Reaching Out Mba Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

Reaching out started in 1999 as a student-run conference for lgbtq+ mbas. The organization was originally launched as a conference to provide lgbtq+ business school students with a resource to make connections with other lgbtq+ students and business professionals. The first conference brought together about 100 students. Twenty years later, the organization has become a year-round operating organization dedicated to educating, inspiring, and connecting business students to impact change in the classroom and workplace. Reaching out mba uses the "+" as part of lgbtq to intentionally embrace all individuals who are working towards building communities of inclusion, respect and belonging, including allies of the lgbtq community and those who are not fully represented by the letters lgbtq.annual conference: the reaching out mba conference (also known as the romba conference) is the largest gathering of lgbtq+ business students in the world. The conference presents a dynamic line-up of industry speakers, workshops, and panelists representing all sectors of the business community, from finance and entrepreneurship to non-profits and entertainment and media. In 2025, the conference was held in person in new orleans, Louisiana. Participants totaled 1,100 students, corporate partners, professional leaders, alumni, and recruiters.romba fellowship: the romba fellowship was created as a joint effort between top business school programs and reaching out to demonstrate that business schools are the top destination to develop the out lgbtq+ and active ally business leaders of tomorrow. The fellowship program is funded by business schools which pay a fee to participate in the program. Romba fellowship recipients receive a minimum of $20,000 scholarship from their business schools and access to exclusive mentorship and leadership development programming through reaching out. In 2025, over 55 schools awarded fellowships to incoming students.iris (formerly out women in business ("owib")): launched in 2014, the iris program is designed to uplift and connect women, transgender, gender non-conforming individuals, allies, and all who support inclusion and belonging withing the business community. Iris creates welcoming spaces that encourage authentic connection, support, and visibility, offering attendees the change to build a strong network that extends beyond shared identifies. In 2025, the iris conference was held in new orleans during the annual romba conference.club leadership summit: the club leadership summit brings together leasers of lgbtq+ clubs at business schools from around the world. For over 15 years, reaching out has hosted this annual convening for a weekend of training, building a strong cohort, and sharing of ideas amongst schools to raise visibility and increase impact of the students' efforts on their own campuses.summer trek program: the summer treks are two-day events where incoming mbas visit multiple companies to explore internships, meet recruiters and romba alumni, and experience a day in the life at each firm. Previous cities have included New York, chicago, seattle, san francisco, and more. In 2025, summer treks were held in boston, New York, and chicago

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 81.1%; rating input score 81
• Program expense ratio: 71.4%; rating input score 71
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.17 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • 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; 75th 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; 63rd 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: 3.9%; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.47; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 18.3%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.5% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.5% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 11.8% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings