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Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jun 1985.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
16 people listed on the 990; $73K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Executive Officer
$73,468Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Past Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Debbie Phillips’s $109K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 5th percentile of top reported officer pay among 572 $10–100M community development nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII
| Name | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debbie Phillips | $108,545 | $87,745 | $85,691 | $79,062 | $73,468 |
Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.
See Rural Action INC executive salaries →Questions the 990 asks
The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.
- Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
- Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II2 listed
Programs and updates
Develops regional assets sustainably for a just economy and healthy communities.
Questions for Rural Action INC
Your first name shows with your question. Rural Action INC answers here, for everyone.
1 program · $2.7M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01
Sustainable Agriculture
137 food producers participated in trainings in 2020, ranging from beginners to more developed businesses. 1000 loaves of bread were distributed from a local bakery to those in need through member donations.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 31-1124220) · Dispute this line$2.7Mprogram expense
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors INCFY2024$272K
Appalachian Sustainable DevelopmentFY2024$166K
Athens County FoundationFY2024$95K
American Electric Power FoundationFY2024$75K
Stream and Wetlands FoundationFY2024$50K
National Forest FoundationFY2024$32K
Johnson Charitable Gift FundFY2024$30K
Total grants receivedfrom 18 funders$857K
Grants paid · 23 grants · $4.0M · 2023–2024
Mountain Association for Community Economic Development INCKY · FY2024$2,762,641
Ohio UniversityOH · FY2024$134,465
Building Bridges to CareersFY2024$81,621
Coalfield Development CorporationWV · FY2024$49,579
Recovery Connections of Southeast OhioOH · FY2024$39,540
Passion WorksOH · FY2024$38,700
Appalachian Center for Economic Networks INCOH · FY2024$25,205
Appalachian Sustainable DevelopmentVA · FY2024$22,232
Community Food InitiativesOH · FY2024$16,706
United Plant SaversOH · FY2024$12,942
Unitemized GrantFY2024$6,830
Appalachian Center for Economic Networks INCOH · FY2023$388,448
Building Bridges to CareersFY2023$113,729
Athens Hocking Recycling CenterFY2023$83,193
Community Food InitiativesOH · FY2023$29,828
Corporation for Ohio Appalachian DevelopmentOH · FY2023$26,744
United Plant SaversOH · FY2023$23,583
Live Healthy Appalachia INCOH · FY2023$22,976
Federal money
Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Dec 2025 · $9.7M federal money spent
Regional Food Business CentersDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.186 · Direct$4.4M
Inflation Reduction Act Landscape Scale RestorationDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.731 · Direct$1.3M
Americorps State and National 94.006AmeriCorps · ALN 94.006 · Through Ohio Commission of Service and Volunteersim$1.1M
Wioa Dislocated Worker National Reserve Demonstration GrantsDepartment of Labor · ALN 17.280 · Direct$521K
Appalachian Area DevelopmentAppalachian Regional Commission · ALN 23.002 · Direct and through Village of Amesville and 2 more$453K
Plus 27 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
Year ending Dec 2024 · $7.8M federal money spent
Regional Food Business CentersDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.186 · Direct$3.2M
Appalachian Area DevelopmentAppalachian Regional Commission · ALN 23.002 · Direct and through Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and 2 more$1.6M
Americorps State and National 94.006AmeriCorps · ALN 94.006 · Through Ohio Commission on Service and Volunteerism$922K
Wioa Dislocated Worker National Reserve Demonstration GrantsDepartment of Labor · ALN 17.280 · Direct$483K
Nonpoint Source Implementation GrantsEnvironmental Protection Agency · ALN 66.460 · Through Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and 1 more$188K
Plus 27 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
Year ending Dec 2023 · $3.9M federal money spent
Appalachian Area DevelopmentAppalachian Regional Commission · ALN 23.002 · Direct and through Foundation for Appalchian Ohio and 6 more$1.0M
Americorps State and National 94.006AmeriCorps · ALN 94.006 · Through Ohio Commission on Service and Volunteerism$971K
Wholesale Farmers and Alternative Market DevelopmentDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.164 · Direct$647K
Wioa Dislocated Worker National Reserve Demonstration GrantsDepartment of Labor · ALN 17.280 · Direct$384K
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.311 · Direct and through University of Virginia Tech$201K
Plus 18 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
Year ending Dec 2022 · $2.2M federal money spent
AmericorpsAmeriCorps · ALN 94.006 · Through Ohio Commission on Service and Volunteerism and 1 more$627K
Appalachian Area DevelopmentAppalachian Regional Commission · ALN 23.002 · Direct and through Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and 5 more$474K
Conservation Research and DevelopmentDepartment of Energy · ALN 81.086 · Direct$345K
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.311 · Direct and through University of Virginia Tech$126K
Solid Waste Management GrantsDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.762 · Direct$93K
Plus 16 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
By the numbers
The FY2020 990, line by line.
