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Caesar Rodney Institute

EIN 26-2176691 · Rehoboth Beach, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCH O

Income
$462,987
Spending
$548,661
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Highest pay
$57,500, executive director

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (5)
  1. $239,040 spent. CENTER FOR ENERGY & ENVIROMENTAL POLICY - EVALUATES STATE MANDATED ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY POLICY AND PRODUCES COST ANALYSIS FOR POLICY IMPLEMENTATION. THE COST ANALYSIS ARE EVALUATED FURTHER TO DETERMINE THEIR IMPACT ON THE STATES ECONOMY. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS ARE SET FORTH IN WHITE PAPERS THAT ARE PRESENTED IN OPEN FORUMS AND USED TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE IN PUBLIC ENERGY POLICY. THEY ARE USED BY THE DELAWARE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE IN ESTABLISHING ELECTRICAL POWER RATE CASES.
  2. $114,343 spent. CENTER FOR ECONOMIC & FISCAL POLICY - OBTAINS ECONOMIC DATA AND STATISTICS FROM MULTIPLE DATABASES ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED PRIMARILY BY THE STATE OF DELAWARE. THE INFORMATION IS ANALYZED TO DETERMINE ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE STATES ECONOMY AND THEN PUBLISHED WITH FIDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS IN A WHITE PAPER. THE WHITE PAPERS ARE PRESENTED IN OPEN FORUMS AND USED TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE IN PUBLIC POLICY AND ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AS LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE MATERIALS.
  3. $44,343 spent. CENTER FOR EDUCATION POLICY - OBTAINS STUDENT (K-12) ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENT DATA PRIMARILY FROM STATE OF DELAWARE DATABASES. ALSO OBTAINS EDUCATION SYSTEM OPERATING COST AND SALARY INFORMATION FROM AVAILABLE STATE DATABASES. CEE DOES EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON COMPARABLE PERFORMANCE AND OPERATING COST INFORMATION FROM OTHER STATES FOR COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS.
  4. $44,343 spent. CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY - CENTER DIRECTOR REVIEWS AND PROVIDES PUBLISHED ANALYSES OF BOTH STATE MANAGED HEALTH POLICIES INCLUDING MEDICARE, MEDICAID, STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, CERTIFICATE OF NEED LAWS ,HEALTH RESOURCES BOARD, STATE MANDATED MEASURES UNDER EMERGENCY MEASURES. THE CENTER ALSO ANALYZES PRIVATE HEALTHSYSTEM SERVICES, INCLUDING PRICE TRANSPARENCY, RURAL HEALTH SERVICES AVAILABILITY AND OTHER ASPECTS OF HEALTH SERVICES DELIVERY AFFECTING DELAWAREANS.
  5. FORM 990 PART III - EXEMPT PURPOSE - THE MISSION OF CAESAR RODNEY INSTITUTE (CRI) IS TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICY IN DELAWARE BY HELPING EVERY DELAWAREAN UNDERSTAND AND PUT INTO PRACTICE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF A FREE SOCIETY: INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, PRIVATE PROPERTY, RIGHTS, INFORMED CHOICE, THE RULE OF LAW AND STRONG LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

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

  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 2024.

    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 September 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.