Comic Relief Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 59 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
COMIC RELIEF U.S. IS WORKING TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY THROUGH THE FOLLOWING METHODS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)1. WE GALVANIZE THE PUBLIC TO ACT BY LEVERAGING OUR UNIQUE CREATIVE ANDENTERTAINMENT LENS TO AMPLIFY THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIESDIRECTLY IMPACTED BY INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY.2. WE RAISE DONATIONS THROUGH OUR FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS. WE INVEST THEFUNDS RAISED IN NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY-ROOTED ORGANIZATIONS WITH ROBUSTPROGRAMS WHICH ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF POVERTY ANDSOCIAL INJUSTICE. THE OUTCOMES OF THESE INITIATIVES WILL LEAD TO SOCIALAND ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS IN COMMUNITIESTHAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SYSTEMIC RACISM AND/OR FACED STRUCTURAL ECONOMICBARRIERS FOR GENERATIONS.
- Income
- $10.1 million
- Spending
- $20.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 11.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $458,648, ceo - outgoing (jan 2025)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 101% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 79% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 59 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $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, 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 (1)
- $12.5 million spent. RED NOSE DAY IS A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN RUN BY THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS COMIC RELIEF, INC (US) AND COMIC RELIEF (UK). IT IS PART OF A GLOBAL MOVEMENT THAT UNITES CELEBRITIES, COMEDY AND THE PUBLIC TO RAISE AWARENESS AND MONEY TO HELP CHILDREN IN NEED IN THE US AND INTERNATIONALLY. RED NOSE DAY HAS RAISED OVER $1 BILLION DOLLARS GLOBALLY OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES. IN AMERICA, RED NOSE DAY HAS RAISED NEARLY $400 MILLION OVER THE PAST DECADE. MONEY RAISED IS USED TO ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF CHILDREN BY MAKING GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS TO KEEP KIDS SAFE, HEALTHY, EDUCATED AND EMPOWERED.
Source: Form 990 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 2024.
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 2007.
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.