Robert F Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ROBERT F. KENNEDY BOLDLY FACED TOUGH PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGED THE COMFORTABLE AND COMPLACENT. HE BELIEVED THAT INDIVIDUAL ACTION COULD OVERCOME INJUSTICE AND OPPRESSION. HE AWAKENED UNKNOWN STRENGTHS AND INSPIRED A GENERATION TO CHANGE THE WORLD. ESTABLISHED IN 1968 BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF ROBERT KENNEDY, THE ROBERT F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS (THE "CENTER") IS A NONPROFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT FOR OVER THREE DECADES HAS FURTHERED THE VISION AND SPIRIT OF ROBERT KENNEDY BY ADVANCING RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL PEOPLE AND PROMOTING THE IDEA THAT INDIVIDUAL ACTION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH COMMITMENT TO CIVIC AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
- Income
- $12.3 million
- Spending
- $12.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 5.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 58
- Volunteers
- 43
- Highest pay
- $500,254, president of rfkhr
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
Fair: 67 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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.
Independent board
25 of 2541 of 42 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 (8)
- $3.1 million spent. INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY & LITIGATION (FORMERLY PARTNERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS): THE ROBERT F. KENNEDY PARTNERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (RFK PHR) IS THE ORGANIZATION'S ADVOCACY AND LITIGATION ARM. RFK PHR LEVERAGES PROFESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STAFF, BOARD AND LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, AND THEIR NETWORKS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CHANGE SOUGHT BY THE ORGANIZATION'S PARTNER ACTIVISTS ON THE GROUND; THESE INCLUDE HOLDING GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNTABLE AND CHANGING POLICIES AND ACTIONS OF GOVERNMENTS, INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND CORPORATIONS TO BUILD A MORE JUST AND PEACEFUL WORLD. RFK PHR USES CUTTING EDGE METHODS AND INNOVATIVE TOOLS INCLUDING LITIGATION, ADVOCACY, CAPACITY-BUILDING, DATA COLLECTION, AND DOCUMENTING AND REPORTING ABUSES, AS WELL AS LAUNCHING AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS AIMED AT ACHIEVING SOCIAL JUSTICE GOALS. THE PARTNERSHIP MODEL REPRESENTS AN EFFECTIVE, SUSTAINABLE METHOD FOR SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS. OUR PROGRAM WORKS BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND ABROAD. OUR DOMESTIC WORK AIMS AT USING PUBLIC POLICY CHANGE, ADVOCACY, AND INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO PUT LASTING LEGAL CHANGE IN PLACE FOR COMPLEX SOCIETAL ISSUES. OUR DOMESTIC WORK HAS BEEN AIMED AT REDUCING THE POPULATION OF INDIVIDUALS' INCARCERATED PRE-TRIAL. THROUGH CAMPAIGNS, ADVOCACY, AND STRATEGIC LITIGATION WE HELP DECREASE THE SYSTEMIC RELIANCE ON MONEY BAIL AND POSITIVELY IMPACT THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES.
- $2.2 million spent. RFK COMPASS PROGRAM: RFK COMPASS PROGRAM HOSTS ANNUAL CONFERENCES DESIGNED TO HELP INVESTMENT OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC AND CORPORATE PENSION FUNDS, ENDOWMENTS, SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUNDS AND NOTABLE FAMILY OFFICES TO FULFILL THEIR FIDICIARY DUTIES AND MEET THE CHALLENGES OF INVESTING TODAY. THE PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN 2010 TO BRING TOGETHER THESE INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS TO DISCUSS THE EVOLVING ROLE OF LONG-TERM ASSET OWNERSHIP AND WAYS TO DELIVER SUPERIOR RISK-ADJUSTED RETURNS WITH CONSIDERATIONS FOR HUMAN AND LABOR RIGHTS, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIETAL RESPONSIBLITY AS CRUCIAL ELEMENTS OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT. RFK COMPASS DISTINGUISHES ITSELF FROM OTHER INVESTMENT CONFERENCES BY HOSTING INVITATION-ONLY, MEDIA FREE GATHERINGS THAT ALLOW FOR DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH PEERS, TOP MANAGERS, POLICY MAKERS AND THOUGHT LEADERS.
- $1.6 million spent. THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT PRODUCES ORGANIZATIONAL LITERATURE SUCH AS BROCHURES, REPORTS, INFORMATION KITS, ETC. FOR THE ORGANIZATION IN GENERAL, AND FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS IN PARTICULAR THAT CAN BE USED FOR OUTREACH TO NEW AND EXISTING CONSTITUENCIES, DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES, AND MEDIA OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.
