Play Rugby Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CREATE "A BETTER WORLD THROUGH RUGBY" BY PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE, PRIMARILY FROM UNDERSERVED BACKGROUNDS, WITH A VITALITY FOR LIFE BOTH ON AND OFF THE RUGBY FIELD.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 53%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 21
- Highest pay
- $140,000, executive di
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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 70% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1553% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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 (3)
- $621,212 spent. PLAY RUGBY ACADEMY PROGRAM: OUR HIGHEST IMPACT PROGRAM, THE PLAY RUGBY ACADEMY, IS BUILT AROUND AN INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM AND COACHING METHODOLOGY THAT COMBINES RUGBY AND CHARACTER EDUCATION, DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF YOUTH GROWING UP IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES; WHO ARE AT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RISK FOR OBESITY AND OTHER CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES, ARE FAR LESS LIKELY TO HAVE ACCESS TO AN AFFORDABLE SPORTS PROGRAM, AND OFTEN HAVE WEAK ATTACHMENT TO THEIR SCHOOL AND WIDER COMMUNITY. THROUGH COMPLEMENTARY ON AND OFF FIELD ACTIVITIES, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, OUR PARTICIPANTS LEARN SKILLS THAT EXTEND INTO THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES, BECOME CAREER AND/OR COLLEGE READY AND ARE EQUIPPED TO MAKE POSITIVE LIFE CHOICES. YEAR-OVER-YEAR 100% OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HAVE GRADUATED ON-TIME AND ENROLLED IN COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL. OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM, LIFT UP THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THEIR FAMILIES AND ULTIMATELY, THE COMMUNITY OVERALL. IN 2024, THE ACADEMY SERVED 40 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 130 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,COMBINING RUGBY PRACTICES AND LEAGUE-BASED COMPETITION WITH LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS AND COLLEGE READINESS SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT PLAYERS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE ON-FIELD, PLAYERS MUST COMMIT TO ENGAGING WITH US OFF-FIELD IN A HOLISTIC YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM. OUR PROGRAM METHODOLOGY LEVERAGES THE UNIQUE POWER OF RUGBY TO HELP PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILLS TO TACKLE CHALLENGES BOTH ON AND OFF THE PITCH, WHILE ENCOURAGING THEIR OFF-FIELD DEVELOPMENT. IN 2024 100% OF PLAYERS REDUCED RISKY BEHAVIORS, 90% IMPROVED SOCIAL SKILLS AND 92% IMPROVED THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND 25 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GRADUATED AND ENROLLED IN COLLEGE. PLAY RUGBY ACADEMY PROGRAM: OUR HIGHEST IMPACT PROGRAM, THE PLAY RUGBY ACADEMY, IS BUILT AROUND AN INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM AND COACHING METHODOLOGY THAT COMBINES RUGBY AND CHARACTER EDUCATION, DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF YOUTH GROWING UP IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES; WHO ARE AT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RISK FOR OBESITY AND OTHER CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES, ARE FAR LESS LIKELY TO HAVE ACCESS TO AN AFFORDABLE SPORTS PROGRAM, AND OFTEN HAVE WEAK ATTACHMENT TO THEIR SCHOOL AND WIDER COMMUNITY. THROUGH COMPLEMENTARY ON AND OFF FIELD ACTIVITIES, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, OUR PARTICIPANTS LEARN SKILLS THAT EXTEND INTO THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES, BECOME CAREER AND/OR COLLEGE READY AND ARE EQUIPPED TO MAKE POSITIVE LIFE CHOICES. YEAR-OVER-YEAR 100% OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HAVE GRADUATED ON-TIME AND ENROLLED IN COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL. OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM, LIFT UP THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THEIR FAMILIES AND ULTIMATELY, THE COMMUNITY OVERALL. IN 2024, THE ACADEMY SERVED 40 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 130 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,COMBINING RUGBY PRACTICES AND LEAGUE-BASED COMPETITION WITH LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS AND COLLEGE READINESS SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT PLAYERS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE ON-FIELD, PLAYERS MUST COMMIT TO ENGAGING WITH US OFF-FIELD IN A HOLISTIC YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM. OUR PROGRAM METHODOLOGY LEVERAGES THE UNIQUE POWER OF RUGBY TO HELP PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILLS TO TACKLE CHALLENGES BOTH ON AND OFF THE PITCH, WHILE ENCOURAGING THEIR OFF-FIELD DEVELOPMENT. IN 2024 100% OF PLAYERS REDUCED RISKY BEHAVIORS, 90% IMPROVED SOCIAL SKILLS AND 92% IMPROVED THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND 25 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GRADUATED AND ENROLLED IN COLLEGE.
