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Burma Research Institute Inc

EIN 45-4826283 · Ellicott City, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceFair53 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ADVOCATING NBSP;FOR NBSP;HUMANITARIAN NBSP;ASSISTANCE NBSP;AND NBSP;DURABLE NBSP;SOLUTIONS NBSP;FOR NBSP;CHIN NBSP;AND NBSP;OTHER NBSP;REFUGEES NBSP;AND NBSP;INTERNALLY NBSP;DISPLACED NBSP;PERSONS NBSP;AND NBSP;FOR NBSP;RELIGIOUS NBSP;FREEDOM NBSP;AND NBSP;HUMAN NBSP;RIGHTS NBSP;IN NBSP;BURMA

Income
$227,379
Spending
$244,170
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$49,218, 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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 13 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $191,013 spent. ADVOCACY PROGRAM - (1)TRAVEL TO NUMEROUS ADVOCACY MEETINGS WITH FEDERAL STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS. (2) TRAVEL TO INDIA TO RESEARCH ON THE STATUS OF REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY-DISPLACED PERSONS WITHIN BURMA DUE TO THE ESCALATING GOVERNMENT PURGING AND THE RESULTING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THERE. (3) PUBLISHING AND PRESENTING THE ANNUAL REPORT ON THE SITUATION IN BURMA IN VARIOUS MEETINGS IN DC AND SEVERAL STATES.
  2. $15,685 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM - COLLEGE PREPARATIONS WORKSHOPS COMMUNITY GARDEN SUPPORT IMMIGRATION SERVICES HOSTING SPORTS TOURNAMENTS (SOCCER WRESTLING) IMMIGRATION SERVICES
  3. $5,220 spent. CULTURAL PROGRAM - ANNUAL CHIN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION PARTICIPATION IN ANNUAL CHIN DAY

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 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 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 August 2013.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Arc Research Institute (Palo Alto, CA), EIN 87-1920284. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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