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Rodel Institute

EIN 92-0721362 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE RODEL INSTITUTE IS A NONPARTISAN CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND INTELLECTUAL GROWTH. RODEL HELPS AMERICA'S MOST PROMISING LEADERS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, DEEPEN THEIR COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW, CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1AND WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR NATION'S MOST IMPORTANT DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGES.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
7
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$481,141, president & ceo

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (5)
  1. $740,340 spent. THE INSTITUTE'S SIGNATURE PROGRAM IS THE RODEL FELLOWSHIP. CREATED IN 2005, THE FELLOWSHIP IS THE NATION'S PREMIER LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR ELECTED LEADERS. EACH YEAR, THE PROGRAM SELECTS 24 OUTSTANDING STATE AND LOCAL-LEVEL LEADERS, DIVIDED EQUALLY BETWEEN THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES, TO COME TOGETHER FOR A SERIES OF THREE MULTI-DAY SEMINARS HELD OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD. WORKING WITH LEADING SCHOLARS AS MODERATORS, THE FELLOWS READ AND DISCUSS CLASSIC TEXTS DEALING WITH ETHICAL VALUES, DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, AND WISE AND EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP. THOSE TEXTS INCLUDE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE PREAMBLE TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND WRITINGS BY FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., AMONG MANY OTHERS. FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE RODEL FELLOWSHIP SEMINARS, FELLOWS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER PERIODICALLY WITH ALUMNI OF THE PROGRAM TO DISCUSS CRITICAL QUESTIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP IN A NONPARTISAN SETTING. OVER 360 ELECTED LEADERS HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. THESE FELLOWS HAVE GONE ON TO SERVE AS UNITED STATES SENATORS, GOVERNORS, MAYORS, PARTY LEADERS, CABINET SECRETARIES, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
  2. $690,111 spent. LAUNCHED IN 2022, THE JUDICIAL FELLOWSHIP IS FOR FEDERAL JUDGES AND STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES. BASED OFF OF THE RODEL FELLOWSHIP MODEL, THE PROGRAM CONVENES 18 JUDGES AND JUSTICES ANNUALLY FOR A SERIES OF THREE SEMINARS TO STUDY, LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER, BUILD TRUSTING FRIENDSHIPS, AND FOSTER COMMON INTELLECTUAL GROUND. THESE JUDGES (9 OF WHICH WERE APPOINTED BY OR ELECTED AS REPUBLICANS AND 9 OF WHICH WERE APPOINTED BY OR ELECTED AS DEMOCRATS) MEET FOR THREE LONG WEEKENDS OVER TWO YEARS WITH THE FINAL CAPSTONE SEMINAR TAKING PLACE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE SEMINARS COMBINE READING-BASED DISCUSSIONS LED BY DISTINGUISHED LAW PROFESSORS WITH WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP AND THE CHALLENGES OF JUDICIAL WORK. RODEL JUDICIAL FELLOWS READ CLASSICAL LEGAL TEXTS ON AMERICAN DEMOCRACY FROM VARYING PERSPECTIVES. THE DISCUSSIONS ARE CANDID AND CONFIDENTIAL, ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO FULLY EXAMINE THEIR OWN IDEAS AND EXPLORE THOSE OF THEIR COLLEAGUES.
  3. $319,722 spent. BUILDING OFF THE SUCCESS OF THE RODEL FELLOWSHIP WITH THE GOAL OF MAKING THE IMPACT OF RODEL MORE SCALABLE, RODEL AMERICA WAS FOUNDED IN 2022. RODEL AMERICA CONVENES BIPARTISAN GROUPS OF STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS FROM SELECT REGIONS OF THE NATION TO PARTICIPATE IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS EMPLOYING THE PROVEN RODEL SEMINAR MODEL. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BREAK DOWN PARTISAN BARRIERS, INCREASE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, AND CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE CONDUCIVE TO PRACTICAL PROBLEM-SOLVING. RODEL AMERICA HAS COMPLETED PROGRAMS IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE; WASHINGTON STATE; RHODE ISLAND AND CALIFORNIA WITH FUTURE SEMINARS SCHEDULED FOR ALASKA AND WASHINGTON STATE.
  4. $123,383 spent. "FOUNDED IN 2022, THE EDWARDS PRIZE IS AWARDED ANNUALLY TO A BOOK PUBLISHED IN THE PRIOR YEAR THAT PROMISES TO MAKE AN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNDERSTANDING AND PRACTICE OF DEMOCRACY AND AMERICAN POLITICS. THE PRIZE IS NAMED IN HONOR OF MARVIN HENRY ""MICKEY"" EDWARDS, WHO HAS INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF AMERICAN PUBLIC SERVANTS AND STUDENTS AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS; FACULTY MEMBER AT HARVARD, PRINCETON, AND AMERICAN UNIVERSITY; AUTHOR OF MULTIPLE SCHOLARLY BOOKS ON THE AMERICAN POLITICAL PROCESS; AND FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RODEL FELLOWSHIP. IN MAKING THE SELECTION FOR THE EDWARDS PRIZE, THE COMMITTEE WILL SEEK A WORK THAT REFLECTS THE GOALS AND VALUES OF THE RODEL INSTITUTE. EXCERPTS FROM THE WINNING BOOK WILL BE INCLUDED AS BACKGROUND READING FOR RELEVANT RODEL SEMINARS. THE PRIZE WILL BE AWARDED ANNUALLY AND WILL CARRY AN HONORARIUM OF $10,000. THE WINNER OF THE PRIZE WILL BE DETERMINED BY A COMMITTEE OF SEVEN PERSONS COMPRISED OF FOUR RODEL FELLOWS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE RODEL INSTITUTE, AND TWO OUTSIDE ADVISORS APPOINTED BY THE RODEL PRESIDENT. IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS, THE PRIZE WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE MAIN DINNER HELD AT THE RODEL REUNION, AT WHICH THE WINNER WILL PRESENT A TALK. IN EVEN YEARS, THE PRIZE WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE RECIPIENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH A RODEL UNIVERSITY PARTNER WHO WILL HOST A LECTURE TO BE DELIVERED BY THE WINNER."
  5. $71,520 spent. COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS -THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS (CFR) AND THE RODEL INSTITUTE CONVENE AN ANNUAL FOREIGN POLICY FORUM FOR RODEL FELLOWS IN ELECTED OFFICE TO GATHER FOR NONPARTISAN DISCUSSIONS ON THE FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES FACING THE UNITED STATES. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO HELP ELECTED LEADERS DEVELOP THE GEOPOLITICAL UNDERSTANDING NECESSARY TO ENGAGE PRODUCTIVELY AND COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE WORLD. THE CFR-RODEL COLLABORATION IS DESIGNED TO FURTHER THE LEADERSHIP AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE FOR PARTICIPANTS FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THEIR THREE-SEMINAR RODEL FELLOWSHIP.

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 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 2025.

    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 2023.

    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.