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The Rp Group Inc

EIN 94-3207140 · San Rafael, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges (The RP Group)is a leader that supports equitable outcomes for minoritized and marginalized students through race-conscious, equity-minded research, planning, and professional development. We uplift student voices and empower researchers and planners to improve institutional effectiveness by dismantling systemic barriers and injustices.

Income
$6.8 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
16
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$268,646, director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $2.0 million spent. INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE PROGRAM and projects ARE designed to increase student success and overall institutional quality at California community colleges. Projects include statewide surveys designed to provide information to individual colleges and the state about student experiences, needed, and challenges related to, but not limited to, transfer,enrollment, and basic needs.
  2. $1.2 million spent. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION CONTRACTS- CONTRACTS WITH RANCHO SANTIAGO CCD TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGIC ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT ACADEMY AND MULTIPLE MEASURES ASSESSMENT PROJECT.- VARIOUS FEES FOR SERVICE CONTRACTS AND INITIATIVES BY PROVIDING RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES WERE UNDERTAKEN ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES SYSTEM.
  3. $999,257 spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTAMONG MULTIPLE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:-STRENGTHENING STUDENT SUCCESS CONFERENCE October 2024 - WITH 437 ATTENDEES, HELD ANNUALLY SINCE 2006, THIS 3-DAY EVENT HOSTS A UNIQUE AND WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF CCC ATTENDEES WHO COME TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE, LEARN, AND CONNECT, WITH A FOCUS ON IMPROVING INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, STUDENT SUCCESS, LEADERSHIPCAPACITY, AND EQUITABLE OUTCOMES. -RP CONFERENCE April 2025 - WITH 243 ATTENDEES - the conference encourages IRPE professionals from all 116 colleges to attend. Representation in 2025 included attendees from 76 of the CCC colleges and districts.-REGIONAL RESEARCH GROUPS - SMALL REGIONAL GROUPS OF CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH, PLANNING, AND EFFECTIVENESS PROFESSIONALS MET VIRTUALLY AT MULTIPLE POINTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE ON RESEARCH AND PLANNINGPIER TO PIER (IRPE TO IRPE) MONTHLY VIRTUAL GATHERINGS OF COLLEGE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH, PLANNING, AND EFFECTIVENESS PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO DISCUSS TOPICS RELATED TO RESEARCH AND PLANNING.-LEADING FROM THE MIDDLE ACADEMY - A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FORUM FOR 221 MIDDLE LEADERS IN THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES. This period included two different cohorts.September - December 2024 - 124 (2023-2024 cohort)February - May 2025 - 97 (2025-2026 cohort)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 July 1994.

    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.

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