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International Refugee Assistance Project Inc

EIN 82-2167556 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IRAP IS A GLOBAL LEGAL AID AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WORKING TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE REFUGEES AND ALL PEOPLE SEEKING SAFETY ARE EMPOWERED TO CLAIM THEIR RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND A PATH TO LASTING REFUGE. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE AND A SAFE WAY TO GET THERE.

Income
$15.2 million
Spending
$31.2 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
136
Volunteers
1,327
Highest pay
$422,448, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 105% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 August 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 (4)
  1. $19.6 million spent. LEGAL SERVICES IRAP PROVIDED INFORMATION, ADVICE, AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO DISPLACED PERSONS SEEKING TO COME TO THE U.S. IRAP EXPANDED OUR PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE GLOBE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO LEGAL INFORMATION AND SERVICES. IRAP ADVANCES THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF DISPLACED PERSONS GLOBALLY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF LEGAL INFORMATION, LEGAL SERVICES, AND THROUGH ADVOCACY AND LITIGATION SEEKING BROAD POLICY CHANGES TO ENSURE THAT DISPLACED PEOPLE CAN ACCESS SAFETY. IRAP WORKS IN DEEP PARTNERSHIP WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING REFUGEE LED ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. DURING FY 25, IRAP PROVIDED LEGAL AID TO 4,884 DISPLACED PERSONS AND RESOURCED PRO BONO SUPPORT WITH A VALUE OF OVER 20 MILLION DOLLARS. OUR SYSTEMIC IMPACT WORK BENEFITED 596,826 INDIVIDUALS.
  2. $2.5 million spent. POLICYIRAP CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR HUMANE, TRANSPARENT, AND WELCOMING POLICIES. RECENT CAMPAIGNS HAVE YIELDED IMPORTANT GAINS FOR DISPLACED PERSONS.IRAP HAS BEEN DEEPLY ENGAGED IN ADVOCATING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE REFUGEE ADVOCACY LAB AND LOCAL STATE PARTNERS, WORKING TOWARDS BILLS THAT PRESERVE AND EXTEND PROTECTIONS TO REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS, AS WELL AS WORKING TO DEFEAT PROPOSED STATE BILLS THAT INCREASE HARM FOR THESE COMMUNITIES.
  3. $2.3 million spent. LITIGATIONOUR LITIGATION TEAM ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES IN CASES THAT PROTECT AND DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF REFUGEES AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN THE UNITED STATES.WE TARGETED UNLAWFUL ACTIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT TO DETAIN REFUGEES AND SYSTEMATICALLY REPEAL TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR SEVERAL POPULATIONS. LAWSUITS ALSO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE DISMANTLING OF THE U.S. REFUGEE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM AS WELL AS FIGHTING TO PRESERVE PROTECTIONS FOR U.S. ALLIES IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ. IRAP CONTINUED LITIGATION UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND SYSTEMIC DELAYS IN THE AFGHAN AND IRAQI SIV PROGRAMS.
  4. $1.1 million spent. COMMUNICATIONSIRAP CONTINUES TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF DISPLACED PEOPLE THROUGH TRADITIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS AND IN THE DIGITAL SPHERE. WE INVOLVE OUR CURRENT AND FORMER CLIENTS IN OUR MEDIA AND ADVOCACY WORK TO ENSURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD. IN ADDITION TO MEDIA PLACEMENT, WE UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS, INCLUDING FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM, OUR WEBSITE, AND MASS EMAIL CAMPAIGNS TO COMMUNICATE TO SUPPORTERS. IRAP HAS A NUMBER OF CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL PRIORITY TEAMS WORKING ON VARIOUS ISSUES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM. OTHER PROGRAMSIN ADDITION TO IRAP'S LEGAL SERVICES AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS, WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PROGRAMMATIC AREAS THAT SUPPORT AND AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF OUR CORE WORK. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONAL PLANNING; EVALUATION & LEARNING; DIGITAL RESOURCES, PRODUCTS, AND ENGAGEMENT; GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS; LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING; DISABILITY INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY; AND PRO BONO. ORGANIZATIONAL PLANNING, EVALUATION, AND LEARNING ENSURE THAT IRAP'S MISSION, VISION, AND PROGRAMMATIC PRIORITIES ARE ALIGNED AND ENABLE US TO PROJECT, TRACK, AND MEASURE OUR IMPACT. LEGAL KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING, AND PRO BONO ALLOW US TO ENGAGE MEANINGFULLY WITH LEGAL PRACTITIONERS AROUND THE WORLD, SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY ASSIST REFUGEES, AND LEVERAGING THEIR RESOURCES TO SUPPORT IRAP CLIENTS. DIGITAL PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES LEADS OUR WORK TO DEVELOP HIGH QUALITY, DIGITAL LEGAL INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE GLOBALLY. OUR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM FACILITATES OUR COLLABORATION WITH REFUGEE-LED AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD TO ENSURE OUR WORK CENTERS THE VOICES, INPUT, AND NEEDS EXPRESSED BY DIRECTLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES AND THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES. IRAP'S DISABILITY INCLUSION PROGRAM EXPANDS OUR CORE PROGRAMMATIC WORK TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE OF THE DIFFERING EXPERIENCES AND NEEDS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 November 6, 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 August 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 August 2018.

    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 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.