Human Rights Activists
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Human Rights Activists HRA is unwaveringly dedicated to safeguarding and promoting human rights in Iran. Since its inception in 2006 HRA has been an unwavering beacon in highlighting human rights concerns delivering educational resources offering legal aid and spearheading fieldwork. A noteworthy accomplishment in HRAs repertoire is the establishment of the HRA News Agency marking it as a trailblazer in Irans human rights reporting. The paramount aim of HRA remains to elevate and ameliorate the human rights milieu in Iran.
- Income
- $991,873
- Spending
- $839,721
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 93%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $96,053, director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 252 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 (7)
- $462,141 spent. Human Rights Activists HRA is dedicated to promoting human rights through various initiatives. It operates HRANA the first human rights news agency in Iran and manages projects like the Fourth Pillar Committee which combats censorship and Spreading Justice a database of human rights violators. HRA also supports labor rights through the Kardanan initiative and documents human rights abuses via the Statistics and Documents Center. Additionally it researches the role of the Pasdaran Guard Corps in human rights violations.
- $284,818 spent. This project is working towards developing a database to chronicle the varying situations concerning human rights.
- $49,372 spent. Human Rights Monitoring: This project seeks to enhance the human rights landscape by documenting violations and reporting on them.
- $13,500 spent. Empower smaller human rights groups especially in the areas of reporting and advocacy.
- $6,000 spent. Collecting and verifying basic information from human rights activists at risk.
- This project scrutinizes open information sources to identify individuals who are implicated in human rights violations.
- The International Advocacy Project aims to draw attention to human rights situations through international-level advocacy.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2015 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2015.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 May 2025.
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 March 2016.
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 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.