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Hip Hop Caucus Education Fund

EIN 27-1165010 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak10 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 98 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO USE THE POWER OF OUR CULTURAL EXPRESSION TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES WHO ARE FIRST AND WORST IMPACTED BY INJUSTICE.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
-14.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
28
Volunteers
33
Highest pay
$275,000, president & ceo

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: 10 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 364% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 90% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 98 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    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

    0 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. $1.8 million spent. "THINK 100%" IS OUR PROGRAM TO ADVANCE A JUST TRANSITION TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY, AND A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OUR PLANET AND OUR COMMUNITIES. WE MOBILIZE COMMUNITIES AND THE MEDIA AROUND HEALTH DISPARITIES DUE TO DISPROPORTIONATE POLLUTION AND THE DANGEROUS IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON BIPOC COMMUNITIES AND POOR COMMUNITIES. WE ORGANIZE GRASSROOTS AND "GRASSTOPS" LEADERS TO ADVANCE CLIMATE SOLUTIONS ENVISIONED BY THE COMMUNITIES ON THE FRONTLINES OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
  2. $772,993 spent. THE "RESPECT MY VOTE!" CAMPAIGN IS A NON-PARTISAN VOTER MOBILIZATION AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TARGETING YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 40 YEARS-OLD. WE STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY BY FOCUSING ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TO INCREASE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS AND THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, AND BY ADVOCATING FOR ELECTION REFORM AND FULL ENFRANCHISEMENT.
  3. $334,469 spent. JUSTICE PAID IN FULL: TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC POWER OF FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND REDUCE DISPARITIES, WE MUST ALSO DISMANTLE SYSTEMS OF MASS INCARCERATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. THIS REQUIRES INVESTING IN AND UPLIFTING BLACK INSTITUTIONS TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE.
  4. $174,955 spent. "GOOD TROUBLE" IN THE 21ST CENTURY IS OUR PROGRAM TO TRAIN, EMPOWER, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO LEADERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 40 YEARS-OLD, TO ORGANIZE THEIR COMMUNITIES ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES. ISSUES INCLUDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND POLICE REFORM, CIVIL LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS, ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION, ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, JUST IMMIGRATION POLICY, EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN AND FOR LGBTQ+, AND JUST AND APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO NATURAL DISASTERS.
  5. $6,272 spent. PRESSURE SQUAD: TO APPLY PRESSURE ON POLICYMAKERS AND INSTITUTIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT SUPPORT RACIAL, CLIMATE, AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2012.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 July 2014.

    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 October 21, 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.