Salzburg Global Seminar Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
042200147
IRS 990 coverage
2016–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Location
Washington, DC, USA
Phone
2026377683
Rating
82
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Standard
Sector
Social Science

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$16,474,201
Expenses
$13,955,317
Assets
$37,363,061
Liabilities
$12,917,474

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

37 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • MARTIN WEISS (PRESIDENT & CEO)

Highest reported compensation

  • MARTIN WEISS (PRESIDENT & CEO): $512,810 total reported compensation
  • BEN GLAHN DEPUTY CEO (MANAGING DIRECTOR PROGRAMS): $342,439 total reported compensation
  • KRISTINA VER FOLEY (MANAGING DIRECTOR, US OFFICE): $192,845 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Salzburg global is an independent, non-profit organization committed to creating spaces that overcome barriers and open up a world of better possibilities. Since 1947, we have gathered over 40,000 fellows from 170 countries for 1,100 sessions creating opportunities for leaders of every kind to change the conversation on the pressing issues of our time.

What it reported doing in 2024

Salzburg global seminar, inc. ("sgs") is an independent non-profit organization, headquartered in Washington d.c. And based at schloss leopoldskron in salzburg, austria. Sgs was founded in 1947 by three young visionaries at harvard university as the "salzburg seminar in american studies" to encourage the revival of intellectual dialogue in post-war europe. Sgs convenes outstanding talent across generations, cultures and sectors to inspire new thinking and action, and to connect local innovators with global resources. Our programs cover challenges facing the world in education, health, environment, finance, rule of law, human rights, media and the arts. We foster lasting networks and partnerships for creative, just and sustainable change. Over 40,000 fellows from more than 170 countries have come together through our work, with many rising to senior leadership positions. Our historic headquarters at schloss leopoldskron in salzburg, austria, built in 1736 by the archbishop of salzburg, restored by the salzburg festival's co-founder max reinhardt, used by hollywood for sets in the sound of music, and now an award-winning hotel allows us to welcome all participants in conditions of trust and openness.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 99% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

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 reported officer compensation is a large share of total spending, which may reflect staffing concentration.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 75
  • Transparency & Controls: 80
  • Accountability: 98
  • Sustainability: 63
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 72.9%; rating input score 73
  • Program expense ratio: 81.6%; rating input score 82
  • Fundraising efficiency: $25.5 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 14th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Pass
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
    • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
    • Requires narrative reports: Fail
    • Conducts field audits: Pass
    • May suspend future funding: Fail
    • Requires financial reports: Pass
    • Conducts site visits: Fail
    • Requires grant agreements: Fail
    • May require repayment: Fail
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 96.4%; rating input score 96; 30th 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: 15.3%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.68; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.35; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 13.5%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 6.4% per year; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 7.4% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 5% per year; rating input score 100; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 72.9% of revenue deployed · 81.6% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 27 of 28 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $11.4M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $513K · 37 people listed · 4 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 5 contractors listed · $1.2M reported
  • Consistency: 34 of 35 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
  • Schedules: 9 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 8 filing years from 2016 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 8 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
  • 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.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Moderate — Transparency & Controls: Foreign activity oversight: 5 of 8 not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 11/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 42/100.
  • Review — Transparency & Controls: Schedule R controlled transactions itemized did not reconcile in the filed values.