Paul Robeson House
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS CONSISTENT WITH THE VALUES AND ACTIONS OF PRINCETON'S NATIVE SON, PAUL ROBESON.
- Income
- $214,641
- Spending
- $222,796
- Spent on programs
- 53%
- Reserves
- 10.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 23
- Highest pay
- $52,884, executive di
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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1553% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 91% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $118,647 spent. THE BOARD CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RENOVATION OF THE PAUL ROBESON BIRTHPLACE. WE COMPLETED MORE EXTERIOR WORK, INCLUDING THE FRONT AND REAR ENTRANCES, THE LOWER GALLERY ENTRANCE, THE DRIVEWAY, GUTTERS, SIDING, AND ROOFING. THE ACCESS RAMPS AND PORCH RAILINGS WERE COMPLETED. AS WE ENTER OUR FINAL PHASE, THE INTERIOR IS OUR FOCUS. THIS INCLUDES THE ELECTRICAL WIRING, PLUMBING, COMMUNICATIONS, MECHANICAL AND TECHNICAL SYSTEMS, PAINTING, AND FLOORING. WE PLAN A PHASED OPENING WHEN BUILDING CODES AND OTHER REGULATIONS ARE COMPLETED. A MAJOR FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN IS UNDERWAY TO COMPLETE THIS IMPORTANT PHASE OF THE RESTORATION. THE CAMPAIGN HAS FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUAL DONORS AND ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDING NAMING OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2025, WE WERE PLEASED TO RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT GRANTS FROM BOTH NEW JERSEY AND NATIONAL FOUNDATIONS. THE BUNBURY FUND OF THE PRINCETON AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARDED THE PAUL ROBESON HOUSE OF PRINCETON A "SUNSET GRANT" IN RECOGNITION OF OUR IMPACT ON THE PRINCETON COMMUNITY. WE ALSO RECEIVED A GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE PRINCETON CEMETERY FUND OF NASSAU PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. THE MELLON FOUNDATION GRANT ENDED WELL WITH OUR SUBMISSION OF A FINAL REPORT IN APRIL. THE 2025 END-OF-YEAR FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN INCLUDED A SERIES OF PERSONAL VIDEO APPEALS FROM BOARD MEMBERS DELIVERED THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. OUR FUNDRAISING COMMUNICATION (LINK) PROVIDES MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NAMING PROJECT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS UNDERWAY. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROBESON SCHOLARS AND ROBESON FELLOWS PROGRAMS, NOW IN ITS 5TH YEAR. THIS YEAR, 69 STUDENTS RANGING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AGE TO LAW SCHOOL SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS. WE SELECTED FOURTEEN STUDENTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2025 (COHORT V). SCHOLARS AND FELLOWS ARE ENGAGED IN ROBESON-INSPIRED PROJECTS. THE PROGRAM WAS RECOGNIZED WITH AN UNSOLICITED GRANT FROM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SOMERVILLE, NEW JERSEY. IN KEEPING WITH OUR MISSION TO MAKE ROBESON A HOUSEHOLD NAME, WE WORKED WITH NEW JERSEY SENATORS SHIRLEY TURNER AND ANDREW ZWICKER TO DESIGNATE APRIL 9TH AS PAUL ROBESON DAY IN NEW JERSEY. THE PRINCETON AND LARGER MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. TEACH-IN AND CURRICULUM EXCHANGE, THE INSTALLATION OF THE PAUL ROBESON MURAL AT THE PRINCETON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND OUR PAUL ROBESON DAY EVENTS, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL MEMORIAL WREATH CEREMONY AT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF PRINCETON. IN 2025, WE PARTICIPATED WITH THE MERCER COUNTY DIVISION OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM HERITAGE COMMITTEE - PRINCETON AND MERCER COUNTY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED IN PLANNING FOR THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR NATION. THE BOARD CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RENOVATION OF THE PAUL ROBESON BIRTHPLACE. WE COMPLETED MORE EXTERIOR WORK, INCLUDING THE FRONT AND REAR ENTRANCES, THE LOWER GALLERY ENTRANCE, THE DRIVEWAY, GUTTERS, SIDING, AND ROOFING. THE ACCESS RAMPS AND PORCH RAILINGS WERE COMPLETED. AS WE ENTER OUR FINAL PHASE, THE INTERIOR IS OUR FOCUS. THIS INCLUDES THE ELECTRICAL WIRING, PLUMBING, COMMUNICATIONS, MECHANICAL AND TECHNICAL SYSTEMS, PAINTING, AND FLOORING. WE PLAN A PHASED OPENING WHEN BUILDING CODES AND OTHER REGULATIONS ARE COMPLETED. A MAJOR FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN IS UNDERWAY TO COMPLETE THIS IMPORTANT PHASE OF THE RESTORATION. THE CAMPAIGN HAS FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUAL DONORS AND ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDING NAMING OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2025, WE WERE PLEASED TO RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT GRANTS FROM BOTH NEW JERSEY AND NATIONAL FOUNDATIONS. THE BUNBURY FUND OF THE PRINCETON AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARDED THE PAUL ROBESON HOUSE OF PRINCETON A "SUNSET GRANT" IN RECOGNITION OF OUR IMPACT ON THE PRINCETON COMMUNITY. WE ALSO RECEIVED A GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE PRINCETON CEMETERY FUND OF NASSAU PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. THE MELLON FOUNDATION GRANT ENDED WELL WITH OUR SUBMISSION OF A FINAL REPORT IN APRIL. THE 2025 END-OF-YEAR FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN INCLUDED A SERIES OF PERSONAL VIDEO APPEALS FROM BOARD MEMBERS DELIVERED THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. OUR FUNDRAISING COMMUNICATION (LINK) PROVIDES MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NAMING PROJECT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS UNDERWAY. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROBESON SCHOLARS AND ROBESON FELLOWS PROGRAMS, NOW IN ITS 5TH YEAR. THIS YEAR, 69 STUDENTS RANGING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AGE TO LAW SCHOOL SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS. WE SELECTED FOURTEEN STUDENTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2025 (COHORT V). SCHOLARS AND FELLOWS ARE ENGAGED IN ROBESON-INSPIRED PROJECTS. THE PROGRAM WAS RECOGNIZED WITH AN UNSOLICITED GRANT FROM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SOMERVILLE, NEW JERSEY. IN KEEPING WITH OUR MISSION TO MAKE ROBESON A HOUSEHOLD NAME, WE WORKED WITH NEW JERSEY SENATORS SHIRLEY TURNER AND ANDREW ZWICKER TO DESIGNATE APRIL 9TH AS PAUL ROBESON DAY IN NEW JERSEY. THE PRINCETON AND LARGER MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. TEACH-IN AND CURRICULUM EXCHANGE, THE INSTALLATION OF THE PAUL ROBESON MURAL AT THE PRINCETON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND OUR PAUL ROBESON DAY EVENTS, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL MEMORIAL WREATH CEREMONY AT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF PRINCETON. IN 2025, WE PARTICIPATED WITH THE MERCER COUNTY DIVISION OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM HERITAGE COMMITTEE - PRINCETON AND MERCER COUNTY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED IN PLANNING FOR THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR NATION.
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
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? 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.
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 December 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 March 2013.
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 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.