Responsible Hospitality Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported a significant diversion of its assets during the year.
- 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
PUBLIC EDUCATION
- Income
- $221,165
- Spending
- $232,739
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -7.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 6
- Highest pay
- $32,462, president
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
Weak: 19 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (mental health, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 1068% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 57% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (mental health, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $206,636 spent. The Responsible Hospitality Institute is in a transition period as the economy of cities is evolving, providing fewer options. The Sociable City Assessment process which has been a primary source of revenue, and opportunities ended. RHI staff involved in those projects found other employment. The annual events continued in 2025 and a new project began as a state demonstration in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, transferring the RHI city organizing process to an educational and research project. 2025 Sociable City Events The Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) held it 2025 Sociable City Academy and Summit in Sacramento, California. Programohttps://sociablecity.info/summit/history/2025.pdfo92 SpeakersoSix General SessionsoTwenty Educational WorkshopsAttendeeso225 Individuals Attendedo130 Organizations RepresentedAttendees from: o49 Citieso25 States and Provinceso5 CountriesTwo State Demonstration ProjectThe Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) received an award from the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) to improve state-local collaboration through the lens of sociability and the social economy. The initiative will showcase how shared learning can enhance governance, economic vitality, and public safety in nighttime social districts where people gather to shop, dine, drink, listen to music, and dance. Pennsylvania and North Carolina are pilot states for this project. Drawing on its work in more than 80 North American cities and decades of convening thought leaders through annual events, the Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) has identified a significant gap: the absence of structured dialog and collaborative planning between state and local governments. To address this, RHI proposes a replicable model rooted in sociable city planning to bridge this divide and support sustainable urban development.Through a series of events and targeted information gathering, this initiative will explore and document:State-to-state comparisons of policies, resources, and advocacy efforts that support a vibrant and sustainable daytime and nighttime social economy.City-to-city comparisons within and across states to identify trends, challenges, and effective strategies for planning, managing, and policing social districtsareas where people gather to shop, dine, drink, enjoy live music, and dance.
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 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 June 1984.
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.