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Rhode Island School of Design

EIN 05-0258956 · Providence, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN, THROUGH ITS COLLEGE AND MUSEUM,IS TO EDUCATE ITS STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC IN THE CREATION AND (SEE SCHEDULE O)APPRECIATION OF WORKS OF ART AND DESIGN, TO DISCOVER AND TRANSMIT KNOWLEDGE AND TO MAKE LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO A GLOBAL SOCIETY THROUGH CRITICAL THINKING, SCHOLARSHIP AND INNOVATION.

Income
$239.9 million
Spending
$229.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
3,135
Volunteers
623
Highest pay
$714,484, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 49 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (2)
  1. $169.2 million spent. EDUCATION - RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN WAS FOUNDED IN 1877, MAKING IT ONE OF THE FIRST ART AND DESIGN SCHOOLS IN THE US. APPROXIMATELY 2,500 STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE ENGAGED IN LIBERAL ART STUDIES AND RIGOROUS, STUDIO-BASED LEARNING AT RISD, WHERE THEY CHOOSE FROM 21 STUDIO MAJORS AND EARN BACHELOR'S OR MASTER'S DEGREES IN THE FINE ARTS, ARCHITECTURE OR ART EDUCATION. EACH YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 4,600 CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALSO ACCESS OUR SPECIALIZED STUDIO FACILITIES THROUGH RISD CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES.
  2. $10.5 million spent. MUSEUM - THE RISD MUSEUM WAS FOUNDED ON THE BELIEF THAT ART, ARTISTS, AND THE INSTITUTIONS THAT SUPPORT THEM PLAY PIVOTAL ROLES IN PROMOTING BROAD CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CREATING MORE OPEN SOCIETIES. THE RISD MUSEUM EDUCATES AND INSPIRES STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES, TOURS, WORKSHOPS AND PUBLICATIONS AND PROVIDES FREE ACCESS TO DIGITAL IMAGES OF PUBLIC DOMAIN MATERIALS IN THE COLLECTION FOR ANY PURPOSE. WE WANT OUR COLLECTION, SCHOLARSHIP, AND INTERPRETIVE CONTENT TO BE ACCESSED, DISTRIBUTED, AND REUSED BY EVERYONE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 May 1934.

    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.