Human Rights in China Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA, FOUNDED BY CHINESE STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS IN MARCH 1989, IS AN INTERNATIONAL, CHINESE, NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND ADVANCE THE INSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION OF THESE RIGHTS IN CHINA
- Income
- $719,635
- Spending
- $670,772
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 10.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 55%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $95,323, executive di
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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
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)
- CASEWORK AND DEFENDER SUPPORT: HRIC FOCUSES ON RIGHTS DEFENDERS WHO ARE RAISING SYSTEMIC HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES AND CONCERNS REGARDING INDIVIDUAL CASES. HRIC ALSO SUPPORTS CITIZEN ACTIVISM BY INCREASING ACCESS TO UNCENSORED INFORMATION, BRINGING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO DOMESTIC CALLS FOR ACTION, AND PROVIDING MEDIA SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL CASES, AND CAPACITY BUILDING RESOURCES FOR DEFENDERS.
- COMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA: HRIC'S MEDIA WORK SUPPORTS DOMESTIC FORCES FOR CHANGE AND CONTRIBUTES TO INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEX CHALLENGES FACING RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS IN CHINA THROUGH PRESS RELEASES, STATEMENTS, CASE UPDATES, AND THE HRIC DAILY BRIEF, A DAILY SELECTION OF NEWS STORIES AND COMMENTARY RELATED TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA,DRAWN FROM CHINESE- AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWS AND ONLINE MEDIA SOURCES. HRIC HIGHLIGHTS CRITICAL HUMAN RIGHTS-RELATED ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS THROUGH MEDIA INTERVIEWS, PUBLIC TALKS, AS WELL AS COMMENTARY PUBLISHED ON HRIC'S WEBSITE AND BY PRESS OUTLETS, AIMED AT PROMOTING INFORMED DISCUSSIONS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
- POLICY ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH: HRIC'S POLICY ADVOCACY WORK IS AIMED AT 1) ADVANCING DOMESTIC IMPLEMENTATION OF CHINA'S INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS AND 2) BUILDING INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS OF AND SUPPORT FOR KEY CASES AND ISSUES CRITICAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIVERSE AND ACTIVE CIVIL SOCIETY SPACE IN CHINA. HRIC CONDUCTS THIS WORK THROUGH EXTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS AND ACTORS, INCLUDING GOVERNMENTS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ACADEMICS AND EXPERTS, AND UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES. HRIC MONITORS CHINA'S LEGAL, POLITICAL, AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS, CONDUCTS IN-DEPTH RESEARCH, AND PRODUCES WHITEPAPERS AND REPORTS ON KEY TOPICS THAT IMPACT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.