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Health Research and Educational Trust

EIN 36-2203931 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HRET is principally organized to assist health care organizations and the communities they serve to improve the efficiency, quality & accessibility of health care services by conducting applied research and demonstration projects & disseminating results through education, publications, & other media.

Income
$6.6 million
Spending
$9.1 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
16.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 35%
Employees
37
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$1.1 million, president

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $5.2 million spent. HRET'S TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAM IDENTIFIES AND EXECUTES STRATEGIES AND METHODS TO DISSEMINATE AND IMPLEMENT RESEARCH FINDINGS, KNOWLEDGE, TOOLS, AND BEST PRACTICES.
  2. $3.5 million spent. QUALITY/COST/DISPARITIES: HRET CONDUCTS MANAGEMENT RESEARCH TO IMPROVE QUALITY, REDUCING COSTS, AND ELIMINATING DISPARITIES. NUMEROUS RESEARCH PROJECTS WORKED WITH HOSPITALS NATIONALLY TO REDUCE INFECTIONS AND TO IMPROVE SAFETY CULTURE SCORES. IN ADDITION, HRET PROVIDES HOSPITALS WITH TOOLS AND TRAINING MATERIALS COMPILED FROM VARIOUS SURVEYS CONDUCTED TO HELP EDUCATE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.
  3. $399,844 spent. Research and development of resources addressing best practices and models for population health and community partnerships. Leadership training in health care transformation for hospital leaders.

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 May 1960.

    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.