Medical Educatiion & Research Instutute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 76 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
AT THE MERI, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE INTRODUCED TO THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN MEDICINE, AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FIRST-HAND ABOUT THE MOST UP-TO-DATE MEDICAL TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES. THE MERI SUPPORTS RESEARCH IN ALL SPECIALTIES OF MEDICINE, PROVIDING PHYSICIANS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT NECESSARY FOR DEVELOPING, TESTING AND REFINING THE LATEST MEDICAL PROCEDURES AND DEVICES. THE MERI ALSO PROVIDES PHYSICIANS WITH AN INVALUABLE AND AUTHENTIC OPERATING ROOM TRAINING EXPERIENCE. THE MERI ALSO PROVIDES HANDS-ON TRAINING FOR NURSES, CRNA'S, RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS, FIRST RESPONDERS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. MERI'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELFARE BY PROVIDING QUALITY MEDICAL EDUCATION AND HANDS ON TRAINING, AND TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER RESEARCH IN ALL AREAS OF MEDICINE FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.
- Income
- $18.2 million
- Spending
- $15.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 18.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 95%
- Employees
- 79
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $330,564, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 76 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 December 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)
- $12.8 million spent. THE MERI HAD A TOTAL OF 1,535 COURSES TAUGHT IN 2025. THEY INCLUDED 17,205 STUDENTS AND 23,131 PARTICIPANTS. THE PURPOSE OF THESE COURSES WAS TO TEACH PHYSICIANS, RESIDENTS, NURSES, AND OTHER MEDICAL PERSONNEL VARIOUS NEW MEDICAL PROCEDURES. ALSO, THE MERI HAD NO SIMULATION COURSES THAT HELPED TRAIN EMERGENCY MEDICAL STAFF, FIREMAN, MILITARY, AND CIVILIANS ON DISASTER DRILLS AND PROCEDURES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 February 1996.
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.