Skip to the page content
Passes our checks

Hyde Park Institute

EIN 47-5549775 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HYDE PARK INSTITUTE PROMOTES THE UNDERSTANDING AND CULTIVATION OF VIRTUE AS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF LEADING A FULFILLING AND FLOURISHING LIFE. WE SEEK TO ENHANCE THE ROLE OF MORAL PHILOSOPHICAL THINKING THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO COMMUNITY WITH AN EYE TOWARD INTEGRATING INTELLECTUAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT. WE SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FACULTY, STUDENTS, STAFF, AND ALUMNI BY SPONSORING CURRICULAR INITIATIVES, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND ACADEMIC RESEARCH.

Income
$437,524
Spending
$477,230
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$152,277, executive di

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: 77 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $396,121 spent. HPI CARRIED OUT A FULL PROGRAMMING SLATE IN THE 2024/25 ACADEMIC YEAR. ITS YEARLONG PROGRAMS, SCHOLARS IN ETHICS AND MEDICINE (40 PARTICIPANTS), LEADERS IN LAW AND CHARACTER (20 PARTICIPANTS) AND MAROONS OF CHARACTER (70 PARTICIPANTS) HELD NORMAL PROGRAMMING: THEY OPENED AND CLOSED WITH SEMINARS AND FEATURED MONTHLY SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR. THE CHICAGO MORAL PHILOSOPHY INITIATIVE SPONSORED TWO FOR-CREDIT COURSES. HPI AGAIN HELD PROGRAMMING FOR PROFESSIONAL STAFF WITH THE MEANING AND PURPOSE IN MEDICINE (MPM) PROGRAM FOR DOCTORS, WHICH FEATURED PRESENTATIONS BY NATIONAL AUTHORITIES ON TOPICS RELATED TO PHYSICIAN WELLNESS FOLLOWED BY ROBUST DISCUSSIONS AMONG DOCTORS IN THE UCHICAGO MEDICAL SYSTEM. MPM HELD SIX SESSIONS IN THE 2024/25 ACADEMIC YEAR.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.