Nonprofit · EIN 04-3099027
THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC
Tax-exempt · CAMBRIDGE, MA 02140
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $1,202,521 | $1,672,350 | -$469,829 | $3,047,884 | $97,500 | $2,950,384 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $1,084,524 | $1,605,909 | -$521,385 | $3,399,935 | $112,809 | $3,287,126 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $1,209,612 | $1,442,471 | -$232,859 | $3,707,628 | $120,418 | $3,587,210 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $912,109
- of which government grants
- $86,987
- Program service revenue
- $157,201
- Investment income
- $132,148
- Other revenue
- $1,063
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $184,231
- Other salaries and wages
- $943,066
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,339,819
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $386
- Accounting fees
- $65,625
- Occupancy
- $24,577
- Travel
- $29,362
- Program services (functional)
- $1,159,471
- Management and general (functional)
- $219,496
- Fundraising (functional)
- $293,383
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $3,399,935
- Total assets, end of year
- $3,047,884
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $97,500
- Net assets, end of year
- $2,950,384
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $2,950,384
- Gross receipts
- $1,202,521
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 3
- Year formed
- 1990
- State of legal domicile
- MA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH SMITH | FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $155,545 | $22,445 |
| DANIEL ROTHSTEIN | CO-DIRECTOR DEMOCRACY BUILDING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $126,580 | $14,803 |
| LUZ SANTANA | CO-DIRECTOR DEMOCRACY BUILDING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $121,590 | $12,387 |
| SARAH WESTBROOK | DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $101,308 | $12,148 |
| CHRISTOPHER ORCHARD | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $100,893 | $12,418 |
| JOHN ESTERLE | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN CAMPBELL | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID GUBERMAN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MCNAMARA BUCK | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SHONAK PATEL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHEN QUATRANO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY WENDELL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DIANE ENGLANDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 11 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH SMITH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $144,798 | $44,707 |
| DANIEL ROTHSTEIN | CO-DIRECTOR DEMOCRACY BUIL Highest-paid employee | 40 | $123,777 | $11,330 |
| LUZ SANTANA | CO-DIRECTOR DEMOCRACY BUIL Highest-paid employee | 40 | $117,901 | $13,649 |
| JOHN ESTERLE | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN CAMPBELL | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID GUBERMAN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MCNAMARA BUCK | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SHONAK PATEL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHEN QUATRANO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY WENDELL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DIANE ENGLANDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 11 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH SMITH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $134,957 | $39,421 |
| DANIEL ROTHSTEIN | CO-DIRECTOR DEMOCRACY BUILDING PROGRAMS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $119,735 | $9,514 |
| LUZ SANTANA | CO-DIRECTOR DEMOCRACY BUILDING PROGRAMS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $113,878 | $13,556 |
| DIANE ENGLANDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY WENDELL | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MCNAMARA BUCK | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN CAMPBELL | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID GUBERMAN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHEN QUATRANO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SHONAK PATEL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN ESTERLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 2464 MASSACHUSETTS AVE, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02140-1646
- In care of
- % DAN ROTHSTEIN
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- JOHN ESTERLE, 2464 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE 315C, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02140
- Signed the 990
- JOHN ESTERLE, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (617) 492-1900
- Website
- WWW.RIGHTQUESTION.ORG
- Return prepared by
- SMITH SULLIVAN & BROWN PC
Mission
THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE ADVANCES AN ORIGINAL EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL PEOPLE TO ASK THEIR OWN QUESTIONS. THE TRANSFORMATIONAL SKILL OF ASKING QUESTIONS ENHANCES LEARNING, PROMOTES EMPOWERMENT, AND STRENGTHENS DEMOCRACY. PEOPLE - INCLUDING THOSE FURTHEST FROM POWER - CAN USE THIS SKILL TO THINK AND LEARN INDEPENDENTLY, PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY IN DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEM, AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
Program accomplishments
- THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATION STRATEGY FOR TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO THINK AND ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND HOW TO ACT MORE EFFECTIVELY AS CITIZENS IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. DURING THE YEAR, RQI USED DIFFERENT METHODS FOR DISSEMINATING EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY, INCLUDING ON-SITE TRAINING, HOSTING OF TRAINING INSTITUTES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF RQI EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS.Expenses $1,159,471 · revenue $157,201
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 04-3099027
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1991
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Community improvement and capacity building (S41)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $3,047,884
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,202,521
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $1,202,521 | $1,672,350 | $3,047,884 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $1,084,524 | $1,605,909 | $3,399,935 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $1,209,612 | $1,442,471 | $3,707,628 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $3,228,423 | $1,348,412 | $3,584,655 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 04-3099027).
Questions about THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC
- What is the EIN of THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC is 04-3099027.
- Is THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1991.
- Are donations to THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names JOHN ESTERLE.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 13 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $155,545 (ELIZABETH SMITH, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does THE RIGHT QUESTION INSTITUTE INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,202,521, expenses of $1,672,350 and total assets of $3,047,884 at year end.
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All nonprofits in CAMBRIDGE · Massachusetts · Community improvement and capacity building