Worldchanging

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
352257451
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2010
Forms available
Form 990 2010
Location
Seattle, WA, USA
Phone
2066692643
Rating confidence
Limited
Sector
Nonmonetary Support N.E.C.

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$470,705
Expenses
$498,732
Assets
$11,228
Liabilities
$0

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2010. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

12 people listed

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2010. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

We seek to inspire readers around the world with stories of new tools, models, and ideas for building a bright green future. Through our work, we introduce intelligent reasons for believing that action is possible, that better solutions are available, and that a brighter future can be built.

What it reported doing in 2010

Environmental Book project: Worldchanging has previously authored two books on environmentalism and sustainability. In 2010, the Board approved accepting a one-time contribution of $330,000 to fund a pass-through grant to Ed Burtynsky (former board member and internationally recognized photographer) for an environmental project on water issues. The project will study the socio-economic and environmental impacts of water useage in the 21st century. The project will result in a definitive photographic documentation (book) of this hotly debated subject with essays by leading environmental experts. Worldchanging will be acknowledged as the project sponsor on printed works, websites and promotional material but the intellectual property will remain the property of the project.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 78% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Cannot be determined from the filing. The filing does not provide enough consistent spending detail to tell whether the nonprofit works directly or through others.

The verdict

- The available evidence is not sufficient to produce an overall rating for this filing. This is not a warning sign.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: NotEnoughData
  • Transparency & Controls: 100
  • Accountability: 74
  • Sustainability: 28
  • Growth: NotEnoughData

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: Limited
  • Program expense ratio: Limited
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 79th 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; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -6%; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.02; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 13.9%; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: Limited
  • Revenue growth: Limited
  • Asset growth: Limited

Details

  • Where the money goes: Financial trends and filed revenue, expense, asset, and liability detail
  • Governance: 11 of 11 board members independent · 3 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $465K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $69K · 12 people listed
  • Consistency: 26 of 26 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 8 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.

Key Signals

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

  • Moderate — Accountability: Governance controls: 4 of 7 not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 29/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 2/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 31/100.