Responsible Business Initiative
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Responsible Business Initiative RBI is organized to promote responsible corporate governance sustainability and business policy engagement. RBI advances its mission through research stakeholder engagement and the development of programs that encourage market-oriented solutions to long-term business challenges.
- Income
- $204,285
- Spending
- $128,087
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 15.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $118,450, president
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 111% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).
Independent board
0 of 251 of 2 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.
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, 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)
- $83,212 spent. During fiscal year 2025 RBI advanced its mission through several principal program activities. Through its co-founders RBI delivered remarks at four public events during the fiscal year focused on corporate governance sustainability and responsible business policy engaging audiences of executives investors board members and policy professionals. RBI also organized and convened a program event examining the Securities and Exchange Commissions Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14M which was issued by the SECs Division of Corporation Finance on February 12 2025 and which revised the Staffs interpretive approach to the ordinary business and economic relevance exclusions in Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The event brought together panelists from across the corporate governance and shareholder engagement community to examine the bulletins implications for issuers investors and the broader market for corporate accountability. RBIs co-founders also authored and published a series of written commentaries during the fiscal year including op-eds and articles in trade publications contributing to public discourse on responsible corporate governance and sustainability. RBIs program activities during fiscal year 2025 emphasized public engagement written contribution to the field relationship building and the development of program infrastructure to support expanded initiatives in future years.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.