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Rural America Initiatives

EIN 46-0390273 · Rapid City, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RURAL AMERICA INITIATIVES IS A COMMUNITY-BASED, NON-PROFIT AGENCY SERVING AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN AND AROUND WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA WITH CULTURALLY SENSITIVE FAMILY SERVICES, COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT, PARENT SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY, REFERRALS, AND GROUP MENTORING.

Income
$8.4 million
Spending
$8.4 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
173
Volunteers
130
Highest pay
$93,685, executive director (beg june 2025)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 December 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 (3)
  1. $6.6 million spent. HEADSTART-THE ORGANIZATION IS THE GRANTEE WITH THE AMERICAN INDIAN PROGRAMS BRANCH OF HEADSTART AND OPERATES TWO CENTERS IN RAPID CITY AND TWO CENTERS IN CROW CREEK. THE PURPOSE IS TO OPERATE A HEADSTART PROGRAM FOR NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN 4 TO 5 YEARS OF AGE, AND THEIR PARENTS, HELPING WITH THE TRANSITION OF MOVING FROM THE RESERVATION; AS WELL AS AN EARLY HEADSTART PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN 0 TO 3, AND THEIR PARENTS.
  2. $779,118 spent. PREGNANCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS: ATEYAPI: THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE IS A PROGRAM PROVIDING MENTORS TO TEACH SEXUAL ABSTINENCE AND LAKOTA CULTURE AT MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN RAPID CITY.ATEYAPI: IT'S YOUR GAME - KEEPING IT REAL IS A TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM FOR AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH.
  3. $125,423 spent. ANA LANGUAGE - PRESERVATION OF THE LAKOTA LANGUAGE WHICH IS RAPIDLY DIMINISHING. MANY NATIVE AMERICAN PARENTS HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN THE LAKOTA LANGUAGE. THE LANGUAGE, WHEN IT IS TAUGHT, IS PRESENTED LIKE A "FOREIGN LANGUAGE". NO SYSTEM EXISTS FOR CHILDREN IN RAPID CITY TO LEARN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE AT A YOUNG AGE, IN A NATURAL WAY. OUR PROJECT IS AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 March 1987.

    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.

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