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Center on Rural Innovation Inc

EIN 82-4508477 · Hartland, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES THAT EMPOWER RURAL PEOPLE TO THRIVE IN THE TECH ECONOMY.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
19
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$159,005, director of research and knowledge

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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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 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. $1.7 million spent. CORI'S RURAL INNOVATION NETWORK OFFERS RURAL LEADERS ACCESS TO A FIRST-OF-ITS KIND COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE WHERE THEY CAN COLLABORATE WITH PEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ADVANCE THEIR TECH ECONOMIES, CONNECT TO NATIONAL FUNDERS AND INVESTORS, AND LEVERAGE CURATED SOLUTIONS TO BUILD A RESILIENT ECONOMIC FUTURE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
  2. $750,241 spent. CORI IS SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN SMALL TOWNS ACROSS THE U.S. WITH ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND STORYTELLING THAT OFFERS ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS, ANALYSIS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING RURAL AMERICA.
  3. $1.6 million spent. AS A CAPACITY-BUILDING ORGANIZATION, CORI HELPS CONNECT RURAL COMMUNITIES TO THE EXPERTISE, PROGRAMS, NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, AND INVESTMENT THAT CAN UNLOCK THEIR POTENTIAL FOR INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE.
  4. $187,810 spent. WE LAUNCHED THE CORI INNOVATION FUND (CIF) IN 2020, A SEED FUND, TO INVEST IN TECH-ENABLED STARTUPS LOCATED IN RURAL OPPORTUNITY ZONES. CIF SEEKS ATTRACTIVE TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED OPERATING STARTUPS IN RURAL GEOGRAPHIES, WHICH ARE UNDER-SERVED BY TRADITIONAL VENTURE CAPITAL INSTITUTIONS. WE IDENTIFY, FUND, AND SUPPORT THE BEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE TECH ENTREPRENEURS IN RURAL AMERICA, ENHANCING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TECH JOB CREATION IN SMALL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

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 August 2018.

    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.

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