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Roots of Development Inc

EIN 80-0490699 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ROOTS OF DEVELOPMENT'S MISSION IS TO HELP LEADERS IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ACQUIRE THE ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MANAGE THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLY IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE.

Income
$981,767
Spending
$720,689
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$101,526, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 99% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    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 (4)
  1. $117,716 spent. IN 2024, ROOTS OF DEVELOPMENT CONTINUED SUPPORTING OUR HAITIAN PARTNER ORGANIZATION ON THE ISLAND OF LA GONAVE, RASIN DEVLOPMAN. WE ALSO BEGAN A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH A NATIONAL HAITIAN ORGANIZATION, GWOUP KONBIT. WITH ROOTS' HELP, BOTH ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN THEMSELVES AND THEIR PROGRAMMING IN HAITI. THROUGH WEEKLY CROSS-TEAM MEETINGS, ROOTS AND GWOUP KONBIT WORKED ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN, DIRECTION, AND GROWTH OF THE WORK IN HAITI. ROOTS CONTINUED TO ADVISE RASIN AND PROVIDE ADVISORY SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY ON THE PLANS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE LA GONAVE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
  2. $176,574 spent. WITH OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT, RASIN DEVLOPMAN RECRUITED AND BEGAN TRAINING A NEW COHORT OF 48 COMMUNITY LEADERS CALLED THE VOLONTE POU CHANJMAN. THE NEW VPC RECEIVED 80 HOURS OF TRAINING ON SOCIAL CHANGE, COMMUNITY HEALTH, SOCIAL BUSINESS, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT.IN TURN, 43 VPC REACHED 738 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN 8 OF 11 COMMUNAL SECTIONS WITH LEADERSHIP AND CAPACITY TRAINING AND LAUNCHED 14 COMMUNITY PROJECTS ACROSS THE 8 COMMUNAL SECTIONS OF THE ISLAND. WITH ROOTS' SUPPORT, RASIN ALSO REACHED 329 WOMEN WITH WORKSHOPS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP; MAPPED AND SURVEYED 485 COMMUNITY GROUPS ACROSS THE ISLAND; HELD 8 COMMUNITY DIALOGUE SESSIONS; TAUGHT 32 WOMEN TO DRIVE MOTORCYCLES AND 18 YOUNG PEOPLE TO SWIM; TRAINED 160 WOMEN ON SUSTAINABLE GARDENING PRACTICES; AND SUPPORTED COMMUNITY PROJECTS IMPACTING MORE THAN 12,000 PEOPLE.
  3. $307,371 spent. GWOUP KONBIT AND ITS MEMBERS, WITH OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT, HELD A 250-PERSON CONFERENCE ON KONBIT; CREATED A GUIDE TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BASED ON KONBIT; HELD A YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMPING RETREAT; OFFERED 5 SEED GRANTS TO SMALL PROJECTS ACROSS HAITI; TRAINED 60 PEOPLE IN CPR AND FIRST AID; COLLECTED NEARLY 200 BAGS OF BLOOD FOR MEDICAL USE; AND HELD CELEBRATIONS OF PEACE, HISTORY, AND CULTURE.
  4. $52,318 spent. ROOTS ALSO LAUNCHED A RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY INITIATIVE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. IN JANUARY, WE LAUNCHED OUR DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DEPENDENCY KNOWLEDGE HUB, AN ONLINE BANK FOR ARTICLES AND TOOLS PRODUCED BY ROOTS OF DEVELOPMENT STAFF AND PARTNERS AND OTHER LIKE-MINDED GROUPS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE PRODUCED SIX ARTICLES FOR THE KNOWLEDGE HUB. ON APRIL 4TH, ROOTS OF DEVELOPMENT HOSTED HAITI: FROM CRISIS TO CATALYST AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HAITIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRACY, THE CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN & LATINO STUDIES, AND THE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT, AND HEALTH. MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE ATTENDED VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON. ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, WE WORKED WITH THE MOVEMENT FOR COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT, UNLOCK AID, AND THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSWOMAN SARA JACOBS TO ARRANGE A BRIEFING AT THE U.S. CAPITOL. ROOTS PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER CHAD BISSONNETTE AND RASIN DEVLOPMAN PROGRAM DIRECTOR LOUINO ROBILLARD CO-WROTE A CHAPTER OF COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT IN PRACTICE, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN DECEMBER OF 2024.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.