Change the Ref Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT MASS SHOOTINGS THROUGH STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS THAT WILL REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF THE NRA ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
- Income
- $507,160
- Spending
- $465,200
- Spent on programs
- 54%
- Reserves
- 11.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $96,000, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1554% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 7 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 February 28, 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 (1)
- $252,232 spent. CHANGE THE REF (CTR), WAS FORMED TO EMPOWER OUR FUTURE LEADERS. CTR GIVES THE KIDS OF TODAY THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE EMPOWERED TO MAKE CHANGES TO CRITICAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR NATION, THROUGH EDUCATION, CONVERSATION, AND ACTIVISM. IT USES URBAN ART AND NONVIOLENT CREATIVE CONFRONTATION TO EXPOSE THE DISASTROUS EFFECTS OF THE MASS SHOOTING PANDEMIC. IT ALSO BRINGS FOCUS TO THE NRA'S CORRUPT MANEUVERS TO BUY LAWMAKERS, WHILE FORCING SOLUTIONS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO HEALING MASS SHOOTING VICTIMS' FAMILIES' LIFELONG GRIEF. CHANGE THE REF'S ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GIVE THE YOUNG GENERATION OF SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS A DISRUPTING VOICE TO HELP LEAD THE WAY TO CHANGE FOR A MORE PEACEFUL FUTURE. WALLS OF DEMAND IS A NATIONWIDE ART PROJECT, AND A WAY FOR MANUEL OLIVER'S SON, JOAQUIN, TO HAVE A VOICE. THESE MURALS HAVE A VERY POWERFUL IMAGE SO IT'S HARD TO LOOK AWAY, AND HARD TO IGNORE. THESE WALLS TRIGGER PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, AND THE NEED FOR CHANGE. AND WE WANT YOU TO A PART OF IT AS WELL-COME SEE MANUEL OLIVER'S LIVE ACTIVISM GRAPHIC ART AND YOUR CHANCE TO LEAVE YOUR MARK ON IT AS WELL. AFTER EVERY MASS SHOOTING, AMERICANS GO ONLINE TO POST THEIR FRUSTRATIONS AND CALLS FOR CHANGE. FEW WRITE LETTERS TO CONGRESS, WHICH 96% OF CAPITOL HILL STAFF SAYS IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO INFLUENCE POLITICIANS. THE REPRESENTATIVES WHO CHANGE GUN LAWS CAN'T IGNORE THE POWER OF HANDWRITTEN LETTERS. THAT'S WHY WE STARTED POSTS INTO LETTERS: A MOVEMENT THAT TURNS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS INTO LETTERS FOR CONGRESS. BUT NOT JUST ANY LETTERS...LETTERS WRITTEN WITH THE HANDWRITING OF JOAQUIN OLIVER, A STUDENT KILLED IN THE PARKLAND SHOOTING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 February 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 July 2020.
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 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.