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Norwegian Refugee Council USA

EIN 47-5342860 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL USA (NRC USA) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WAS INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN OCTOBER 2015 AND COMMENCED OPERATIONS DURING 2016. NRC USA WAS ESTABLISHED WITH TWO PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: RAISING MONEY FOR THE NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL'S (NRC'S) OVERSEAS PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF CONFLICT-AFFECTED REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE AND PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN POLICY AND TECHNICAL ADVICE TO THE ADMINISTRATION, US CONGRESS, AND PEER NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. NRC USA IS ALSO A RESOURCE TO UNIVERSITIES, THINK TANKS, AND THE PUBLIC ON HUMANITARIAN ISSUES AND SEEKS FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH US BASED INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS, AND CORPORATIONS.

Income
$6.6 million
Spending
$7.8 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
23
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$212,133, 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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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 (9)
  1. $3.4 million spent. YOUTH, LIVELIHOOD AND EDUCATIONTHE NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL USA RECEIVED FUNDS TO SUPPORT NRC'S IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS AND CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TWO-GENERATION YOUTH LIVELIHOODS, ECONOMIC INCLUSION, EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, AND QUALITY EDUCATION IN EMERGENCY CONTEXTS.
  2. $1.5 million spent. COUNTRY BASED HUMANITARIANTHE NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL USA RECEIVED FUNDS FOR THE DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SPECIFIC COUNTRIES. THIS ASSISTANCE INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF FOOD, WATER, BASIC RELIEF ITEMS, EDUCATION, LEGAL AID, AND SHELTER. THESE COUNTRY-SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS BY THE NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL SEEK TO SAVE LIVES, PROMOTE DIGNITY, AND IMPROVE THE WELLBEING OF REFUGEES, INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS, AND HOST COMMUNITIES. FUNDS WERE RECEIVED FROM A VARIETY OF FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATE, AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS.
  3. $885,792 spent. PROGRAM SUPPORT AND COMPLIANCE: THE NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL USA ASSISTS THE NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL'S FIELD PROGRAMS IN APPLYING FOR CRITICAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT. NRC USA STAFF ALSO SUPPORT IN ENSURING COMPLIANCE, FINANCIAL AND PROGRAMMATIC REPORTING, AND ADVISE ON PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE US GOVERNMENT AND US-BASED FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATE DONORS.
  4. $344,318 spent. ACCESS NEGOTIATION
  5. $288,532 spent. HUMANITARIAN ACCESS IN HARD TO REACH AREAS
  6. $231,858 spent. TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
  7. $205,344 spent. ADVOCACY
  8. $69,532 spent. GLOBAL PROTECTION
  9. $41,688 spent. OTHER PROJECTS

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 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 October 13, 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 December 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 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.