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Riva Refugee & Immigrant Voices in Action

EIN 46-1017191 · Des Moines, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO HELP REFUGEES EXPAND THEIR WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
103
Volunteers
91
Highest pay
$132,553, 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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. $1.2 million spent. RIVA AMERICORPS (FORMERLY RISE AMERICORPS) IS AN IOWA-BASED NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM THAT STRENGTHENS THE ECONOMIC CAPACITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE. RIVA AMERICORPS ADDRESSES BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND ADVANCEMENT FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. BARRIERS MAY INCLUDE LITERACY (E.G. DIGITAL, TECH, READING), LANGUAGE, LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH HIRING PROCESSES (E.G. APPLICATIONS, COVER LETTER, INTERVIEWS), LACK OF NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AMONG OTHERS. AMERICORPS MEMBERS ASSIST COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH WORKFORCE READINESS EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES SO INDIVIDUALS CAN DEVELOP SKILLS, GAIN CONFIDENCE AND BECOME ASSETS IN THEIR COMMUNITY FOR THOSE FACING SIMILAR HURDLES TO OPPORTUNITY AND STABILITY. RIVA AMERICORPS ALSO HELPS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN CHRONIC WORK SHORTAGES ACROSS THE STATE AND AN UNTAPPED WEALTH OF TALENT IN THE REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
  2. $1.2 million spent. THE HEALTH EQUITY CAMPAIGN EMPHASIZES BUILDING THE VOICES OF PEOPLE AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO CARE. THE KEY AREAS OF FOCUS FOR THE CAMPAIGN ARE MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, MEDICAID AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT BY ORGANIZING WITH AN INTERSECTIONAL APPROACH AND FORGING RELATIONSHIPS WITH A NETWORK OF DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS, SEVERAL COALITIONS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BEEN FORMED TO REACH MULTIPLE POPULATIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM ADVOCACY AND INCREASED ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES. FORGED AT THE OUTSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THESE COALITIONS HAVE HOSTED CLINICS, EXPANDED INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19, DISSEMINATED AT-HOME TESTING KITS, PROVIDED TRAINING, CURATED A LIBRARY OF MULTILINGUAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND SUPPORTED LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
  3. $455,347 spent. EMBARC PROGRAMS SERVE DIVERSE ETHNIC GROUPS FROM BURMA TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL LINGUISTIC AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO IOWA REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH PEER-TO-PEER EDUCATION, CASE MANAGEMENT, SYSTEMS ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. SPECIFIC AREAS INCLUDE (1) EARLY CHILDHOOD PARENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT; (2) CRISIS ADVOCACY AND REFERRAL SERVICES; MANY CLIENTS ALSO RECEIVED EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATION SUPPORT AND INCREASED WAGES; AND (3) ESL CITIZENSHIP CLASSES TO ASSIST WITH CITIZEN APPLICATIONS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.