Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

California Institute for Rural Studies Inc

EIN 94-2446268 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE FOR RURAL STUDIES CONDUCTS COMMUNITY-DRIVEN RESEARCH FOR ACTION IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WORKING FOR JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND HEALTH. WE HAVE A VISION FOR RURAL LIFE IN CALIFORNIA THAT IS RADICALLY TRANSFORMED AS SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION AND EXTRACTION GIVE WAY TO SYSTEMS WHICH ARE LIFE-AFFIRMING, SENSITIVE TO MANY TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE, EQUITABLE AND REFLECTIVE OF THE RICH CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF RURAL CALIFORNIA.

Income
$51,028
Spending
$98,349
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
7
Volunteers
5

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

Weak: 38 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 93% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 83% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • 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

    8 of 8

    Has a 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 (3)
  1. $37,741 spent. CIRS CREATES RESEARCH-BASED TOOLS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RURAL COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO ARE WORKING TO ERADICATE WHITE SUPREMACY, TAKE DOWN COLONIAL POWER STRUCTURES AND REPLACE DYSFUNCTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. OUR RESEARCH METHODS REFLECT OUR BELIEF THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL THEIR OWN STORIES AND THAT RESEARCH WHICH DEEPENS THEIR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND, INTERPRET AND DESCRIBE THEIR LIVED REALITIES IS A KEY FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION.
  2. $14,160 spent. CIRS SHINES A LIGHT ON HIDDEN HISTORIES AND UPLIFTS RURAL VOICES IN CALIFORNIA THROUGH MULTI-MEDIA DIGITAL AND AUDIO STORYTELLING PROJECTS. IN 2022, OUR STORYTELLING TEAM RELEASED THE PODCAST SERIES FOR AN EAR TO THE GROUND, WHICH UPLIFTED HISTORIES OF LATINO FARMERS IN RURAL CALIFORNIA.
  3. $6,596 spent. CIRS' COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WORK BRINGS TOGETHER A CONSTELLATION OF RURAL PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE INCLUDING COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, ARTISTS, HEALING PRACTITIONERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RESEARCHERS THROUGH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON EVENTS AND PARTICIPATION IN COALITION WORK.

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 June 1978.

    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.