
16.2¢
Admin, $18.8M
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part IX, line 25
Cost to raise $1
2¢
as reported

For each dollar donated, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute spent 2¢ on fundraising.

Fundraising ÷ $100.9M contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IX
03 · The savings

Net assets: $215.0M to $282.3M in 11 years.

Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2013 to 2025.

Net assets at year end, $ millions
215
232
332
309
307
282
216
214
261
220
244
282
Form 990 history via ProPublicaForm 990 (FY ending Jun 2025)
04 · Who gets paid

The 8 highest-paid people.

Reportable pay in FY ending Jun 2025, from the charity and related organizations.

David Brenner
CEO & President
$994,322
Kristiina Vuori Md Phd
Professor
$602,266
Peter Adams Phd
Program Director
$450,347
Carl Ware Phd
Center Director, Iidc
$449,559
Michael Jackson Phd
Drug Discovery & Dev, Sr VP
$443,835
Robin Ryan
CFO & Treasurer (thru 11/15/24)
$414,770
Jamey Marth Phd
Program Director
$399,446
Adrienne Crown Jd
General Counsel & Secretary
$313,425
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII, Section A
Largest outside contractors
ContractorServicePaid
Deloitte & Touche LlpProfessional services$433,527
1903 Solutions LLCNetworking, security, it services$425,572
Bioduro LLCBiotechnology services$404,003
Universal Protection Service LpBuilding security services$286,557
Jaggaer LLCProcurement services$233,784
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII, Section B
05 · Questions

The questions people ask about the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.

Short, sourced answers. Each one stands on its own.

How much does the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute CEO make?

David Brenner, CEO & President, received $994,322 in reportable compensation in FY ending Jun 2025, 0.9% of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute's $116.1M in spending.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VII

What percentage of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute donations go to programs?

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute reported 82.3% of FY ending Jun 2025 spending as programs, 1.5% as fundraising and 16.2% as management.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part IX

How much money does Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have?

Net assets were $282.3M at the end of FY ending Jun 2025, about 29.2 months of spending.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part X

Does Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have any red flags in its filing?

Its latest Form 990 triggered 1 of our twelve screening rules: loans to or from officers, directors or key employees. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.

Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025)
06 · Sources and citing

Every number, traced.

  1. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute Form 990, FY ending Jun 2025 (IRS e-file)
  2. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute Form 990 history (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
Cite this page

Amir Arani, “Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute: CEO salary, finances and where your dollar goes,” Charity Math, updated 2026-11-07. https://charitymath.com/charities/sanford-burnham-prebys-medical-discovery-institute/