Research for Action Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
232710950
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Phone
2672957760
Rating
81
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Social Science

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$5,230,199
Expenses
$5,440,645
Assets
$6,096,721
Liabilities
$1,552,947

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

Leadership & pay

19 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • MARTHA KATE CALLAHAN (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • MARTHA KATE CALLAHAN (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $276,081 total reported compensation
  • ALISON MURAWSKI (CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER): $184,073 total reported compensation
  • ALYN TURNER (DIR OF QUANTITATIVE RESEAR): $182,443 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The mission of research for action, inc. (rfa) is to engage in and use research as the basis for the improvement of educational opportunities and outcomes for traditionally underserved students.

What it reported doing in 2024

Rfa envisions a just education system, where all students, especially learners from underserved communities, have opportunities to thrive from pre-k through postsecondary and into the workforce. Recognizing research as a powerful mechanism for advancing education systems change, we partner with change agents on actionable research and evaluation projects that inform the development and scale of high-quality education programs and policies. (continued on schedule o).in fiscal year 2025, rfa's approximately 30 researchers partnered with more than 20 unique partners and clients across the united statesranging from direct-service nonprofits to philanthropic foundations to public school districts and state systems of higher education, to state and local education departments, and the federal government. Through these partnerships, rfa designed and implemented over two dozen innovative research projects yielding approximately 50 actionable reports distilling empirical insights and policy guidance. Further, we make research accessible to the public through accompanying social media posts, blogs, media citations, legislative testimony and other thought leadership, demonstrating rfa's impact on ensuring all students, families, and communities can access high quality education opportunities. An additional measure of our effectiveness is that rfa is frequently asked to conduct repeat work for our clients and partners, demonstrating the value and utility of our research on programmatic and policy decision-making.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 96% 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.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 71
  • Transparency & Controls: 91
  • Accountability: 95
  • Sustainability: 28
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 78%; rating input score 78
  • Program expense ratio: 74.8%; rating input score 75
  • Fundraising efficiency: $5.92 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Pass
    • 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: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 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: Pass
    • 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%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.12; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.25; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 22.3%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 1.8% per year; rating input score 100; 21st percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 3.3% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 5.6% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 78% of revenue deployed · 74.8% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 12 of 13 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $4.1M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $276K · 19 people listed · 5 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 1 contractor listed · $317K reported
  • Consistency: 33 of 33 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 15 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 8 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 1 filed related-organization link
  • 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.

Grant-readiness screening is separate from the live rating, not a measure of program quality. Review the source records before making a grant decision.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 21/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 22/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 41/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 10/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 38/100.
  • High — Grant Readiness: Federal audit findings: this organization reported findings in its latest federal Single Audit.