Human Relations Area Files Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDES TO UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, BY PAID DUES, ACCESS TO OUR ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOGRAPHY DATABASE BY STUDENTS AND FACULTY FOR RESEARCH AND STUDY PURPOSES.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 59%
- Reserves
- 4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 80%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $7,819, 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
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 65% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1559% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (3)
- $570,284 spent. EHRAF WORLD CULTURES - A FULL TEXT DATABASE OF THE CULTURES OF THE WORLD SUBJECT INDEXED BY PARAGRAPH.
- $20,396 spent. EHRAF ARCHAEOLOGY - A FULL TEXT DATABASE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRADITIONS OF THE WORLD SUBJECT INDEXED BY PARAGRAPH.
- $293,660 spent. MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT
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
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 June 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 October 1950.
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.