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Rubicam Foundation

EIN 83-1746423 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE SUPPORT WHICH WILL PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND ENHANCE THE HISTORIC AND DISTINCTIVE STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING AND PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1301 WALNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19107 (HISTORICALLY KNOWN AS THE "THOMAS BUTLER HOUSE"), WHICH SHALL HELP GUARD AGAINST ANY DETERIORATION OF THE HISTORIC AREA IN WHICH THE THOMAS BUTLER HOUSE IS CURRENTLY SITUATED AS WELL AS PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELL-BEING AND SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY SURROUNDING THE THOMAS BUTLER HOUSE. THE THOMAS BUTLER HOUSE WAS ENTERED INTO THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ON JUNE 28, 1956. THE EAST CENTER CITY COMMERCIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, LOCATED IN THE WASHINGTON SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD, WAS ORIGINALLY LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1984. THE THOMAS BUTLER HOUSE IS CITED AT LENGTH AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES TO THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT AND WAS ALSO CITED AS A CONTRIBUTING RESOURCE IN THE NATIONAL DISTRICT NOMINATION FOR THE WASHINGTON SQUARE WEST HISTO

Income
$142,798
Spending
$102,064
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
28.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
0
Volunteers
12

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

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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

    6 of 6 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, 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)
  1. $91,299 spent. THE RUBICAM FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES WHICH SHALL INCLUDE PROTECTING, PRESERVING, AND ENHANCING THE HISTORIC AND DISTINCTIVE STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING AND PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1301 WALNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19107 (HISTORICALLY KNOWN AS THE THOMAS BUTLER HOUSE), WHICH SHALL HELP GUARD AGAINST ANY DETERIORATION OF THE HISTORIC AREA IN WHICH THE THOMAS BUTLER HOUSE IS CURRENTLY SITUATED AS WELL AS PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELL-BEING AND SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY SURROUNDING THE THOMAS BUTLER HOUSE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 2025.

    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 December 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.

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.