Global Knowledge Initiative

What it reported doing in 2024

Labs: GKIs Lab Programs intentionally bring together diverse stakeholders to solve problems, innovate, drive the alignment of interests, broker new partnerships, and set a collaborative course for strategy design that leads to lasting change. In 2024, GKI conducted research, development, and stakeholder engagement to design a portfolio applying GKIs Labs methodologies to fostering positive relations between the people of the United States and China. Research and development activities entailed approximately ten streams of exploratory program design and participation in four external convenings. As a result, GKI developed a Theory of Change applying its areas of work and capacities to the challenge of positive American and Chinese relations, and co-designed two key initial partnerships. Under Knowledge Amplification, GKI is working with the Global China Lab, which since 2016 has produced over 30 issues of the Made in China Journal, 6 issues of Global China Pulse, and more than 100 country and project profiles in the Peoples Map of Global China, providing open-access research on Chinas global footprint. In 2024, GKI and GCL scoped the partnership and identified key areas of overlap to merge GKIs stakeholder engagement and network expertise with GCLs content, with plans to launch formally in early 2025. Under Personal and Professional Exchanges, GKI is working with the Council on East Asian Libraries (CEAL), a professional association representing dozens of academic libraries across the United States and Canada, to design a cross-border network and exchange program connecting academic librarians in the United States and China. In 2024, GKI and CEAL planned a multi-year program and began design of the first exchange trip and networking opportunity, scheduled for 202526. In addition, GKI tested potential applications of its systems innovation Toolkit, published under a previous Lab program. Testing entailed two external presentations, a video tutorial, and a focus group. In response, GKI translated the Toolkit into Mandarin, completing 99 pages of the main body in December, with supplemental materials scheduled for translation in 2025. GKI also engaged an instructional design specialist and three subject-matter experts to prototype an experiential, blended-learning course on systems innovation for social change practitioners. By the end of 2024, the team conducted alpha tests on four parts of the course prototype, with beta testing planned for 2025. GKI also continued work on a previous systems mapping initiative, tested applications of large language models for programming and cross-border collaborations, and scoped a potential initiative on accelerating private capital for development in the United States. GKI also convened multi-sector stakeholders in Zambia around food system innovations and network leadership, concluding this four-year partnership in October 2024. A generous bequest from the Ju-Yen and Linnar Teng (JLT) Estate supported GKI programming in 2024. While unrestricted, JLT funds will contribute to multiple years of worth of GKI programming intended to foster positive relationships between the people of the US and China.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 25.9%; rating input score 26
• Program expense ratio: 75.4%; rating input score 75
• Fundraising efficiency: $86.02 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 80%; rating input score 80; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 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: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 67.7%; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.3; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 59.7%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8% per year; rating input score 100; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.1% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 10.6% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings