Funding FAQs

“IMF” is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Salt Lake City. IMF was founded in 2019 by the Cold Case Coalition and was the first forensic DNA laboratory Accredited in Whole Genome Sequencing by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). In 2024, IMF transitioned its day-to-day lab operations to DNA Labs International. As we look to the future, our focus is to promote the use of advanced DNA techniques for identification of unidentified human remains and crime scene DNA. We assist Law Enforcement through Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG), Cold Case Funding and Education/Consulting.

IMF’s mission has always been to improve and increase accessibility to forensic DNA and related tools. Too many families and communities need answers.

Law enforcement agencies, innocence-based nonprofits, and historical researchers with satisfactory credentials. Genealogists who are employed by a laboratory or governmental entity must identify the employer in the application.

IMF decision makers will periodically review pending applications and decide what funds should be allocated, if any. The amount of funding will depend on the number of applications, availability of funding, whether the applicant has previously received funds, and other considerations. Because IMF is operated primarily by volunteers, meetings typically occur monthly but decisions might take longer. No funding is guaranteed for any application or applicant.

Funds can be used for Whole Genome Sequencing (including serology, extraction and bioinformatics), database uploads, and reference testing. For WGS and reference testing, funds will typically be paid directly to the laboratory via invoice. For database uploads, funds shall be paid directly to the uploader upon confirmation that the upload has occurred. Prior to payment, the applicant must verify that the expense has not been paid by other funds.

Yes, in rare instances. (IMF defines a “hot” case as less than 1 year old.) Urgent requests should be prominently noted in the application. We also suggest separate emails to Andrea@IntermountainForensics.com and Karra@IntermountainForensics.com

IMF will only consider requests from applicants who presently are authorized to arrange DNA testing on a case. IMF might consider conditional funding on cases of historical significance where a commitment for funding might be determinative of whether a project is undertaken.

Funding for targeted sequencing will be considered only in very rare circumstances, and only after Whole Genome Sequencing has been attempted. Funding might be considered for mitochondrial, YSTR, and microarray testing on a case-by-case basis.

Yes:

• The lab must use Whole Genome Sequencing to generate profiles. IMF believes that Whole Genome Sequencing offers reliability and compatibility advantages over other forms of testing.

• For crime scene DNA cases only, the lab must have been Accredited (in any category) by ANAB for at least two years. This is to ensure that an independent body has evaluated the laboratory’s policies and practices for at least two full cycles, and to reduce potential challenges to the lab’s results.

• The lab must agree to share its FASTQ (raw file) or equivalent WGS raw sequencing data file with other accredited laboratories upon request of the applicant. If an alternative file is provided, it will be subject to IMF approval. This expectation is common in the industry and enables second looks using varying bioinformatic and analytical methods.

Yes. When applying for funds, applicants must certify that they will not upload, or allow to be uploaded, the profile to a private database that is not accessible by other FIGG genealogists to MyHeritage.com, 23andMe, Ancestry.com OR to any other database for which the upload would be a violation of Terms of Service. Any certification deemed by IMF to have been false or violated will disqualify the applicant, the uploading entity/person, and the agency (if any) from any future funding consideration.

No. Justice includes answers for families and communities in all UHR cases.

Partially. Funds are reserved for cases meeting one or more of the following:

The applicant agrees to upload any resulting profile to DNA Justice. This is a nonprofit, law enforcement-exclusive DNA database founded by CeCe Moore of Parabon Nanolabs, Margaret Press of DNA Doe Project (ret.), and Kevin Lord, formerly of Intermountain Forensics and now with DNA Labs, International.

The applicant elects to have IMF perform the genetic genealogy on the profile. This preference also applies if the applicant opts to have IMF coordinate the genealogy, such as by designating or requesting a third party genealogist.

We welcome support of the public to aid in this work. Your tax deductible donation will go to a pool that will directly impact these cases. Visit our Donate page to contribute.