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Rural Economic Development Center Inc

EIN 56-1552375 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE CHAMPION RURAL NORTH CAROLINA BY INVESTING IN PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES AND POTENTIALAND ENVISION A RURAL NORTH CAROLINA WHERE EVERY RURAL VOICE MATTERS AND EVERY RURALCOMMUNITY THRIVES.

Income
$70.0 million
Spending
$11.6 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 69%
Employees
63
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$435,546, president & ceo

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 83% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 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 (3)
  1. $5.3 million spent. SMALL BUSINESS/ENTREPRENEURSHIP: THE RURAL CENTER DELIVERS CRITICAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT EXISTING BUSINESSES AND ENABLE THE EMERGENCE OF NEW ENTREPRENEURS. THE RURAL CENTER BELIEVES EQUITABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH DEPENDS ON SUSTAINING RURAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND NURTURING SMALL-TOWN ENTREPRENEURS. THE RURAL CENTER'S LENDING SUBSIDIARY, THREAD CAPITAL, WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO START OR EXPAND A SMALL BUSINESS BY PROVIDING CAPITAL, COACHING, AND CONNECTIONS. THE RURAL CENTER OPERATES THE STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PRIVATE SECTOR CAPITAL FORMATION IN ALL 100 COUNTIES. THE RURAL CENTER OPERATES CORNERSQUARE COMMUNITY CAPITAL, WHICH SUPPORTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN A 17-STATE REGION.
  2. $2.7 million spent. LEADERSHIP & ENGAGEMENT: THE CENTER'S FLAGSHIP LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, THE RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (REDI) OFFERS PARTICIPANTS COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES TO HELP THEM RETURN HOME AND MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. UPON GRADUATING FROM REDI, GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM BECOME PART OF A LARGER ALUMNI NETWORK OF LEADERS. REDI AND HOMEGROWN LEADERS REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING HAVE TRAINED OVER 1,800 RURAL LEADERS. THE RURAL SUMMIT BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY LEADERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND RURAL ADVOCATES FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND NATION TO ENGAGE IN A THOUGHTFUL, INTENTIONAL DIALOGUE ABOUT THE ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE TODAY TO ADVANCE POLICY AND SYSTEMS CHANGE ACROSS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. FINALLY, THROUGH OUR CONNECT CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CONNECT PROGRAMS, WE LOCATE THE POWERFUL INTERSECTION BETWEEN RURAL CHURCH ASSETS AND COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES.
  3. $963,515 spent. ADVOCACY & RESEARCH: THE RURAL CENTER SERVES AS THE STATE'S LEADING ADVOCATE FOR ITS MANY RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE RURAL CENTER PROVIDES LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND STATE LEADERS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BE INFORMED ON THE IMPORTANT RURAL ISSUES OF THE DAY. THE RURAL CENTER IDENTIFIES SPECIFIC TOPICS FOR MORE IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION AND PARTNERS WITH EXPERTS TO LIFT UP POLICY AND RESEARCH THAT INFORMS THE DECISIONS OF TODAY AND HELPS PLAN FOR THE CHOICES OF TOMORROW. WITH A VOICE INFORMED BY DATA, RESEARCH, STORYTELLING, AND BEST PRACTICES, THE RURAL CENTER ADVOCATES ON THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS FOR THE COMPELLING ISSUES FACING RURAL COMMUNITIES: ISSUES LIKE BROADBAND ACCESS, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION, ENERGY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

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 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 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 April 1987.

    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.