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The Advocates for Human Rights

EIN 36-3292374 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To promote and protect human rights in the United States and around the world.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
37
Volunteers
1,617
Highest pay
$145,932, past 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 65% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.8 million spent. Migrants Human Rights: The Advocates mobilized 845 pro bono legal professionals to provide free immigration legal services to people fleeing persecution or torture, unaccompanied children, trafficking survivors, and people in detention in FY25. In FY25, we delivered legal assistance in approximately 3,000 cases to people living throughout the Upper Midwest.
  2. $707,819 spent. International Justice: The Advocates promotes international human rights by partnering with human rights defenders, coalitions, and affected communities to abolish the death penalty and protect the rights of LGBTIQ people, women, migrants, and others facing violence and discrimination. Engaging more than 350 volunteers, The Advocates documents violations, amplifies the voices of human rights defenders, and leverages international human rights mechanisms to influence local change. In FY25, The Advocates collaborated with 54 human rights partners in 51 countries to strengthen protections and drive legal reform.
  3. $664,893 spent. Research, Education, & Advocacy: The Advocates engages volunteers through the Immigration Court Observation Project to monitor hearings, expose systemic rights violations, and press for reform, with more than 1,400 participants since 2017. The Advocates also advances policy change to align U.S. federal, state, and local laws with international human rights standards. The Advocates combats sex and labor trafficking by addressing the root causes of trafficking, prioritizing survivor protection and agency, and reforming law, policies, and systems.
  4. Nepal School: Since 1999, The Advocates has partnered with the Sankhu-Palubari community in Nepal to provide the most at-risk children with a genuine alternative to child labor through the realization of the basic human right to education. The school provides an entirely free education, including textbooks, uniforms, and a daily meal, to 375 students enrolled in pre-K through grade 10. More than fifty percent of students are girls.

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

  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 June 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 June 1984.

    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.