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Rural Action
Rural Action reported $12.8 million in revenue and $11.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $81.42 went to program services, $15.65 to management and general costs and $2.93 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 94.9% of the total. Government grants made up 61.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $108,545 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). Revenue rose 245% between 2020 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $11MFor context, the median across 479 covered community improvement & capacity building charities: $90.45 programs, $9.31 management, $0.24 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.4% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.7% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.9% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 94.9% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 61.2% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.8% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $108,545 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.95% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 2.6 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 15 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseRural Action's mission is to build a more just economy by developing the region's assets in environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways. We envision a region with clean streams and healthy forests; a place where thriving family farms, meaningful livelihoods and vibrant communities exist for everyone; with people engaged as good stewards of the world they live in and working together to make this vision a reality. We do this work in promising economic sectors for our region. Recent accomplishments include: Watershed Restoration: In 2024, our watershed team closed out an…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $108,545 | $0 | $0 | $108,545 |
0 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Rural Action (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $109K (Part IX, line 5).
5 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b15 · 15 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5201
- Volunteers Part I, line 6750
Private foundation grants it received
10 private foundations reported grants to Rural Action totaling $338K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Rural Action's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Rural Action, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Rural Action spent in 2024, $81.42 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Alliance for African AssistanceSan Diego, CA · revenue $13M · programs 92.0% · FY2025
- Radius IndianaBedford, IN · revenue $13M · programs 97.9% · 2024
- Community Action Inc. of Rock & Walworth CountiesBeloit, WI · revenue $13M · programs 90.4% · 2024
- People's Action InstituteChicago, IL · revenue $13M · programs 75.7% · 2024
- Rural Development InstituteSeattle, WA · revenue $13M · programs 82.7% · FY2025
All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in Ohio
Questions people ask
How much of Rural Action's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Rural Action reported that 81.4% of its $11.4 million in expenses went to program services, 15.7% to management and general and 2.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Rural Action pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Rural Action reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $108,545, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Rural Action get its money?
Of $12.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 94.9% came from contributions and grants (including 61.2% from government grants) and 0.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Rural Action a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 31-1124220 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202542839349301879 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202413189349310211 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202322939349300802 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202212999349300526 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202113189349300446 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 31-1124220: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.