Grassroots International Inc

Overview

Mission

To connect people in the u.s. With global movements that defend land, territory, water, food, seeds and the earth. Together we address the root causes of injustice and oppression, and build alternatives that nuture human rights, ecological justice, and liberation. We do this through grantmaking, social action, and philanthropic leadership.

What it reported doing in 2023

Humanitarian/social justice - grassroots international supports hands-on solutions to some of the most pressing challenges we face: hunger, violations of human rights, climate change and economic disparity. Through a combination of strategic grantmaking, advocacy and support for learning exchanges, grassroots international supports projects for democratic social change; human rights to land, water and food; and environmental justice.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 90% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 83% of its reported program spending out as grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
042791159
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2023
Forms available
Form 990 2023
Headquarters
Boston, MA, USA
Phone
6175241400
Rating
87
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Standard
Sector
International Relief

Official website

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 86
  • Transparency & Controls: 87
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 38
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 95.5%; rating input score 95
  • Program expense ratio: 84.6%; rating input score 85
  • Fundraising efficiency: $11.15 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 24th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: 4 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
    • Requires narrative reports: Pass
    • Conducts field audits: Fail
    • May suspend future funding: Fail
    • Requires financial reports: Pass
    • Conducts site visits: Pass
    • Requires grant agreements: Fail
    • May require repayment: Fail
  • Grant itemization coverage: 99.1%; rating input score 99; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 8 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: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -8.5%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.7; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 5.5%; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 19% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 15.9% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 22.2% per year; rating input score 100; 90th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 95.5% of revenue deployed · 84.6% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 14 of 14 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $12.1M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $149K · 21 people listed
  • Consistency: 35 of 37 current checks pass · 2 findings to review
  • Schedules: 8 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, and grants
  • Filing history: 15 annual filings from 2009 to 2023
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 28 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 22 filed related-organization links
  • 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.

Leadership & pay

21 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • CHUNG-WHA HONG (CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $149,416 total reported compensation
  • ORSON MOON (DIR OF FIN & INFO SYSTEMS): $140,395 total reported compensation
  • SAULO ARAUJO (DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL PHILANTHROPY): $136,621 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2023.