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Rome Institute of Liberal Arts Inc

EIN 26-2101062 · El Sobrante, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

We give American college students a chance to study the great books/core texts of the liberal arts in Rome, interweaving with those readings Rome's art, architecture and history, as well as the experience of a broader world and Italian culture. We aim to supplement the education in philosophy and literature that students get in great books colleges in the US with an aesthetic and an historical education, as well as a broader understanding of the world beyond the United States.

Income
$394,504
Spending
$443,709
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
0
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$148,468, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
  1. $443,709 spent. Our courses are academically rigorous and involve difficult texts in philosophy and literature, from Plato to Hegel and from Dante to Wallace Stevens. We combine such study with excursions to explore art, architecture and history in Italy that our students' readings help open up for them. 1. Summer Program: we held our six week summer program in Rome, Italy. Professors came from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland and Santa Fe, New Mexico as well as from the University of Texas at Austin Jefferson Center for the Study of Core Texts. We had 30 very excited and capable students in our summer program. These students took part in classes focused either in a course on readings in Roman history/political theory, or in art history/aesthetics, alongside regular excursions for the whole group, together with their professors, to see art and architecture in museums, churches, ancient monuments, renaissance palaces, and so on. As happens every year, a couple of our students discovered new career paths in art history or classics. As in all our classes, the rigorous engagement with major texts from the past alongside excursions to explore art and architecture made these courses a serious learning experience. And, of course, all of the students were broadened by the experience of being in Italy, and made better able to understand themselves and their own country by the experience of seeing another culture and another way of living. The friendships created in our programs continue today and will hopefully last a lifetime, and we hope to keep in contact with many of our students. 2. Venice January Program: We took 28 students from St. Mary's College of California to Venice for four weeks to study the history and art of Venice alongside readings in literature, history, and urban studies. As well, we went on daily trips around the city to museums, churches, and monuments to study the history and art first hand. Students developed a deep understanding of the importance of Venice in early modern history (and the influence of its political system on the American and French revolutions), as well as the role Venice played in the development of modern music and art. As well, students reflected on the place of historical cities like Venice in terms of contemporary issues like gentrification, tourism, and Venice's contemporary environmental challenge. 3. Providence College Maymester: a class from Providence College, Rhode Island, along with faculty, came to study art, architecture, and history for two weeks in Rome, through excursions supported by faculty led discussions and lectures of works of history, political theory, and philosophy. 4. We began planning in 2025 for two 2026 new programs, described separately in previous entry.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2008.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.