Root Cause Institute Inc.
Mission
Root Cause is driven by a passion for shaping the future of social problem solving. Our services and programs individually and collectively bring together nonprofit, philanthropy, government, and business to advance solutions to today's toughest social issues by helping them understand and invest in what works. Our decade of work to accelerate performance shows that sustained change happens when resources flow to organizations committed to continuous improvement to ensure they are maximizing impact. Root Cause improves the performance of organizations working on social issues and organizations that allocate resources for social issues resulting in quantifiable improvement in people's lives.
Ruling year
2005
Executive Director
Erin Rodriguez
Main address
One Broadway 14th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
EIN
20-0703238
NTEE code
Nonprofit Management (S50)
Social Science Research Institutes, Services (V20)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2019, 2018 and 2017.
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Collective Action
Root Cause guides networks of organizations and community members in cultivating a common purpose and organizing their efforts to improve lives across a community. By contributing to the success of our partners in collective action, Root Cause aims to enable more people to experience lifelong success, from a healthy birth, a quality education, a good quality job, and healthy and secure aging.
Our team functions as a network manager: coordinating services, measurement activities, and the use of common data systems, as well as facilitating dialogue and teamwork focused on a common goal. We provide research, coaching, and evaluation services, while working with partners to build capacity to sustain progress and impact.
Our approach is grounded in the experiences of people in the community. We work with partners to understand how people experience barriers to success, such as those connected to race, class, gender, and geography.
Strategy and Implementation
Our practice is built around our core strengths in research and strategy consulting. Root Cause helps partners design and implement strategies that are actionable, measurable, and attainable. Our strategic and business plans define pathways to sustainability and have a core focus on enabling more people to achieve lifelong success.
Measurement, Learning, & Improvement
Measurement, Learning, & Improvement (MLI) projects are focused on optimizing the performance of organizations and programs working to improve people’s lives. Root Cause helps partners collect, understand, and use data to deepen and expand their impact on people’s lives.
Our approach is centered on a commitment to continuous quality improvement. Using a variety of tools, we help partners assess and strengthen their capacity to ensure limited resources are being well utilized. Our team works with partners to identify and increase the use of evidence-based practices that increase the likelihood of better outcomes for people.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of registrants for our 2-week, 8-webinar Learning Series
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Our 2-week, 8-webinar Learning Series in November 2021 about our Program Quality Roadmap had 706 registrants.
Number of consulting projects completed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Collective Action
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In 2021, we've worked with 43 partners on 12 projects. In 2022, we've worked with 34 partners on 17 projects
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Root Cause Institute Inc.
Board of directorsas of 03/21/2023
Andrew Wolk
Root Cause
Andrew Wolk
Root Cause
Owen Stearns
Excel Academy Charter School
Daryl Wright
National Emerald Cities Collaborative
Bob Giannino
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Not applicable -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
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