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Digital Rights Foundation USA

EIN 93-2685113 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DIGITAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION IS A REGISTERED RESEARCH-BASED ADVOCACY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION FOCUSING ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTS) TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES AND DIGITAL GOVERNANCE.

Income
$524,787
Spending
$320,141
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
25.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
1
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$149,505, president/executive director

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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.1 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 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (1)
  1. $289,406 spent. DIGITAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION AIMS TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS (HRDS), WITH A FOCUS ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS, IN DIGITAL SPACES THROUGH POLICY ADVOCACY & DIGITAL SECURITY AWARENESS-RAISING. IN ADDITION, ONE OF OUR AIMS AT THE FOUNDATION IS ALSO TO PROTECT WOMEN FROM WORK AND CYBER-HARASSMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. WE MAKE THEM AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS.WITH GROWING PRIVACY CONCERNS IN DIGITAL SPACES, DRF SEEKS TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT PRIVACY ISSUES & DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY BY RESEARCHING, MONITORING, AND REPORTING THE TACTICS AROUND SURVEILLANCE. TO RALLY WITH OTHER ACTORS FOR STRONG LEGAL PROTECTION FOR PRIVACY IN THE COUNTRY AND TO RAISE OUR VOICE AGAINST DICTATING CENSORSHIP POLICIES, WE INTEND TO PROPOSE VIABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

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 October 13, 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 November 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 October 21, 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.