Hektoen Institute for Medical Research
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HEKTOEN INSTITUTE IS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR GRANTS FROM COOK COUNTY RELATED TO MEDICAL RESEARCH, CLINICAL TRIALS, AND PHARMACEUTICAL STUDIES.
- Income
- $18.9 million
- Spending
- $16.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 44.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 78%
- Employees
- 248
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $254,516, co-investigator, trustee
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 44.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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)
- $7.1 million spent. THE INSTITUTE MANAGES MANY CLINICAL RESEARCH AND PROGRAM DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR AFFILIATED AGENCIES. THE RANGE OF CLINICAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES INCLUDES MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND CLINICAL TRIALS, AS WELL AS COHORT, OBSERVATIONAL, AND NATURAL HISTORY STUDIES. THE INSTITUTE'S PROGRAM DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOCUS ON NOVEL, EFFICIENT, OR EFFICACIOUS METHODOLOGIES OF SERVICE DELIVERY. THESE PROGRAMS RANGE FROM COST STUDIES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE INTEGRATION INTO THE PRIMARY CARE MODEL OF AN HIV CLINIC TO A WIDE VARIETY OF NEW PROJECTS FOCUSING ON BIOTERRORISM, AMONG MANY OTHERS.
- $6.6 million spent. THE MAJORITY OF THE PROGRAM DELIVERY ACTIVITIES OF THE INSTITUTE ARE MADE ON BEHALF OF THE COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, WHOSE GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS ARE RECEIVED BY THE INSTITUTE. THE SERVICES ADMINISTERED ARE VERY WIDE RANGING. THE INSTITUTE'S LARGEST PROGRAMS FOCUS ON HEALTH CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH HIV/AIDS. THE INSTITUTE'S OTHER MEDICAL CARE DELIVERY PROGRAMS INCLUDE MANY ASPECTS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, PEDIATRICS, PSYCHIATRY, OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY, GERIATRICS, SURGERY, AND SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS LABORATORY, RADIOLOGY, AND PHARMACY.
- THE INSTITUTE SUPPORTS THE TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL MISSION OF ITS AFFILIATES. MOST OF THE INSTITUTE'S EFFORTS IN THIS CATEGORY ARE MADE ON BEHALF OF THE COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SYSTEMS. THE INSTITUTE'S TRAINING GRANTS FOCUS ON THE EDUCATION OF FACULTY, FELLOWS, AND RESIDENTS. THE INSTITUTE PARTICIPATES IN A VARIETY OF PROJECTS OFFERING CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO THE STAFF OF THE COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AND TO OTHER MEDICAL PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE INSTITUTE HAS PROJECTS THAT FOCUS ON PATIENT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION FOR SPECIFIC DISEASES OR SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF CARE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1945.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.