Russian America for Democracy in Russia Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Russian America for Democracy in Russia Inc is a nonprofit with a mission to empower and strengthen Russian American communities that enrich our new home in the United States to uplift newcomers from Russia and to help pave the way for a freer more just future in the country where most of us were born and raised.
- Income
- $300,091
- Spending
- $294,750
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 65
- Highest pay
- $30,750, president and board secretary
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
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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 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 (3)
- $148,579 spent. The "Freedom Birds for Ukraine FBU" project is a fully volunteer-led fundraising initiative that provides humanitarian aid to Ukrainian civilians and direct non-lethal assistance to the Ukrainian military. It brings together anti-war Russians who reject the Kremlins aggression and are committed to supporting Ukraines defense and recovery. In 2024 FBU collected a total of $140,000 through more than 2,000 individual contributions. These funds enabled the delivery of 44 reconnaissance drones - including 12 Mavic 3T units equipped with thermal imagers - along with four vehicles one anti-drone system and a range of essential supplies such as radios satellite communication devices generators charging stations tactical medical kits and vehicle repairs valued at $19,000. FBU also collaborated with the Civil Council to support Russian volunteers serving in the Siberian Battalion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces contributing $9,000 to logistics for Russian volunteers joining the unit. An additional $15,670 in humanitarian aid was distributed to replace a volunteer vehicle in Mykolaiv $7,101 support the Russians for Ukraine refugee shelter in Poland $2,305 provide gifts for children in the frontline town of Beryslav Kherson region $2,357 and assist the Okhmatdet Childrens Hospital in Kyiv following a bombing $3,907. Community fundraising efforts spanned multiple locations: in Los Angeles activists from the NavalnyLA community organized initiatives to raise funds for humanitarian aid; in Sacramento the Mugs for Lives campaign mobilized local supporters to fund the purchase of medical tourniquets for Ukrainian defenders; and in Germany partners from Freies Russland NRW conducted fundraisers to supply reconnaissance drones. Since its inception FBUs total fundraising has exceeded $350,000 making it one of the largest and most effective grassroots initiatives by Russians supporting both Ukraines military and its civilian population.
- $95,170 spent. In 2024 RADR expanded its adaptation programs to help new immigrants integrate and thrive in the United States with the "Business Navigator" project emerging as one of the years cornerstone initiatives. The program offers free comprehensive training and mentorship for Russian-speaking newcomers seeking to start or develop their own businesses in the U.S. It launched an online educational course featuring expert-led sessions on business registration accounting taxation licensing insurance and legal compliance; created a vibrant community of aspiring entrepreneurs who participate in regular mastermind sessions to share experiences and practical solutions; and provided individualized mentoring consultations to support participants in achieving their business goals. Alongside this initiative RADR maintained active local adaptation chats in Sacramento New York Miami Denver Seattle Chicago San Diego Los Angeles and Washington D.C. which serve as peer-support networks connecting newcomers offering practical guidance and strengthening local communities. The organization also continued its series of live-stream discussions on immigration topics with attorney Liya Djamilova who provided timely updates and answered questions about changes in immigration law. Through the Business Navigator program and related adaptation initiatives RADR empowers new arrivals to build self-reliance pursue professional success and become active engaged members of their communities in the United States.
- $39,661 spent. RADRs identity is deeply rooted in civic activism and public engagement. In 2024 the organization coordinated or participated in dozens of protest and solidarity events across the United States ranging from commemorations of Alexei Navalny to anti-war rallies and remembrance ceremonies for victims of political repression in Russia. Among the major actions were solidarity events in January demanding Navalnys release; February vigils following his murder and nationwide rallies marking two years since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine; participation in the Noon Against Putin campaign in March; joint Return of Names commemorations with Memorial in October; and Victory to Ukraine! Freedom to Russia! rallies in November. Throughout the year activists in Sacramento held monthly pickets in support of Ukraine and organized gatherings to show solidarity with political prisoners. RADR also led U.S. efforts to support Russian pro-democracy asylum seekers detained in immigration facilities organizing fundraisers for legal defense compiling a database of violations in detention centers submitting findings to the U.S. State Department and Congress and advocating against deportations that would return individuals to persecution in Russia. Regular events to write letters to political prisoners in Russia were held in Sacramento Chicago New York and Washington D.C. and the organization launched a fundraising campaign to provide food hygiene supplies medicine and financial assistance to to lesser-known political political prisoners including Ukrainians in Russian prisons. On March 11-12 a RADR delegation from ten U.S. states held more than sixty meetings in Congress marking the first organized advocacy campaign by the pro-democracy Russian diaspora with priorities including recognition of Vladimir Putins illegitimacy continued aid to Ukraine exchange of political prisoners and expansion of targeted sanctions. RADR also participated in Ukrainian Advocacy Weeks in April and September remaining the only Russian organization officially supporting Ukraines advocacy efforts in Congress. In its Agents" project RADR continued to research pro-Kremlin networks operating in the United States sharing findings with law enforcement while emphasizing the importance of distinguishing pro-democracy Russians from Kremlin-linked operatives to protect the reputation of the diaspora. The organization also co-organized the Chicago conference We Are Not Alone: Spiritual Crises in Wartime participated in the Washington Dialogue conference that brought together Russian civil society U.S. officials and NGOs and supported visits and public events featuring Sergey Aleksashenko Anastasia Shevchenko Dmitry Gudkov Ekaterina Shulman and Maxim Kurnikov. RADR contributed a report on the detention crisis to the Anti-War Committee Conference and supported anti-war art projects including Misha Suvorovs award-winning performance Border and the Art Against War Festival in Los Angeles. Throughout 2024 RADRs work demonstrated that consistent civic engagement - from street protests to humanitarian aid and congressional advocacy - builds visible resistance to dictatorship unites pro-democracy Russian-American communities supports Ukraine defends political prisoners and empowers newcomers building new lives in 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2022.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.