Human Rights Watch Inc
Human Rights Watch Inc. reports fluctuating revenues and recent deficit spending despite strong asset base and zero officer compensation.
EIN: 132875808 · New York, NY · NTEE: Q700 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $124.6M |
| Total Expenses | $101.5M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $100 |
| Net Assets | $214.7M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Human Rights Watch Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Human Rights Watch Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Human Rights Watch Inc
Human Rights Watch Inc (EIN: 132875808) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code Q700. The organization reported total revenue of $124.6M and total assets of $219.0M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Human Rights Watch Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Human Rights Watch Inc is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 50 years, with 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -3.2%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $94.2M |
| Total Expenses | $101.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-7,318,097 |
| Total Assets | $241.1M |
| Total Liabilities | $26.5M |
| Net Assets | $214.7M |
| Operating Margin | -7.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 11.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 28.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Human Rights Watch Inc reported a deficit of $7.3M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 28.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 11.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 12 years of filings (2011–2023), Human Rights Watch Inc's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -3.2%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -2.6% | +21.4% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | +37.2% | -0.1% | +20.1% |
| 2020 | -17.6% | -1.4% | -7.2% |
| 2019 | +10.9% | +13.0% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | +38.7% | +6.5% | +4.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1976 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Human Rights Watch Inc with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Human Rights Watch Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $7.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 11.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that officers do not receive direct compensation, which is highly commendable for an organization of this size with over $100 million in annual expenses.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Human Rights Watch Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Deficit spending in recent fiscal years (e.g., 2023 expenses exceeded revenue by over $7 million).
- Significant increase in liabilities from $5.7 million in 2021 to $26.5 million in 2023.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Human Rights Watch Inc:
- Consistently strong asset base, exceeding $200 million, providing financial resilience.
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, demonstrating exceptional transparency and commitment to mission-focused spending.
- History of substantial revenue generation, often exceeding $70 million annually.
- Low liabilities relative to assets in most periods, indicating good financial management.
Frequently Asked Questions about Human Rights Watch Inc
Is Human Rights Watch Inc a legitimate charity?
Human Rights Watch Inc (EIN: 132875808) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $124.6M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Human Rights Watch Inc spend its money?
Human Rights Watch Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Human Rights Watch Inc tax-deductible?
Human Rights Watch Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 132875808). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Human Rights Watch Inc CEO make?
Human Rights Watch Inc's highest-compensated officer earns $100 annually. The organization reported $124.6M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Human Rights Watch Inc's spending goes to programs?
Human Rights Watch Inc directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Human Rights Watch Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Human Rights Watch Inc is above average for NTEE category Q700 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Human Rights Watch Inc located?
Human Rights Watch Inc is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 132875808. It is classified under NTEE code Q700.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Human Rights Watch Inc have?
Human Rights Watch Inc has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $124.6M in total revenue.
Is Human Rights Watch Inc. financially stable?
While Human Rights Watch Inc. possesses a strong asset base (e.g., $241,144,801 in 2023), its financial stability shows fluctuations. The organization experienced deficit spending in 2023 ($101,504,038 expenses vs. $94,185,941 revenue) and 2020, which suggests periods where expenses outpace revenue. However, its substantial assets and relatively low liabilities (though increasing in 2023) provide a buffer.
How does Human Rights Watch Inc. manage executive compensation?
Human Rights Watch Inc. reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, including the latest in 2023. This indicates that the organization's officers do not receive direct salaries or benefits, which is a significant positive for transparency and resource allocation.
What are the recent trends in revenue and expenses?
Revenue has fluctuated, reaching a high of $96,702,825 in 2021 before dropping to $94,185,941 in 2023. Expenses have generally increased, reaching $101,504,038 in 2023, leading to a deficit in that period. This contrasts with a surplus in 2021.
Are the liabilities of Human Rights Watch Inc. a concern?
Liabilities have generally been low relative to assets, but they saw a notable increase to $26,493,473 in 2023 from $5,699,522 in 2021. While still manageable given the asset base, this increase warrants monitoring to understand its nature and impact on financial health.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Human Rights Watch Inc showing financial trends over 12 years of public records:
Over 12 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Human Rights Watch Inc's revenue has declined by 32.6%, moving from $139.7M to $94.2M. Total assets increased by 12% over the same period, from $215.3M to $241.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 107.2%, from $49.0M to $101.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Human Rights Watch Inc reported a deficit of $7.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $26.5M in liabilities against $241.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 11.0%), resulting in net assets of $214.7M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $94.2M | $101.5M | $241.1M | $26.5M | — | — |
| 2021 | $96.7M | $83.6M | $242.5M | $5.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $70.5M | $83.7M | $202.0M | $10.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $85.6M | $84.9M | $217.6M | $8.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $77.2M | $75.1M | $221.1M | $7.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $55.6M | $70.6M | $211.0M | $6.1M | — | — |
| 2016 | $61.1M | $76.0M | $220.6M | $6.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $65.2M | $73.5M | $240.3M | $5.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $74.2M | $66.6M | $246.4M | $4.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $59.3M | $63.1M | $228.0M | $4.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $73.2M | $56.4M | $229.5M | $5.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $139.7M | $49.0M | $215.3M | $3.2M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $94.2M, expenses of $101.5M, and assets of $241.1M (revenue -2.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $96.7M, expenses of $83.6M, and assets of $242.5M (revenue +37.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $70.5M, expenses of $83.7M, and assets of $202.0M (revenue -17.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $85.6M, expenses of $84.9M, and assets of $217.6M (revenue +10.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $77.2M, expenses of $75.1M, and assets of $221.1M (revenue +38.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $55.6M, expenses of $70.6M, and assets of $211.0M (revenue -9.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $61.1M, expenses of $76.0M, and assets of $220.6M (revenue -6.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $65.2M, expenses of $73.5M, and assets of $240.3M (revenue -12.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $74.2M, expenses of $66.6M, and assets of $246.4M (revenue +25.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $59.3M, expenses of $63.1M, and assets of $228.0M (revenue -18.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $73.2M, expenses of $56.4M, and assets of $229.5M (revenue -47.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $139.7M, expenses of $49.0M, and assets of $215.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Human Rights Watch Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Human Rights Watch Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.