Research Institute for Housing America Trust Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR HOUSING AMERICA IS TO PROMOTE AND DISSEMINATE KNOWLEDGE ON THE FUNCTIONING, STRUCTURE, AND FUTURE OF MORTGAGE MARKETS. AN EMPHASIS IS PLACED UPON ISSUES THAT WILL INFORM BOTH BUSINESS AND POLICY DECISIONS, WITH ATTENTION GIVEN TO EMERGING FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES WITHIN, AND AFFECTING, THOSE MARKETS.
- Income
- $257,807
- Spending
- $371,491
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $518,590, trustee-riha trust admin
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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)
- $330,459 spent. THE INSTITUTE SPONSORS AND DISSEMINATES RIGOROUS YET ACCESSIBLE RESEARCH FOCUSED ON ISSUES IMPACTING HOUSING AND MORTGAGE MARKETS.RIHA MAKES GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT FURTHER ITS EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ENCOURAGING AND AIDING THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE OF MORTGAGE MARKETS AND REAL ESTATE FINANCE. THE RESEARCH PRODUCTS THAT ARE SUPPORTED WITH THESE GRANTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH RIHA'S WEBSITE AT WWW.HOUSINGAMERICA.ORG/PUBLISHEDREPORTS. THE FOLLOWING PAPERS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR 2025: FISCAL YEAR 2025-- WHO WILL BUY THE BABY BOOMERS' HOMES WHEN THEY LEAVE THEM?: AN UPDATE THE FOLLOWING PAPERS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR 2024: FISCAL YEAR 2024-- MORTGAGE BANKING IN THE UNITED STATES, 1870-1940 (10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY RE-RELEASE)-- MORTGAGE DESIGN, UNDERWRITING, AND INTERVENTIONS: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE HOMEOWNERSHIPFISCAL YEAR 2023-- A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS ON CLIMATE RISK AND THE HOUSING MARKET VOLUME I-- A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS ON CLIMATE RISK AND THE HOUSING MARKET VOLUME IIFISCAL YEAR 2022-- THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HOUSING AND HOUSING FINANCE-- THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH IN AMERICA SINCE 2016-- WHO WILL BUY THE BABY BOOMERS' HOMES WHEN THEY LEAVE THEM?FISCAL YEAR 2021-- HOUSING-RELATED FINANCIAL DISTRESS DURING THE PANDEMIC-- THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION-- THE LOCATION OF AFFORDABLE AND SUBSIDIZED RENTAL HOUSING ACROSS AND WITHIN THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES-- WHY ARE OLDER WORKERS MOVING LESS WHILE WORKING LONGER?FISCAL YEAR 2020-- NO NEW PUBLISHED PAPERS IN FY2020FISCAL YEAR 2019-- NO NEW PUBLISHED PAPERS IN FY2019FISCAL YEAR 2018-- QUANTIFIED PARKING: COMPREHENSIVE PARKING INVENTORIES FOR FIVE U.S. CITIESFISCAL YEAR 2017-- OWNED NOW RENTED LATER? HOUSING STOCK TRANSITIONS AND MARKET DYNAMICS-- MANAGING MORTGAGE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RISK (COMPLETED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUT RELEASED ON 9/14/2017) FISCAL YEAR 2016-- COGNITIVE DECLINE AND FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING AS INDIVIDUALS AGE-- DIVERTED HOMEOWNERS, THE RENTAL CRISIS, AND FOREGONE HOUSEHOLD FORMATION-- THE AFFORDABILITY OF OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING IN THE UNITED STATES: ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVESFISCAL YEAR 2015-- DEMOGRAPHIC DRIVERS OF THE US HOMEOWNERHSIP RATE: HOW SHOULD POLICY MAKERS RESPOND?FISCAL YEAR 2014-- A PROFILE OF HOUSING AND HEALTH AMONG OLDER AMERICANS-- MORTGAGE BANKING IN THE UNITED STATES 1870-1940FISCAL YEAR 2013-- A PROFILE OF HOUSING AND HEALTH AMONG OLDER AMERICANS-- MORTGAGE BANKING IN THE UNITED STATES 1870-1940-- IMMIGRANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOUSING DEMAND IN THE UNITED STATES: A COMPARISON OF RECENT DECADES AND PROJECTIONS TO 2020 FOR THE STATES AND NATIONFISCAL YEAR 2012--MEASURING THE BENEFITS OF HOMEOWNING: EFFECTS ON CHILDREN REDUX--THE HISTORICAL ORIGINS OF AMERICAS MORTGAGE LAWS--THE GREAT RECESSION AND ATTITUDES TOWARD HOME-BUYING--STRATEGIC DEFAULT IN THE CONTEXT OF A SOCIAL NETWORK: AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL APPROACHFISCAL YEAR 2011--HOMEOWNERSHIP BOOM AND BUST 2000 TO 2009: WHERE WILL THE HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE GO FROM HERE?--HOMEOWNERSHIP EDUCATION AND COUNSELING: DO WE KNOW WHAT WORKS?--A STUDY OF REAL ESTATE MARKETS IN DECLINING CITIES FISCAL YEAR 2010 --A REVIEW OF STATISTICAL PROBLEMS IN THE MEASUREMENT OF MORTGAGE MARKET DISCRIMINATION AND CREDIT RISK --INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF MORTGAGE PRODUCT OFFERINGS --ANATOMY OF RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY: LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE --HOUSEHOLD REACTION TO THE FINANCIAL CRISIS: SCARED OR SCARRED? --WHAT HAPPENS TO HOUSEHOLD FORMATION IN A RECESSION FISCAL YEAR 2009 --A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER MORTGAGE DECISIONS FISCAL YEAR 2007 --THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL CAPITAL FLOWS AND FOREIGN FINANCING ON US MORTGAGE AND TREASURY INTEREST RATES FISCAL YEAR 2006 --STUDY ON HOUSING TRENDS AMONG BABY BOOMERS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.