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Roanoke-Blacksburg Innovation Network

EIN 46-2975294 · Blacksburg, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS THE REGION BY CONNECTING, COMMUNICATING, AND COLLABORATING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO GROW AND STRENGTHEN OUR INNOVATION ECONOMY.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
13
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$168,640, ceo

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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 54% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    39 of 39 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • 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. $773,816 spent. RBIA SUPPORTS TECHNOLOGY AND LIFE SCIENCES FOUNDERS FROM IDEA STAGE THROUGH SCALING BY PROVIDING THE PROGRAMMING, MENTORSHIP, AND RESOURCES THEY NEED AT EACH PHASE OF COMPANY GROWTH. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE REGIONAL ACCELERATOR AND MENTORING PROGRAM (RAMP) AND ITS ON RAMP PRE-ACCELERATOR SUITE FOR EARLY-STAGE ENTREPRENEURS, ACCELERATOR COHORTS THAT DELIVER INTENSIVE MENTORSHIP AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT TO HIGH-POTENTIAL STARTUPS, AND EXIT RAMP SERVICES THAT HELP ALUMNI AND LATER-STAGE COMPANIES CONTINUE TO GROW.
  2. $782,177 spent. RBIA DRIVES REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE TECHNOLOGY AND LIFE SCIENCES SECTORS BY BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, PROGRAMMING, AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT EARLY-STAGE AND SCALING COMPANIES NEED TO LAUNCH AND GROW IN THE ROANOKE-BLACKSBURG REGION. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BUILDING A BIOTECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM IN ROANOKE TO SUPPORT EARLY-STAGE BIOTECH AND HEALTHCARE INNOVATION STARTUPS, DEVELOPING TALENT AND WORKFORCE PIPELINE INITIATIVES THAT CONNECT REGIONAL EMPLOYERS AND TECHNICAL TALENT, AND DELIVERING INDUSTRY CONVENINGS.
  3. $201,621 spent. RBIA STRENGTHENS THE REGIONAL CAPITAL ECOSYSTEM BY BUILDING INVESTOR NETWORKS AND CREATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CONNECTS INVESTORS TO INVESTABLE COMPANIES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE OPERATING COMMONWEALTH ANGELS, THE REGION'S ANGEL INVESTOR NETWORK, PRODUCING INVESTOR ROADSHOWS AND PITCH EVENTS THAT CONNECT REGIONAL STARTUPS TO EARLY-STAGE CAPITAL, ATTRACTING OUT-OF-REGION INVESTORS TO DEPLOY CAPITAL INTO ROANOKE-BLACKSBURG COMPANIES, AND DELIVERING INVESTOR EDUCATION PROGRAMMING THAT GROWS THE POOL OF ACTIVE INVESTORS IN THE REGION.

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 November 6, 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 September 2014.

    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 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.