Design mockup. All figures on this page are example data for design review.
Autism Researchers of America
Contribute
Zero Earnings Initiative

Every contribution accounted for.

Independent research. Public accountability. We study open questions about autism with families' consent, and we publish every dollar we receive and spend.

View ledger

Contribute to independent research

Choose an amount

For-profit company. Contributions are not tax-deductible. Learn more

Next, choose how you appear in the public ledger: by name, anonymously, or by a private code. Payment details are never shown.

Our mission

We ask careful questions about autism, test them openly, and show what every step costs.

Understand mechanisms

Study genetics, biology and environment together, down to single cells, to find reliable explanations.

Follow the evidence

Every research area is labelled as a hypothesis, an association or causal evidence. We never present a question as an answer.

Work toward better support

Our goals are prevention where science allows and affordable interventions. We do not promise a remedy.

  1. InterviewsParents and guardians share histories, with consent.
  2. RecordsConsent-based prenatal and birth records.
  3. MedicationsHospital medication histories around birth.
  4. SamplesBlood samples analysed cell by cell.
  5. ComparisonCareful statistical comparison, published openly.
Research questions

What we will study

Research questions, not conclusions. Each shows the evidence status today and the date we last reviewed it.

All 8 research questions
  • GeneticsSingle-cell

    How do inherited and new genetic differences contribute to autism?

    Family and sequencing studies show genetics plays a substantial role. We will study which variants matter and how they act inside cells.

    Causal evidenceFor some genetic variantsRead the evidence
  • PregnancyMedications

    Are prenatal exposures, maternal health or medications in pregnancy linked to autism?

    Some studies report statistical links. A link does not show cause, so we compare consented records with careful controls.

    Association observedRead the evidence
  • Labor and deliveryNewborn care

    Do medications used during labor, delivery or newborn care play a role?

    An open question that has not been tested well enough to support or reject. We will use hospital medication histories, with consent.

    HypothesisRead the evidence
  • Immunizations

    Are vaccines linked to autism?

    Extensive evidence has found no causal link between vaccines and autism. We cite that research and focus our funds on open questions.

    No causal link foundRead the evidence
Zero Earnings Initiative

A company that keeps nothing back.

ARA is a privately operated for-profit company, not a tax-exempt organization, so contributions are not tax-deductible. By our own voluntary policy we retain zero earnings: profits are reinvested in research and operations, and our books are open.

Open books

Every dollar, in public

Contributions appear once payment is verified. Spending is itemized with documentation.

View the full ledger
Contributed to dateExample data
$1.28M$1,284,350 gross
ContributorsExample data
9,412In 48 states and DC
Spent, itemizedExample data
$612K$612,480 across 1,240 entries
Retained earningsExample data
$0Voluntary policy

Where every dollar goes

Of every $100 spent so far ($612,480 in total), by ledger category.

Example data
  • $14Research expenditures
  • $31Equipment
  • $28Facility & lab buildout
  • $12Salaries
  • $10Fundraising costs (call centers, outreach)
  • $5Operations

Contributors in every corner of the country

Total verified contributions by state.

Example data

Select a state on the map or from the list to see its total.

Map: US Census Bureau via us-atlas (ISC)

Live verified contributions

Shown after the payment clears.

Example data
Live
  • Jordan T. · Oregon$35Payment verified
  • Anonymous · Georgia$100Payment verified
  • ARA-4M8T-2HWDFlorida · $500Payment verified
  • Luis M. · Arizona$40Payment verified
  • Anonymous · Michigan$20Payment verified
See all contributions
Campaigns

Build the lab, one milestone at a time

Give to a specific project. Every bar shows the true, verified amount.

All campaigns
Example data

Single-cell lab equipment

Single-cell analysis equipment and a blood processing lab, so samples can be studied cell by cell in our own facility.

  • Every purchase posted to the ledger with its invoice
  • Equipment owned by ARA and used only for research
  • Progress counts verified payments only
$412,380raised of $1,000,000 goal
  • $250,000 · reachedBlood processing lab
  • $600,000Single-cell sequencer
  • $1,000,000Full single-cell suite

$587,620 still needed · 41% · 2,184 contributors

Support this campaign

Naples research facility

Facility and lab buildout (planning estimate)

Example data
$268,900 of $3,000,000 · 9%Details

Fund our first researchers

First-year salaries for 3 researchers

Example data
$118,450 of $270,000 · 44%Details

Birth records study

Consent-based prenatal and birth records

Example data
$46,700 of $120,000 · 39%Details
Verify

Find your contribution

Did you choose a private code? Enter it to see your entry in the public ledger. The code shows only what the ledger shows.

From your receipt email. Any case, spaces or dashes are fine.

Questions deserve careful answers.

Help fund the lab, the researchers and the studies, and watch every dollar in the ledger.

Contribute

For-profit company. Contributions are not tax-deductible. Learn more

Before you contribute

Autism Researchers of America is a privately operated for-profit company, not a tax-exempt organization. Contributions are not tax-deductible. ARA follows a voluntary policy of zero retained earnings: profits are reinvested in research and operations. Early funds may pay for fundraising infrastructure; these costs are published in the ledger.

  • For-profit companyPrivately operated
  • Not tax-deductibleNo tax receipt is issued
  • Zero retained earningsVoluntary policy
  • Open-book accountingEvery cost published