Midwest Lighting Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
MLI WILL FOSTER INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS OF NEW ENERGY-SAVING LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES THROUGH MLI-FUNDED RESEARCH THAT SPEEDS ADOPTION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF HUMAN HEALTH, SAFETY, AND PRODUCTIVITY.
- Income
- $120,100
- Spending
- $0
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
- THE MIDWEST LIGHTING INSTITUTE'S (MLI) RESEARCH IS TARGETED TO SPECIFIC HUMAN NEEDS BASED ON THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF LIGHTING. IT IS UNIQUE IN ITS FORMULATION, PRINCIPLED APPROACH, AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL. MLI IS NOT A RESEARCH INSTITUTION; RATHER, IT TAKES EXISTING LIGHTING RESEARCH, LOOKS FOR POSSIBLE PRACTICAL AND COST-EFFECTIVE LIGHTING APPLICATIONS, AND SEEKS OUT THE BEST TEAM OF CONSULTANTS AND/OR UNIVERSITIES TO DEVELOP THE PROTOCOL AND PERFORM THE NECESSARY RESEARCH. AS A RESULT, MLI RESEARCH IS NOT DEPENDENT ON ANY SPECIFIC UNIVERSITY PROGRAM LIMITATION OR FACULTY BIAS OR PERSONAL INTEREST. PROJECTS WILL BE RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY AND BE OUTCOME-DIRECTED AND WILL MINIMIZE THE OVERHEAD COSTS NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH. MLI RESEARCH IS TARGETED AND SPECIFIC TO ATTAIN REALISTIC APPLICABLE RESULTS WITH THE GOAL OF RAPID MARKET DEPLOYMENT TO MEET THE MLO MISSION. THE NOVEL APPROACH TO LIGHTING RESEARCH INCLUDES UNEXPLORED OPPORTUNITIES AND/OR UNDERUTILIZED KNOWLEDGE SUCH AS LIGHT DOSING FOR HUMAN HEALTH AND VISUAL PERFORMANCE, SPECTRAL INVESTIGATIONS FOR OPTIMIZING VISUAL PERFORMANCE, LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF LIGHT DOSING ON SPECIFIC POPULATIONS, AND ENERGY-SAVING TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS INCLUDING NOVEL LIGHTING DESIGN METHODS. THESE CATEGORIES REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL INCOME STREAMS GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE CURRENT LIGHTING SCIENCE AND DISCOVERIES IN JUST THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.