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Human Rights First

EIN 13-3116646 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PARTISAN, ADVOCACY AND ACTION ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO ADVANCE FREE AND EQUAL SOCIETIES. WE HOLD PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE, PROTECT PEOPLE FROM INJUSTICE, AND STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONS THAT SAFEGUARD UNIVERSAL RIGHTS. FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS, HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST HAS BUILT BIPARTISAN COALITIONS AND WORKED WITH LAWYERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CHALLENGES. THE ORGANIZATION IS BASED IN NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND LOS ANGELES.

Income
$7.6 million
Spending
$12.2 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
-1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
87
Volunteers
1,782
Highest pay
$256,453, coo

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

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 47% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 61% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 25 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 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 (3)
  1. $6.6 million spent. POLICY AND LEGAL REPRESENTATIONHUMAN RIGHTS FIRST PROVIDES FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO REFUGEES SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES. WORKING WITH A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF PRO BONO ATTORNEYS, THE ORGANIZATION SCREENS CASES, TRAINS LAWYERS, AND WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ASYLUM SEEKERS AND IMMIGRANTS HAVE ACCESS TO DUE PROCESS. IN 2024, HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST ASSISTED APPROXIMATELY 2,077 REFUGEES AND ASYLUM 1,327,951. ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM 83 COUNTRIES, SECURING PROTECTION FROM 382 CLIENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. IN ADDITION, VOLUNTEER LAWYERS CONTRIBUTED THAN 97,000 HOURS OF PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES. HRF ALSO CONNECTS CLIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND USES THIS EXPERIENCE TO PROVIDE DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS THAT STRENGTHEN FAIRNESS AND EFFICIENCY IN THE LEGAL PROCESS. THESE SERVICES PROTECT VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS FROM PERSECUTION AND ADVANCE THE RULE OF LAW IN THE UNITED STATES.
  2. $1.3 million spent. INNOVATION LABTHE INNOVATION LAB DEVELOPS TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS. KEY 2024 ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ENHANCING AI TOOLS TO IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS AND DEVELOPING AI TOOLS TO TRACK LEGISLATION WITH HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS.
  3. $883,559 spent. ACCOUNTABILITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERSHUMAN RIGHTS FIRST PROMOTES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CORRUPTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES BY INVESTIGATING, DOCUMENTING, AND EXPOSING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, THEN ADVOCATES FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION ISSUED MAJOR REPORTS ON THE USE AND IMPACT OF MAGNITSKY-STYLE SANCTIONS AND VISA RESTRICTIONS AND PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN SANCTIONS IMPLEMENTATION AND ADDRESS GAPS. IN ADDITION, WE PUBLISHED REPORTS ON THE WORK OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN UKRAINE.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 July 1982.

    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.

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