Download 990
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$99K
Other incomeLn 4–11$29K
Money outPt IX
$3.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.7M
Managementcol C$987K
Fundraisingcol D$27K
Owns and owesPt X
$945K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$194K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$817K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$99K
Investment incomeLn 3$22K
Other incomeLn 4–11$29K
Gains on assetsLn 7$22K
Total revenueLn 12$3.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$20K
SavingsLn 2$174K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$194K
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$248K
Notes and loans receivableLn 7$16K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$32K
Other assetsLn 15$263K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$817K
Net assetsLn 32$945K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5103
VolunteersI 6792
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
| Line | Start FY20 | End FY20 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $213K | $194K |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $1K | $32K |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $631K | $1.0M |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $1.4M | $1.8M |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $576K | $817K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $840K | $945K |
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $73K | $73K | $0 | $0 |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $1.7M | $1.1M | $558K | $9K |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $28K | $16K | $11K | $556 |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $239K | $159K | $76K | $4K |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $141K | $95K | $45K | $699 |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $27K | $10K | $17K | $0 |
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $21K | $3K | $15K | $3K |
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $977K | $920K | $52K | $5K |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $2K | $2K | $81 | $0 |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $47K | $21K | $23K | $2K |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $66K | $48K | $18K | $0 |
| TravelLn 17 | $52K | $48K | $4K | $5 |
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $16K | $13K | $3K | $0 |
| InterestLn 20 | $5K | $2K | $3K | $0 |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $30K | $16K | $14K | $0 |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $23K | $11K | $11K | $0 |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $323K | $185K | $136K | $2K |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $3.7M | $2.7M | $987K | $27K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Oct 10, 2025 | $12.8M | $11.4M | $1.4M | $2.4M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 13, 2024 | $7.0M | $7.2M | −$161K | $1.1M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Oct 20, 2023 | $5.3M | $5.0M | $270K | $1.2M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS Oct 26, 2022 | $4.3M | $4.3M | $57K | $983K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 14, 2021 | $3.7M | $3.7M | −$6K | $945K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
A · Public support
I · Grants
O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990
Part I · Summary $3,714,399 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,618,518$3,564,638
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $78,558$98,904
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $4,770$21,734
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $23,005$29,123
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,724,851$3,714,399
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,766,915$2,131,936
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $942,736$1,588,565
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,709,651$3,720,501
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $15,200−$6,102
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members15
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,714,399 across 14 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $20,424 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$8,005
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,242,796
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,564,638
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $98,904 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$98,904
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $27 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$27
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $8,699 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$8,699
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $21,707 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$21,707
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $149,761 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$3,714,399
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,720,501 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $73,468 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$73,468
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,082,818 · Management $558,455 · Fundraising $9,013$1,650,286
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $16,141 · Management $11,060 · Fundraising $556$27,757
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $159,219 · Management $76,119 · Fundraising $3,895$239,233
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $95,452 · Management $45,041 · Fundraising $699$141,192
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $9,978 · Management $17,200 · Fundraising $0$27,178
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $3,139 · Management $14,699 · Fundraising $3,139$20,977
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $920,408 · Management $51,616 · Fundraising $5,075$977,099
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,330 · Management $81 · Fundraising $0$2,411
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $21,406 · Management $23,133 · Fundraising $2,311$46,850
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $48,221 · Management $17,865 · Fundraising $0$66,086
IX-17 TravelPrograms $47,939 · Management $3,570 · Fundraising $5$51,514
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $13,116 · Management $2,713 · Fundraising $0$15,829
IX-20 InterestPrograms $2,087 · Management $3,189 · Fundraising $0$5,276
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $15,508 · Management $14,268 · Fundraising $0$29,776
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $11,383 · Management $11,228 · Fundraising $0$22,611
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $184,775 · Management $136,353 · Fundraising $1,830$322,958
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,707,388 · Management $986,590 · Fundraising $26,523$3,720,501
Part X · Balance sheet $1,762,260 assets, 25 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $50,000$19,798
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $162,725$174,224
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $339,692$248,078
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-5 Loans to officers and key peopleStart of year $0$0
X-6 Loans to other insidersStart of year $0$0
X-7 Notes and loans receivableStart of year $22,223$15,557
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $630,883$1,009,516
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,134$118
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$31,560
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $209,431$263,409
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,416,088$1,762,260
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $110,868$107,046
X-22 Loans from officers and insidersStart of year $61,570$51,619
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $403,416$658,456
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $575,854$817,121
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $470,058$597,432
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $370,176$347,707
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $840,234$945,139
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,416,088$1,762,260
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $945,139 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,714,399
XI-2 Total expenses$3,720,501
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$6,102
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$840,234
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$21,423
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$80,590
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$8,994
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$945,139
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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