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Health Effects Institute

EIN 04-2708045 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HEALTH EFFECTS INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, IMPARTIAL AND RELEVANT SCIENCE ON THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION. THIS IS DONE BY IDENTIFYING THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AREAS FOR HEALTH EFFECT RESEARCH; FUNDING AND OVERSEEING RESEARCH; PROVIDING INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF RELATED RESEARCH PROJECTS; COLLABORATING WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS; COMMUNICATION OF RESULTS OF HEI RESEARCH AND ANALYSES TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DECISION MAKERS.

Income
$13.3 million
Spending
$15.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 56%
Employees
35
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$411,466, former vice president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $8.5 million spent. HEI'S ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH PROGRAM TRACKS AIR POLLUTION FROM ITS SOURCES TO ITS HEALTH IMPACTS, STUDYING HOW THOSE EFFECTS OCCUR. OUR RESEARCH QUANTIFIES HOW AIR AND WATER QUALITY, NOISE LEVELS, AND OTHER NON-CHEMICAL FACTORS AFFECT HEALTH AND EXAMINES THE EFFECTS OF NEW FUELS AND TECHNOLOGIES. IT THEN PUTS THE FINDINGS INTO THE CONTEXT OF CURRENT SCIENCE AND POLICY DISCUSSIONS, PLAYING A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING DETERMINE EMISSIONS STANDARDS AND OTHER HEALTH PROTECTIVE DECISIONS.
  2. $4.4 million spent. HEI'S ENERGY PROGRAM FUNDS AND SUPPORTS POLICY-RELEVANT RESEARCH ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE ONSHORE DEVELOPMENT OF OIL AND GAS FROM SHALE AND OTHER UNCONVENTIONAL RESOURCES IN THE UNITED STATES. WE CONVENE INDEPENDENT EXPERTS TO SELECT, OVERSEE, AND REVIEW STUDIES AND BRING TOGETHER LEADERS FROM GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO GUIDE OUR RESEARCH PRIORITIES. BY SYNTHESIZING AND COMMUNICATING SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, WE HELP AUDIENCES IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORLDWIDE USE OUR SCIENCE IN THEIR DECISION-MAKING.
  3. $876,848 spent. HEI'S GLOBAL INITIATIVES PROGRAM ENGAGES IN PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD, APPLYING SCIENCE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION. WORKING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS IN AFRICA AND ASIA, THE PROGRAM INFORMS POLICY ACTION GLOBALLY, FROM BROAD STRATEGIES TO LOCAL, TARGETED INITIATIVES, AND STRENGTHENING SCIENTIFIC CAPACITY TO COMPLEMENT ONGOING IN-COUNTRY ACTIVITIES. THE PROGRAM'S FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE, STATE OF GLOBAL AIR (SOGA), TRACKS ANNUAL AIR POLLUTION EXPOSURES FOR FINE PARTICLES, OZONE, NITROGEN DIOXIDE, AND HOUSEHOLD AIR POLLUTION IN ADDITION TO THE BURDEN OF DISEASE ATTRIBUTABLE TO AIR POLLUTION IN CITIES AND COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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