Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Rights Action Lab Inc

EIN 46-4078393 · Wilmington, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT MISSION-ALIGNED PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 95%
Employees
7
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$89,898, executive di

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: 51 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 67% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 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

    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, 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. $778,610 spent. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH: RIGHTS ACTION LAB SUPPORTED THE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND PROMOTION OF NEW SOFTWARE AND OTHER INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADVANCE INTERNET FREEDOM AND ENABLE SECURE, PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS FOR COMMUNITIES FACING EXTREME REPRESSION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. BY SUPPORTING A VARIETY OF PROJECTS, RAL ENABLED COMMUNITY-DRIVEN AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON THE USES OF THIS SOFTWARE AND ON DIGITAL SECURITY BEST PRACTICES MORE BROADLY.
  2. $605,822 spent. EDUCATION AND TRAINING: RIGHTS ACTION LAB EQUIPPED RIGHTS DEFENDERS, ACTIVISTS AND OTHERS TO ADVANCE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS BY PROVIDING REMOTE AND IN-PERSON EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, CIVIL SOCIETY BUILDING, STRATEGIC PLANNING, EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGNING, MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS AND THE APPLICATION OF NONVIOLENT ACTION TO CATALYZE POSITIVE CHANGE IN REPRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTS.
  3. $574,920 spent. RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY: RIGHTS ACTION LAB SUPPORTED RESEARCH ON CRITICAL RIGHTS ISSUES FOR TIBETANS AND OTHERS FACING EXTREME REPRESSION AS WELL AS ENGAGEMENT IN HIGH-IMPACT ADVOCACY AND MEDIA CAMPAIGNS DESIGNED TO EXPOSE AND ADDRESS THESE VIOLATIONS IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA.

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 September 2014.

    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.