Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated

EIN 23-7367533 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RCAP WORKS WITH RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ELEVATE RURAL VOICES AND BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, STARTING AT THE TAP.

Income
$29.8 million
Spending
$29.8 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
33
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$315,817, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 93% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 September 30, 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. $27.5 million spent. DRINKING AND WASTE WATER PROGRAM AND SOLID WASTE PROGRAM:THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) RURAL DEVELOPMENT (RD), RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE (RUS), AND THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)'S OFFICE OF WATER, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE DIRECTED TOWARDS SMALL WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS THAT ARE EITHER CURRENT RECEIVERS OF OR ARE ELIGIBLE FOR USDA WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM FUNDING (SMALL RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES WITH POPULATIONS UNDER 10,000). THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, RCAP WORKED WITH RURAL COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BUILD TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL AND FINANCIAL CAPACITY TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS AS WELL AS IMPLEMENT MANAGERIAL AND FINANCIAL BEST PRACTICES TO ACHIEVE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S (EPA) NATIONAL PRIORITY AREA 1: TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE PROGRAM IS GEARED TOWARDS BUILDING LOCAL TECHNICAL CAPACITY FOR SMALL COMMUNITY AND NON-COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS SERVING LESS THAN 10,000 IN POPULATION IN ALL 50 STATES, THE US TERRITORIES AND ON TRIBAL LANDS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S (EPA) NATIONAL PRIORITY AREA 2: RCAP CONTINUES TO BUILD OUT THE AGUA4ALL PROGRAM, PROVIDING WATER FILLING STATIONS AND WATER BOTTLES TO RURAL AND TRIBAL SCHOOLS, ENSURING EVERY STUDENT AND TEACHER IN THOSE SCHOOLS HAS ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER.THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S (EPA) NATIONAL PRIORITY AREA 4: IMPROVING WATER QUALITY THROUGH TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRIVATE WELL OWNERS PROGRAM IS GEARED TOWARDS OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELLS AS WELL AS STAKEHOLDERS THAT SERVE PRIVATE WELLS OWNERS TO HELP PROTECT WATER QUALITY IN PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELLS AND TO ASSIST WELL OWNERS IN UNDERSTANDING HOW TO KEEP THEIR WELLS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF THEIR FAMILIES. THROUGH ITS MANY PROGRAM PARTNERS, RCAP ALSO PROVIDED TRAINING, PRIVATE WELL SAMPLING SERVICES AND ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO RURAL RESIDENTS.
  2. $713,135 spent. RESEARCH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM:THE U.S. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION (EDA) RESEARCH GRANTS COVER TWO PROJECTS THAT FURTHER DEVELOP RESEARCH AROUND RURAL INNOVATION AND URBAN AND RURAL CONNECTIVITY. THESE PROJECTS BUILD OUT RCAP'S RESEARCH PORTFOLIO WITH TOPICS IMPORTANT TO THE RURAL COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.ONE OF RCAP'S STRATEGIC PROGRAMS IS REGIONAL UTILITY COLLABORATION, ALSO KNOWN AS REGIONALIZATION. RCAP HAS BEEN BUILDING INTERNAL CAPACITY AND NATIONAL AWARENESS TO HELP TO SUPPORT AND FACILITATE THESE ON THE GROUND PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT SMALL SYSTEMS HAVE AN ARRAY OF OPTIONS TO WORK WITH OTHER NEARBY SYSTEMS TO HELP BE MORE SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT. RCAP SUPPORTS VOLUNTARY PARTNERSHIPS AND HELPS TO FACILITATE REGIONALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES ON A SLIDING SCALE FROM THE MOST INFORMAL, SUCH AS SHARING EQUIPMENT, TO THE MOST FORMAL, SUCH AS FULL PHYSICAL AND/OR MANAGERIAL CONSOLIDATION AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.RCAP'S OPEN FOR BUSINESS HUB HELPS RURAL ENTREPRENEURS ACCESS FREE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO HELP LAUNCH AND GROW THEIR SMALL BUSINESS. POWERED BY THE WELLS FARGO OPEN FOR BUSINESS FUND AND SIEGEL FAMILY ENDOWMENT, THE E-LEARNING HUB PROVIDES ON-DEMAND TRAINING, LIVE WEBINARS AND ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTING DELIVERED BY RCAP'S NETWORK OF REGIONAL PARTNERS WORKING IN 50 STATES, PUERTO RICO, AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.AND THROUGH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRRANSPORTATION TRIVING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM THROUGH A COMBINATION OF DEEP-DIVE, TAILORED AND TRAGETED TA AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO SUPPORT TCP COMMUNITIES TO ELEVTAE LOCALLY DRIVE SOLUTIONS AND INNOVATIOVE PRACTICES, BUILD REGIONAL COLLABORATION AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP CAPACITY AND ADVANCE A PIPELINE OF TRNSFORMATIVE COMMUNITIY-DRIVEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE CONNECTIVITY, SUSTAINABILITY, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS TO IMPROVED SERVICES IN RURLA AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
  3. $490,188 spent. USDA DISASTER RELIEF:PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAININIG AND SERVICES UNDER THE CALENDAR YEAR 2022 CIRCUIT RIDER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (CRTA) GRANTS PROGRAM. RCAP AND IT'S SIX PARTNERS PROVIDE DEEP-DIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO DRINKING WATER, WASTE WATER, STORMWATER AND SOLID WASTE SYSTEMS VIA 156 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS IN RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER CY22 DISASTER CRTA. PROGRAM ACTIVITES INCLUDE INTENSIVE ONSITE TA TO SUPPORT POST-DISASTER MITIGATION, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY ASSISTANCE, IDENTIFYING AND EVALUATING SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS DISASTER IMPACTED SYSTEMS' CHALLENGES, HELPING COMMUNITIES DEVELOP AND PREPARE APPLICATIONS FOR WATER, WASTE WATER, SOLID WASTE AND STORMWATER LOANS AND GRANTS (INLCUIDNGT THE REQUISITE PREDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES), AND DELIVERING TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO SYSTEM PERSONNEL SUCH AS OPERATORS AND MANAGERS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY LEADERS/DECISION MAKERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 2025.

    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 April 1974.

    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.

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.