Human Rights Watch Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ("HRW") DEFENDS THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE. WE SCRUPULOUSLY INVESTIGATE ABUSES, EXPOSE THE FACTS WIDELY, AND PRESSURE THOSE WITH POWER TO RESPECT RIGHTS AND SECURE JUSTICE. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH IS AN INDEPENDENT, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS AS PART OF A VIBRANT MOVEMENT TO UPHOLD HUMAN DIGNITY AND ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL.
- Income
- $19.0 million
- Spending
- $26.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- -1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 23
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 78% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 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.
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 September 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 (11)
- $2.6 million spent. ASIA DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, INC. MONITORS AND PROMOTES HUMAN RIGHTS IN ASIAN COUNTRIES FROM AFGHANISTAN TO THE EAST. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SENDS INVESTIGATIVE MISSIONS TO COLLECT INFORMATION AND REPORTS ITS FINDINGS TO THE PUBLIC.
- $2.0 million spent. MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA - FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HAS WORKED TO EXPOSE AND CURB A WIDE RANGE OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA. WITH A STAFF OF MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE, WE REPORT ON 17 COUNTRIES IN THE REGION FROM OUR LOCALOFFICES IN TUNISIA, LEBANON, ISRAEL, JORDAN, AS WELL AS FROM OUR OTHER INTERNATIONAL OFFICES.
- $1.9 million spent. AFRICA DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, INC. MONITORS AND PROMOTES HUMAN RIGHTS IN SUB SAHARAN AFRICA. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SENDS INVESTIGATIVE MISSIONS TO COLLECT INFORMATION AND REPORTS ITS FINDINGS TO THE PUBLIC.
- $1.9 million spent. THE EUROPE & CENTRAL ASIA DIVISION OF HRW MONITORS AND PROMOTES HUMAN RIGHTS IN ASIAN COUNTRIES FROM AFGHANISTAN TO THE EAST. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SENDS INVESTIGATIVE MISSIONS TO COLLECT INFORMATION AND REPORTS ITS FINDINGS TO THE PUBLIC.
- $1.4 million spent. CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
- $1.1 million spent. WOMEN'S RIGHTS
- $1.1 million spent. AMERICAS
- $912,863 spent. DISABILITY RIGHTS
- $728,527 spent. UNITED STATES
- $405,761 spent. LGBT'S RIGHTS
- $5.2 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS:OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE OUR WORK ON REFUGEES, THE ENVIRONMENT, TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS AND INVESTIGATIONS, ADVOCACY, LEGAL AND POLICY, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 November 1976.
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.