- $533,741 spent. RFK LEGACY PROGRAM'S PURPOSE IS TO EDUCATE NEW AUDIENCES ABOUT ROBERT KENNEDY'S LIFE AND WORK, FOCUSING ON THE EFFECT OF HIS WORK AND HOW HIS EFFORTS AND BELIEFS RELATE TO TODAYS ISSUES, USING AN ONLINE CURRICULUM, THE NEW WEBSITE, A PHOTO ARCHIVE AND A TRAVELINGEDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT. IT IS PRIMARILY AN EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE TO INSPIRE NEW GENERATIONS TO ACT AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
- $207,307 spent. SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER(STTP): AT RKFHR, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMMINENT NEED TO PROVIDE TRANSFORMATIVE AND SYSTEMATIC HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION TO PREVENT VIOLATIONS FROM OCCURRING. ALIGNED WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND TRAINING, SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER (STTP), IS: 1) ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS, WHICH INCLUDES PROVIDING KNOWLEDGE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK AND THE MECHANISMS FOR ITS PROTECTION; 2) THROUGH HUMAN RIGHTS, WHICH INCLUDES LEARNING AND TEACHING IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS THE RIGHTS OF EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS; AND 3) FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, WHICH INCLUDES EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS AND THOSE OF OTHERS. UNDER THIS FRAMEWORK AND THROUGH STORYTELLING, STTP CONSTRUCTS A WORLD IN WHICH HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IS INGRAINED INTO THE FABRIC OF ALL EDUCATORS' PEDAGOGY, AND WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE EFFECTIVE MINDSETS, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIORS TO DEFEND AND ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS AS THE NEXT GENERATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS. STTP SEEKS EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS SUCH AS TEACHERS ORGANIZATIONS AND UNIONS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FOUNDATIONS AND EDUCATION OFFICIALS TO BRING THE EDUCATOR TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO MORE STUDENTS. IT IS CONTINUALLY EXPANDING ITS REACH IN THE US AND ABROAD. CURRENT DOMESTIC PROGRAMMING OCCURS IN NEW YORK CITY, WASHINGTON D.C., PHILADELPHIA, CONNECTICUT, MEMPHIS, SAN DIEGO, INDIANAPOLIS, LOS ANGELES, AUSTIN, AND CHICAGO. OUR CURRENT GLOBAL WORK INCLUDES SPAIN, UK, SWITZERLAND, GREECE, ITALY, SWEDEN, DENMARK, SARAJEVO, AND MEXICO.
- $160,655 spent. BOOK AND JOURNALISM AWARDS: THE BOOK AND JOURNALISM AWARDS HONOR AUTHORS AND JOURNALISTS FOR EXCELLENCE IN REPORTING AND WRITING ON ISSUES OF CONCERN TO ROBERT KENNEDY - HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE, CIVIL RIGHTS, THOSE WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
- $260,887 spent. RFK YOUNG LEADERS: YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE MARGINS AND THOSE WHO HOLD INTERSECTIONAL IDENTITIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY ABSENT FROM LEADERSHIP ROLES, COMMUNITY DIALOGUES, AND CITICAL DECISION MAKING POSITIONS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. WE BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO BUILD AMORE JUST AND PEACEFUL WORLD, THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS MUST BE INCLUSIVE, AND REFLECT THE DIVERSE IDENTITIES THAT EXIST THROUGHOUT ALL CORNERS OF OUR NATION. THE RFK YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PARTNERING WITH YOUNG ADULTS IN COLLEGE BY MOBILIZING THEM TO TAKEACTION ON ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUILDING THEIR INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND EXPANDING THEIR COLLECTIVE ACCESS TO PROFESSIONALS AND POLITICAL NETWORKS.
- $51,297 spent. WORKPLACE DIGNITY INITIATIVE: WORKPLACE DIGNITY INITIATIVE CONNECTS ROBERT F. KENNEDY'S LEGACY OF HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY TO ISSUES IN THE WORKPLACE, OFFERING ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES AND TOOLS FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR LEADERS, AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF WORKPLACE-DIGNITY CHAMPIONS, AND SUPPORTING DIGNITY-ADVANCING LEGISLATION.
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 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 December 2024.
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 1968.
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.