Chicago Electrical Trauma Research Institute
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
The Chicago Electrical Trauma Research Institute was founded to increase the pathophysiological and biophysical understanding of the link between electrical shock injuries and clinical manifestations so that survivors of electrical shock injury could be more effectively managed by physicians.
- Income
- $104,263
- Spending
- $115,174
- Reserves
- -51.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 6 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (medical research, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 819% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 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)
- $41,000 spent. Medical evaluation of patients who have complications of electrical injury: Three patients underwent medical evaluation by CETRI affiliated medical specialists www.cetri.organd were added to CETRIs IRB approved research protocol.
- $29,900 spent. Medical Research: 1 Medical Research: CETRIs scientists published two peer- reviewed scientific journal publications and supervised i PhD thesis. 2 CETRIs journal articles involve detailed analysis of published data analysis of CETRIs database writing and publishing. CETRs publication have been cited extensively in the medical field of burn trauma. A recent publication from a major university in Europe stated that a CETRI publication has been more impact that any other research publication on electrical injury in the history of electrical injury research.
- $500 spent. Education: Students from four major universities completed medical research projects and reported them in 2024
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 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 March 2012.
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.