- $60,191 spent. AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS: THROUGH OUR AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, WE PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER OUR UNIQUE VALUES-BASED FLAG RUGBY CURRICULUM TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE BRONX AND HARLEM. OUR CERTIFIED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MENTORS CREATE VITAL CONNECTIONS WITH PARTICIPANTS, TEACHING THE SPORT OF RUGBY WHILE HELPING THEM NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AT SCHOOL, AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY. PROGRAMS RUN YEAR-ROUND WITH SESSIONS TWICE PER WEEK FOR TWO HOURS EACH SESSION. PARTICIPANTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN FLAG RUGBY TOURNAMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND OUR DYNAMIC AND ENGAGING TOURNAMENT. CULTURE IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH NOT ONLY AS STUDENT-ATHLETES, BUT ALSO AS YOUNG PEOPLE EXPLORING THEIR STRENGTHS AND COMFORT ZONES, COMPETITIVENESS AND PHYSICALITY. EACH TOURNAMENT IS FOCUSED ON OUR VALUES- IN-ACTION AND OUR CULTURE OF CELEBRATING PARTICIPANT SUCCESS, NOT JUST THE TYPICAL MVP. IN 2024 WE SERVED 233 YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH FIVE DIFFERENT ENRICHMENT PARTNERSHIPS. AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS: THROUGH OUR AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, WE PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER OUR UNIQUE VALUES-BASED FLAG RUGBY CURRICULUM TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE BRONX AND HARLEM. OUR CERTIFIED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MENTORS CREATE VITAL CONNECTIONS WITH PARTICIPANTS, TEACHING THE SPORT OF RUGBY WHILE HELPING THEM NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AT SCHOOL, AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY. PROGRAMS RUN YEAR-ROUND WITH SESSIONS TWICE PER WEEK FOR TWO HOURS EACH SESSION. PARTICIPANTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN FLAG RUGBY TOURNAMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND OUR DYNAMIC AND ENGAGING TOURNAMENT. CULTURE IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH NOT ONLY AS STUDENT-ATHLETES, BUT ALSO AS YOUNG PEOPLE EXPLORING THEIR STRENGTHS AND COMFORT ZONES, COMPETITIVENESS AND PHYSICALITY. EACH TOURNAMENT IS FOCUSED ON OUR VALUES- IN-ACTION AND OUR CULTURE OF CELEBRATING PARTICIPANT SUCCESS, NOT JUST THE TYPICAL MVP. IN 2024 WE SERVED 233 YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH FIVE DIFFERENT ENRICHMENT PARTNERSHIPS.
- $8,941 spent. THROUGH OUR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAMS: WE TRAIN TEACHERS AND COACHES TO DELIVER BOTH FLAG AND TACKLE RUGBY PROGRAMS THEMSELVES THROUGH A STRUCTURED TRAINING AND SUPPORT SYSTEM. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, STUDENTS FROM ACROSS ALL FIVE BOROUGHS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN TOURNAMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, RUN BY PLAY RUGBY STAFF AND FEATURING THE PLAY RUGBY VALUES-IN-ACTION. IN 2024 WE SUPPORTED PARTNERS TO BRING OUR FLAG RUGBY CURRICULUM TO 500 GIRLS AND OUR TACKLE RUGBY CURRICULUM TO 125 BOYS/GIRLS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY, AND WE HOSTED A TOTAL OF 8 TOURNAMENTS FOR THESE STUDENT- ATHLETES. THROUGH OUR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAMS: WE TRAIN TEACHERS AND COACHES TO DELIVER BOTH FLAG AND TACKLE RUGBY PROGRAMS THEMSELVES THROUGH A STRUCTURED TRAINING AND SUPPORT SYSTEM. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, STUDENTS FROM ACROSS ALL FIVE BOROUGHS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN TOURNAMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, RUN BY PLAY RUGBY STAFF AND FEATURING THE PLAY RUGBY VALUES-IN-ACTION. IN 2024 WE SUPPORTED PARTNERS TO BRING OUR FLAG RUGBY CURRICULUM TO 500 GIRLS AND OUR TACKLE RUGBY CURRICULUM TO 125 BOYS/GIRLS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY, AND WE HOSTED A TOTAL OF 8 TOURNAMENTS FOR THESE STUDENT- ATHLETES.
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 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 December 2024.
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 March 2011.
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.
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