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Rondo Center of Diverse Expression

EIN 83-1404193 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RCODE, along with the RCP, has the mission to continue the efforts to rekindle the spirit of Rondo and the preservation of those values that sustained Rondo through the devastation of its community.

Income
$170,088
Spending
$94,956
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
25 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
0

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.0 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 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 665% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $70,952 spent. We were instrumental in the formation of the effort to rename Concordia Avenue to Rondo Avenue to right a sixty plus year wrong that occurred when the Saint Paul City Council removed the name of Rondo without adhering to proper city procedure. Well over 200 hundred people joined the St. Paul Mayor, members of the St. Paul City Council, and other dignitaries at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza for the unveiling of the new Rondo Avenue street signs and installation of the street sign at the Plaza. On June 19th, we held the 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration highlighting the Music of Rondo with performances from Walker|West Music Academy and over 300 visitors. The Rondo Community Coalition held the 2nd Annual Rondo Block Party at the Plaza on August 3rd, featuring dozens of vendors, local organizations, activities, and food trucks. In August, neighbors used the Rondo Center Community Gardens to gather for National Night Out. In partnership with JazzAccess, we jammed to two Jazz at the Plaza August evening performances.As in past years, there was a steady increase of visitors to the Rondo Center of Diverse Expressions and the Rondo Commemorative Plaza from an expanding spectrum of users. We hosted a group of 3rd-5th grade students to a group of over 30 participants attending a seminar introducing the ABCs of Artificial Intelligence with a former Rondo Native and Responsible AI Expert. We remain extremely grateful to the organizations, businesses, and individuals that have partnered with RCODE and RCP to fund and organize the wide variety of events and activities we host each year. Our main accomplishment was the launch of RCODE's new Minnesota Digital Library page with 32 downloadable materials, including Rondo Days souvenir books, photo albums, progarms, information about the Commemorative Plaza, maps of the old Rondo neighborhood. Two new primary source sets are available on the MDL website, Rondo:Before the Highway and Rondo: During and After the Highway. These sets feature a topic overview, ten to twenty primary sources from the MDL collection, links to related resources, discussion questions and classroom activities.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 March 2019.

    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.