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Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement

EIN 47-1905724 · Berwyn, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE RENDELL CENTER PROMOTES CIVIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE CENTER OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES AND DISPOSITIONS OF ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP. FOR EDUCATORS, THE CENTER CREATES CURRICULUM CONTENT, PEDAGOGICAL TOOLS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES. THE RENDELL CENTER ALSO PROVIDES TO STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND GRADE LEVELS OPPORTUNITIES, EVENTS, AND SPACES FOR DIALOGUE ABOUT AND ENGAGEMENT WITH ISSUES OF CITIZENS AND CIVICS.

Income
$309,499
Spending
$374,363
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
13.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
1
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$114,385, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (4)
  1. $31,271 spent. THE RENDELL CENTER CONDUCTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS INCLUDING WEBINARS, ONE AND TWO DAY WORKSHOPS AND SUMMER TEACHER INSTITUTES ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE CONSTITUTION. PROGRAMS ARE DEPENDENT ON GRANT FUNDS. IN THE SUMMER OF 2024, THE RENDELL CENTER CONDUCTED A SUMMER TEACHER INSTITUTE ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS FOR 30 TEACHERS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
  2. $103,143 spent. THE RENDELL CENTER FOR CIVICS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS CONTINUING TO DEVELOP K-12 CIVICS CURRICULUM ENTITLED "WE THE CIVICS KIDS" AS WELL AS OTHER CURRICULA AND PEDAGOGICAL TOOLS THAT ASSIST EDUCATORS IN THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP AMONG STUDENTS. THE LARGEST PROGRAM IS OUR LITERATURE BASED MOCK TRIAL INITIATIVE, WHICH CONTINUES TO EXPAND, SERVING OVER 1400 STUDENTS AND 49 CLASSES. AN OFFSHOOT OF THE LITERATURE BASED MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM IS OUR READ ALOUD INITIATIVE WHICH CONTINUES TO EXPAND WITH MONTHLY READ ALOUDS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.IN 2025, THE PROGRAM SERVED 323 CLASSES AND 9700 STUDENTS.
  3. $49,816 spent. THE RENDELL CENTER IS ALSO PARTNERING WITH THE ANNENBERG PUBLIC POLICY CENTER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA ON JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE. WORK INCLUDES PODCASTS, WEBINARS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS, AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT OF A COURSE AND PROGRAMMING ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS.
  4. $27,726 spent. THE RENDELL CENTER FOR CIVICS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT HOSTS A YEARLY COMPETITION ENTITLED THE CITIZENSHIP CHALLENGE. THE COMPETITION IS AN ESSAY CONTEST FOR 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS IN THE PHILADELPHIA AND PITTSBURGH AREA AND ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO GET INVOLVED BY SUBMITTING ESSAYS ON VARIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES FACING OUR DEMOCRACY. CASH AND CURRICULUM PRIZES ARE AWARDED TO THE CLASSROOMS OF THE TOP ENTRIES. IN 2025, THE CENTER HAD STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH COMPETING IN THE IN PERSON FINALS AT THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER. OVER 200 ESSAYS WERE SUBMITTED.THE RENDELL CENTER FOR CIVICS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ALSO OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES AND DISPOSITIONS OF ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP. THESE INCLUDE THE ORGANIZATION OF SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS INCLUDING WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS. FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THOSE INTERESTED IN CIVICS EDUCATION THE RENDELL CENTER CONDUCTS WEBINARS AND EDUCATIONAL SYMPOSIUMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 January 2015.

    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.