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Midwest Reliability Organization Inc

EIN 04-3736566 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IDENTIFY, PRIORITIZE AND ASSURE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MITIGATION OF RISKS TO THE RELIABILITY AND SECURITY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BULK POWER SYSTEM BY PROMOTING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE RELIABILITY ORGANIZATIONS (HEROS).

Income
$24.6 million
Spending
$23.2 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
96
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$817,676, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 22 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $9.2 million spent. COMPLIANCE MONITORING ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM: THE MRO STAFF WILL MONITOR, ASSESS, AND ENFORCE COMPLIANCE OF RELIABILITY STANDARDS FOR EACH REGISTRANT (ALSO KNOWN AS REGISTERED ENTITY) THAT HAS COMPLIANCE RESPONSIBILITIES AS DEFINED IN THE MRO REGISTRY IN A NON-DISCRIMINATORY MANNER WITH THE APPROPRIATE DUE PROCESS. IN THE UNITED STATES, MRO ENFORCES RELIABILITY STANDARDS ACCORDING TO COMMISSION-APPROVED RULES (COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM OR "CMEP"). IN SASKATCHEWAN, MRO CARRIES OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES ACCORDING TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITY. IN MANITOBA, MRO CARRIES OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES ACCORDING TO THE APPLICABLE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK IN THE PROVINCE.
  2. $2.7 million spent. RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT:THE MRO ANALYZES, ASSESSES, AND REPORTS ON RELIABILITY AND RESOURCE ADEQUACY IN THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. THIS INCLUDES THE LONG-TERM AND SEASONAL ASSESSMENTS AS REQUIRED BY THE RDA. ADDITIONALLY, NERC SHALL ALSO CONDUCT SPECIAL RELIABILITY ASSESSMENTS AS NEEDED.
  3. $571,895 spent. TRAINING AND EDUCATION: MRO IDENTIFY, PRIORITIZE AND ASSURE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MITIGATION OF RISKS TO THE RELIABILITY AND SECURITY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BULK POWER SYSTEM BY PROMOTING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE RELIABILITY ORGANIZATIONS (HEROS)." BY PROVIDING TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO INDUSTRY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CMEP, THE APPLICATION OF NERC RELIABILITY STANDARDS, AND SHARING INFORMATION AND BEST PRACTICES RELATED TO RELIABILITY AND SECURITY OF THE BULK POWER SYSTEM IN MRO'S REGIONAL FOOTPRINT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NERC AND THE OTHER REGIONAL ENTITIES, MRO IS EXPANDING OUTREACH TO STATE AND PROVINCIAL REGULATORS TO EDUCATE AND INFORM KEY DECISION AND POLICY MAKERS OF RISKS TO RELIABILITY AND SECURITY OF THE BULK POWER SYSTEM.
  4. $6.7 million spent. REMAINING PROGRAMS:MRO IS ACCOUNTABLE TO REGULATORS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA FOR THE CONDUCT OF ITS WORK AND MUST SUBMIT PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS ON A PERIODIC BASIS AND ITS BUDGET IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC AND ULTIMATELY APPROVED BY US REGULATORY AUTHORITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 July 2004.

    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 November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.