R Street Institute

Overview

Mission

The r street institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public-policy research organization ("think tank"). Our mission is to engage in policy research and outreach to promote free markets and limited, effective government. (continued on schedule o)

What it reported doing in 2024

Harm reductionr street's harm reduction program is grounded in an understanding that "abstinence only" approaches to risky behavior are ineffective. With this in mind, rsi focuses on harm-reduction approaches that recognize that harmful behaviors may continue to happen even as policies are enacted to help mitigate-if not eliminate-those harms. The program connects the dots between historically siloed issues such as: tobacco, cannabis, and illicit drug use. In addition, the program's project for women and families conducts public policy research and outreach on pressing issues for the modern american family, focusing on pragmatic policy solutions like improving telehealth access, reducting regulatory burdens on child care, increasing labor flexibility for working parents, and enhancing economic mobility.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 99% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 98% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
263477125
IRS 990 coverage
2015–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-EZ 2011
Location
Washington, DC, USA
Phone
2025255717
Rating
86
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Research Institutes and/or Public Policy Analysis

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$15,095,416
Expenses
$14,464,327
Assets
$8,917,398
Liabilities
$2,114,038

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 82
  • Transparency & Controls: 87
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 38
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 82.9%; rating input score 83
  • Program expense ratio: 86.5%; rating input score 86
  • Fundraising efficiency: $32.82 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 4.2%; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.62; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 12.6%; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 12% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 13.2% per year; rating input score 100; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 14% per year; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 82.9% of revenue deployed · 86.5% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 7 of 7 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 9 filed program accomplishments · $12.5M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $375K · 17 people listed · 4 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Consistency: 35 of 35 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 7 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 9 annual filings from 2015 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 10 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 3 filed related-organization links
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 20/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 51/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 12/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 53/100.

Leadership & pay

17 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • ELIAS ROTHENBERG-LEHRER (PRESIDENT): $374,542 total reported compensation
  • ERICA SCHODER (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $305,010 total reported compensation
  • SABRINA SCHAEFFER (VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC AFFAIRS): $249,551 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024.