Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Institute for Responsible Citizenship Inc

EIN 54-2034070 · Mclean, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INSTITUTE IMPACTS COMMUNITIES, OUR COUNTRY, AND THE WORLD BY PREPARING SOME OF THE NATION'S MOST TALENTED COLLEGE STUDENTS TO USE THEIR EXTRAORDINARY GIFTS FOR SERVICE IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS. INSTITUTE ALUMNI ARE CURRENTLY SERVING AS TEACHERS AND PROFESSORS, PASTORS AND COUNSELORS, LAWYERS AND JUDGES, DOCTORS, ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS LEADERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND OTHER IMPACTFUL CAREERS.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
23.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
5
Highest pay
$603,988, chairman

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 64% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 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

    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

    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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $1.4 million spent. THE INSTITUTE'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM IS BASED ON FIVE CORE BELIEFS: 1) MEN WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL SHOULD BE CHALLENGED TO PURSUE THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT. 2) MEN WHO WORK HARD TO LIVE VIRTUOUS LIVES AND ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND REWARDED. 3) MEN WHO ARE DESTINED FOR LEADERSHIP SHOULD UNDERSTAND FUNDAMENTAL ECONOMIC, CONSTITUTIONAL, AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES. 4) MEN WHO STRIVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE CAN HAVE A GREATER IMPACT BY WORKING TOGETHER. 5) MEN OF CHARACTER SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO PURSUE SUCCESS AS A PLATFORM FOR SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, OUR NATION, AND THE WORLD. EACH YEAR, WE SELECT 12 OF THE NATION'S BEST AND BRIGHTEST AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR AN INTENSIVE TWO-SUMMER PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES HIGH-LEVEL INTERNSHIPS IN THEIR FIELDS OF INTEREST, RIGOROUS ACADEMIC SEMINARS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS, A VARIETY OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, VISITS TO IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS IN WASHINGTON AND ELSEWHERE, AND ILLUMINATING CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE DINNER TABLE. TO DATE, MORE THAN 250 YOUNG MEN HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE WASHINGTON PROGRAM. FIVE OF THEM HAVE BEEN NAMED RHODES SCHOLARS, AND AN IMPRESSIVE NUMBER HAVE RECEIVED OTHER PRESTIGIOUS ACADEMIC AWARDS. ALUMNI ARE WORKING IN IMPACTFUL CAREERS THAT BENEFIT OTHERS. AND THEY ARE COMMITTED HUSBANDS, LOVING FATHERS, AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. DURING A SESSION WITH THE SCHOLARS, WE ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 9 BILLION PEOPLE WILL BENEFIT FROM THE CAREERS OF THE 24 YOUNG MEN WHO WERE PARTICIPATING IN THE INSTITUTE'S WASHINGTON PROGRAM IN 2023. THE INSTITUTE PAYS ALL OF THE EXPENSES OF PARTICIPATION. WE ARRANGE INTERNSHIPS, PROVIDE HOUSING IN A UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE HALL, SUPPLY MEALS, AND PAY A GENEROUS STIPEND. UPON THE COMPLETION OF TWO SUMMERS, THE INSTITUTE DONATES 20,000 FOR EACH STUDENT IN INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY ARIEL INVESTMENTS, THE NATION'S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN-OWNED INVESTMENT FIRM. THE GOAL IS TO GIVE THE SCHOLARS A HEAD START ON BUILDING WEALTH, SO THEY SIGN AN AGREEMENT NOT TO ACCESS THE FUNDS FOR TEN YEARS. BECAUSE OF TREMENDOUS DEMAND, THE INSTITUTE HAS ESTABLISHED COLLEGIATE INSTITUTES IN ATLANTA, CHARLOTTE, DURHAM, GREENSBORO, AND NEW YORK. THESE PROGRAMS OPERATE DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND SERVE STUDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THOSE CITIES. THESE PROGRAMS OPERATE ON SATURDAYS AND OFFER PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS IN THOSE CITIES, PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, AND STIPENDS. THE INSTITUTE'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM IS BASED ON FIVE CORE BELIEFS: 1) MEN WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL SHOULD BE CHALLENGED TO PURSUE THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT. 2) MEN WHO WORK HARD TO LIVE VIRTUOUS LIVES AND ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND REWARDED. 3) MEN WHO ARE DESTINED FOR LEADERSHIP SHOULD UNDERSTAND FUNDAMENTAL ECONOMIC, CONSTITUTIONAL, AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES. 4) MEN WHO STRIVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE CAN HAVE A GREATER IMPACT BY WORKING TOGETHER. 5) MEN OF CHARACTER SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO PURSUE SUCCESS AS A PLATFORM FOR SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, OUR NATION, AND THE WORLD. EACH YEAR, WE SELECT 12 OF THE NATION'S BEST AND BRIGHTEST AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR AN INTENSIVE TWO-SUMMER PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES HIGH-LEVEL INTERNSHIPS IN THEIR FIELDS OF INTEREST, RIGOROUS ACADEMIC SEMINARS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS, A VARIETY OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, VISITS TO IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS IN WASHINGTON AND ELSEWHERE, AND ILLUMINATING CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE DINNER TABLE. TO DATE, MORE THAN 250 YOUNG MEN HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE WASHINGTON PROGRAM. FIVE OF THEM HAVE BEEN NAMED RHODES SCHOLARS, AND AN IMPRESSIVE NUMBER HAVE RECEIVED OTHER PRESTIGIOUS ACADEMIC AWARDS. ALUMNI ARE WORKING IN IMPACTFUL CAREERS THAT BENEFIT OTHERS. AND THEY ARE COMMITTED HUSBANDS, LOVING FATHERS, AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. DURING A SESSION WITH THE SCHOLARS, WE ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 9 BILLION PEOPLE WILL BENEFIT FROM THE CAREERS OF THE 24 YOUNG MEN WHO WERE PARTICIPATING IN THE INSTITUTE'S WASHINGTON PROGRAM IN 2023. THE INSTITUTE PAYS ALL OF THE EXPENSES OF PARTICIPATION. WE ARRANGE INTERNSHIPS, PROVIDE HOUSING IN A UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE HALL, SUPPLY MEALS, AND PAY A GENEROUS STIPEND. UPON THE COMPLETION OF TWO SUMMERS, THE INSTITUTE DONATES 20,000 FOR EACH STUDENT IN INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY ARIEL INVESTMENTS, THE NATION'S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN-OWNED INVESTMENT FIRM. THE GOAL IS TO GIVE THE SCHOLARS A HEAD START ON BUILDING WEALTH, SO THEY SIGN AN AGREEMENT NOT TO ACCESS THE FUNDS FOR TEN YEARS. BECAUSE OF TREMENDOUS DEMAND, THE INSTITUTE HAS ESTABLISHED COLLEGIATE INSTITUTES IN ATLANTA, CHARLOTTE, DURHAM, GREENSBORO, AND NEW YORK. THESE PROGRAMS OPERATE DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND SERVE STUDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THOSE CITIES. THESE PROGRAMS OPERATE ON SATURDAYS AND OFFER PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS IN THOSE CITIES, PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, AND STIPENDS.

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 2024.

    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 2001.

    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.