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Northwest Institute of Research Inc

EIN 25-1296727 · Erie, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NORTHWEST INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH, A NONPROFIT RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION, PARTNERS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR STAKEHOLDERS TO BUILD AND OPERATE HIGH QUALITY, ACCOUNTABLE, AND RESULTS-DRIVEN PROGRAMS.

Income
$47.4 million
Spending
$46.5 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
60
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$219,877, ceo

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: 62 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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. $45.2 million spent. MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF RESEARCH AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS WITH A FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD. PROGRAM FUNDING IS DISTRIBUTED TO QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS. THE 20242025 ANNUAL MONITORING REVIEW OF EARLY LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER (ELRC) REGION 1 CONFIRMED THAT ALL GOALS AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WERE MET. IN JULY 2024, NWIR, INC. ASSUMED MANAGEMENT OF ELRC REGION 2.COLLECTIVELY, ELRC REGIONS 1 AND 2 DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $41 MILLION TO CHILD CARE PROGRAMS ON BEHALF OF SUBSIDY-ELIGIBLE FAMILIES, AS WELL AS DIRECTLY TO PROVIDERS THROUGH GRANT FUNDING. THE REGIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL CONVENED VIRTUALLY TO FOSTER COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON ENHANCING SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. TOPICS INCLUDED STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICES AND TO EXPAND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND PROVIDERS.
  2. $294,384 spent. PROVIDES KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORTING FAMILIES TO ACCESS EARLY LEARNING SERVICES, ASSISTING PROVIDERS TO ELEVATE THEIR QUALITY STAR RATING. COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILD'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT WITH THE GOAL OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION.
  3. $7,377 spent. THE JAM (JOYCE'S AMAZING MIRACLE) TEAM WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED AS A SUPPORT TEAM FOR DR. JOYCE A. MILLER DURING HER BATTLE WITH GLIOBLASTOMA, A DEADLY FORM OF BRAIN CANCER. AS PART OF HER POST-SURGICAL RECOVERY, DR. MILLER TRANSFORMED HER JAM TEAM INTO A FOUNDATION UNDER HER NON-PROFIT CORPORATION. THE JAM TEAM WILL BE A DRIVING FORCE IN REALIZING DR. MILLER'S VISION THAT ALL PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY KNOWING THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR AND RECEIVING THE BEST EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE POSSIBLE. THE JAM TEAM WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS VISION THROUGH A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES, RANGING FROM ASSISTING NEEDY FAMILIES WITH SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MIRACLE SPACES AND MIRACLE MICRO-CENTERS.

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 May 1978.

    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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