Action Institute Nc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
ACTION INSTITUTE NC IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND CITIZENS ACTION GROUP THAT ORGANIZES RESIDENTS OF LOW-WEALTH COMMUNITIES AND CONSTITUENCIES MOST OF WHOM ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR- TO REPRESENT THEIR OWN INTERESTS ON ISSUES OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONCERN. THROUGH GRASSROOTS OUTREACH AND BASE-BUILDING, TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND STRATEGIC CAMPAIGN PLANNING AND EXECUTION, RESIDENTS WORK TOGETHER TO DETERMINE THEIR PRIORITIES AND MAKE ACTION PLANS TO WIN CONCRETE IMPROVEMENTS AND POLICY REFORMS. OUR ISSUES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HEALTHCARE ACCESS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TENANT RIGHTS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, LIVING WAGES AND MORE FAMILY-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE POLICIES, IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, PUBLIC EDUCATION EQUITY, AND VOTING RIGHTS.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- -0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 57
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $57,173, 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
Weak: 24 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 121% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 75 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
- $266,473 spent. VOTING RIGHTS AND ENGAGEMENT:ACTION INSTITUTE NC WORKS ON ITS OWN AND WITH ALLIES ON VOTING RIGHTS, REDISTRICTING, AND ELECTORAL REFORMS. WE CONTINUED TO WORK WITH A COALITION THAT MONITORS LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS ON VOTING RIGHTS AND REDISTRICTING. THIS SAME COALITION CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR AN INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION, BUT WE WERE AT THE SAME TIME EDUCATING VOTERS ABOUT THE EXISTING REDISTRICTING PROCESS AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT PARTISANSHIP WOULD AGAIN INFECT THE MAPS PRODUCED BY OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY. WE ALSO ARE WORKING WITH OTHER GROUPS TO REMOVE THE PROHIBITION OF VOTING FOR PERSONS WHO ARE CURRENTLY BARRED BECAUSE THEY REMAIN ON PROBATION OR PAROLE.
- $103,156 spent. SOCIAL SAFETY NET:HEALTHCARE ACCESS REMAINS A MAJOR FOCUS OF OUR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING WORK, WITH OUR PRIORITY ISSUES BEING MEDICAID EXPANSION, LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS, AND EXPANDING THE REACH OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. WE ARE ACTIVE WITH COALITION PARTNERS IN STATEWIDE WORK ON MEDICAID EXPANSION, AND WITH NATIONAL PARTNERS ON LOWERING DRUG COSTS AND IN MAKING THE TEMPORARY HEALTHCARE PROVISIONS OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MORE PERMANENT BY INCLUDING THEM IN A RECONCILIATION BILL IN CONGRESS. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO LEAD ON BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH LEGISLATION HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND TO PROMOTE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. WE HAVE ALSO RUN A 15-PERSON COVID EDUCATION CANVASS CREW IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY WHICH STARTED LAST MAY 2021, AND AN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA COVID EDUCATION PROJECT WITH THREE COALITION PARTNERS THAT COVER MUCH OF THE NORTHEASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF THE STATE. WE HAVE ENCOURAGED VACCINATION PARTICIPATION, AND ORGANIZED A NUMBER OF EVENTS WHERE VACCINES AND OTHER MUTUAL AID LIKE FOOD DISTRIBUTION IS AVAILABLE.
- $169,655 spent. CIVIL RIGHTS:OUR CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZING WORK FALLS INTO SEVERAL BROAD CATEGORIES- CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, AND RACIAL AND GENDER EQUITY. ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES, WE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND CITY LEADERS ON FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTING VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION AND CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAMS THAT WE HAD PROPOSED FOR INCLUSION IN THE CHARLOTTE AND MECKLENBURG COUNTY BUDGETS. OUR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ORGANIZING INCLUDED SUPPORT FOR A DEPORTATION DEFENSE PROJECT WE LAUNCHED EARLY IN 2020 TO BOOST LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN THE LOCAL IMMIGRATION COURT, ALONG WITH ACTIONS WE ORGANIZED FOR PASSAGE OF THE DREAM ACT, AND A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR DACA RECIPIENTS AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS. OUR RACIAL AND GENDER EQUITY INITIATIVE ORGANIZED MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH WOMEN ACROSS THE STATE ON HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH ISSUES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, COVID PREVENTION AND ADDRESSING INEQUITIES IN OUR STATE'S RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS. WE BUILT NEW RAGE COHORTS IN SEVERAL EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES AS PART OF OUR DRIVE TO EXPAND ORGANIZING CAPACITY AND ADVOCACY IN UNDERSERVED, HIGH-POVERTY RURAL AREAS.
- $233,639 spent. ECONOMIC JUSTICE:THE CORE OF OUR ECONOMIC JUSTICE WORK IS ORGANIZING TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO A LIVING WAGE AND TO WIN FAIRER WORKPLACE POLICIES FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES. WE ALSO ORGANIZE TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO ENSURE STRONGER ENFORCEMENT OF TENANT PROTECTIONS AGAINST EVICTIONS, SUBSTANDARD LIVING CONDITIONS, AND ABUSIVE LANDLORDS.OUR TENANT ORGANIZING AND RESOURCE CENTER WAS BUSY FIGHTING ILLEGAL EVICTIONS WHILE THEY WERE STILL PROHIBITED DURING THE PANDEMIC EMERGENCY, AND WORKING WITH TENANT GROUPS AROUND THE STATE TO EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND GET RENTAL ASSISTANCE OUT TO THOSE WHO QUALIFIED BUT WERE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING IT. WE ALSO CREATED A HOTLINE FOR TENANTS TO CALL IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, AND HELPED ORGANIZE A COURT WATCH PROGRAM TO ASSIST PEOPLE FACING EVICTION IN THE HOUSING COURT.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1975.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.