Research for Action Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF RESEARCH FOR ACTION, INC. (RFA) IS TO ENGAGE IN AND USE RESEARCH AS THE BASIS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES FOR TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $5.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 7.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 39%
- Employees
- 49
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $276,081, executive director
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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 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 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 (1)
- $4.1 million spent. RFA ENVISIONS A JUST EDUCATION SYSTEM, WHERE ALL STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY LEARNERS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE FROM PRE-K THROUGH POSTSECONDARY AND INTO THE WORKFORCE. RECOGNIZING RESEARCH AS A POWERFUL MECHANISM FOR ADVANCING EDUCATION SYSTEMS CHANGE, WE PARTNER WITH CHANGE AGENTS ON ACTIONABLE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION PROJECTS THAT INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT AND SCALE OF HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND POLICIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O).IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, RFA'S APPROXIMATELY 30 RESEARCHERS PARTNERED WITH MORE THAN 20 UNIQUE PARTNERS AND CLIENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATESRANGING FROM DIRECT-SERVICE NONPROFITS TO PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATIONS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND STATE SYSTEMS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, RFA DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED OVER TWO DOZEN INNOVATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS YIELDING APPROXIMATELY 50 ACTIONABLE REPORTS DISTILLING EMPIRICAL INSIGHTS AND POLICY GUIDANCE. FURTHER, WE MAKE RESEARCH ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH ACCOMPANYING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, BLOGS, MEDIA CITATIONS, LEGISLATIVE TESTIMONY AND OTHER THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, DEMONSTRATING RFA'S IMPACT ON ENSURING ALL STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES CAN ACCESS HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES. AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE OF OUR EFFECTIVENESS IS THAT RFA IS FREQUENTLY ASKED TO CONDUCT REPEAT WORK FOR OUR CLIENTS AND PARTNERS, DEMONSTRATING THE VALUE AND UTILITY OF OUR RESEARCH ON PROGRAMMATIC AND POLICY DECISION-MAKING.
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 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 November 6, 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 June 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 July 1994.
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 November 4, 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.